FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2020

Contact: Natalie Golub, Media Coordinator, 973-467-2100, natalie@drugfreenj.org

PDFNJ and PSEG Foundation Bring Substance Use Prevention Efforts to the Classroom

Union City, NJ— The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and the PSEG Foundation have collaborated to send a message to 25,000 young New Jersey students across the state on the importance of healthy choices through the annual Third Grade Life Choices Coloring and Activity Book.

The activity book contains a contract for students to sign and to commit to a healthy lifestyle. It is supported by a grant from the PSEG Foundation, and has been distributed in 353 classrooms throughout the state to educate young students about the importance of living a healthy life free of substance use. PDFNJ’s Executive Director, Angelo Valente, Union City’s Commissioner, Maryury Martinetti, and Maria Spina, PSEG Foundation Program Manager delivered the booklets to a classroom at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Union City on Thursday, February 13.

“The Third Grade Life Choices and Activity Book provides students information and encouragement to make healthy decisions,” said Angelo Valente, PDFNJ’s’ Executive Director. “Educating our youth with age-appropriate messages to prevent the misuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in communities and schools is an ongoing effort, and the earlier we start the better.” Recent studies suggest research-based, age-appropriate prevention materials have had a positive impact as alcohol, tobacco and substance use has decreased among American teenagers in grades 8, 10 and 12.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and the PSEG Foundation delivered the Third Grade Life Choices Coloring and Activity Book to students at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Union City, NJ on Thursday, February 13th. From left, Maria Spina, PSEG Foundation Program Manager; Maryury Martinetti, Union City Commissioner; Michael Celebrano, Principal. Thomas Jefferson Elementary; Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ.

PSEG is committed to supporting the communities we serve — including the young people in those communities. We believe strongly in the good work of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and are proud to partner with them to help communicate the importance of making smart decisions at any age,” said Maria Spina.

By distributing the activity book and contract through schools, PDFNJ and the PSEG Foundation recognize the key role educators play in informing New Jersey youth about the dangers of substance use and misuse. To highlight the role, the activity book contract will be signed by parents and school representatives.

Additional coverage from NJTV News

From an educational perspective, we are always looking to enhance our curriculum with hands-on activities that promote a healthy lifestyle,” said Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Principal, Michael Celebrano.  “It is never too early to teach our children about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, and the contract and activity book help to involve educators and parents along with our students.”

“The prevention efforts of family members and the educational system are as vital to the mission of this program as the students’ commitment to live drug-free,” Valente added. “Parents and caregivers provide the guidance and emotional support to steer their children toward healthier life choices, while schools educate students on the positives of healthy living and the consequences of substance use.”

A third class at Thomas Jefferson Elementary welcoming PDFNJ and PSEG.

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About the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey

Best known for its statewide anti-drug advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $100 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception the Partnership has garnered 166 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.

About the PSEG Foundation

The PSEG Foundation (501c3) is the philanthropic arm of Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE:PEG). The Foundation generally supports and invests in programs in three areas: community and the environment, education and safety. The Foundation provides grants to organizations in communities served by PSEG and its subsidiaries. 

Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG) is a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of $9.1 billion and approximately 13,000 employees. Headquartered in Newark, N.J., PSEG's principal operating subsidiaries are: Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), PSEG Power and PSEG Long Island. PSEG is a Fortune 500 company included in the S&P 500 Index and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 10 consecutive years. (www.pseg.com).