RUN BIG at Polk County’s Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K & Kids Fun Run Saturday, November 12, 2016 at the Lake Mirror Promenade

RUN BIG at Polk County’s Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run

Saturday, November 12, 2016 at the Lake Mirror Promenade

Our community’s Red Ribbon tradition continues with Polk County’s Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 12, 2016 in support of bullying and substance abuse prevention. The Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and Fun Run, presented by Title Sponsor Publix Super Markets, Inc., InnerAct Alliance, and event partner MidFlorida Credit Union, is a Family Weekend where parents can compete in the Half Marathon or 5K, and K-8 students can participate in the Kids Fun Run. Early registration is encouraged at www.RedRibbonHalf.com. Start time for the Half Marathon is 6:30 a.m., and the 5K begins at 7:00 a.m. Check-in will begin at 5:30 a.m. for the Half Marathon and 6:30 a.m. for the 5K.

A Kids Fun Run for K-8 students begins at 8:00 a.m., with check-in at 7:00 a.m. at the Lake Mirror Auditorium. The Fun Run is FREE for those who pre-register before November 1^st ($5 fee after 11/1/16) and includes a commemorative Run t-shirt and free refreshments. The Kids Run will start and finish at Lake Mirror Promenade, 121 S. Lake Ave., and follow a route around Lake Mirror. Awards will be given for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place runners in gender categories, and to the top 3 elementary schools and top middle school with the largest percentage of participating students, based on school census. This year, the private school with the highest percentage of participation will also receive a trophy.

NEW THIS YEAR: We are excited to announce some great new additions to the Red Ribbon Fun for 2016! First, we are pleased to collaborate with The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce for their new BIG EVENT: A Family Celebration of Lakeland, from 4:00–8:00 p.m. on November 12^th at the historic Lake Mirror Promenade. The BIG EVENT will feature live music, food, a kids’ fun zone, Business Expo, Makers’ and Artisan’s Row and more! 

Another great addition is an opportunity for kids and adults to fundraise to prevent Bullying, Drug Abuse, and assist with Youth Leadership Development! The more money you raise, the better your chances to win BIG PRIZES such as Free Gear! Free Parties! Free Bikes! Details will be outlined on the event website at www.RedRibbonHalf.com. Lastly, our Half Marathon race course has been updated to pass through some of Lakeland’s most beautiful neighborhoods and our community’s new Peterson Park! Preview our amazing new race course on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/RedRibbonRunSeries

"The Red Ribbon Run is going BIG this year," promises InnerAct Alliance's Executive Director, Angie Ellison. "Our goal is to promote healthy family living which reduces the likelihood of substance abuse, bullying, violence and other risky behaviors. Participate in a BIG way by sponsoring, running, or volunteering on our event website
at www.redribbonhalf.com or on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RedRibbonRunSeries."

“Our Community Convenes” Thursday, May 26, 2016

Prevent Harm. Promote Health.

Polk County, FL – StandUP Polk is proud to be hosting “Our Community Convenes”, an event to share important data to help our community be safer and better informed, on Thursday, May 26, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the new Polk State Center for Safety Auditorium, 1251 Jim Keene Boulevard, in Winter Haven.

We invite the public to be part of Polk County’s strategic plan for prevention of substance abuse and risky behaviors. Key representatives from the Polk Health Department, Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney’s Office, colleges, businesses, and other local organizations, will be on hand to help present local facts and information that will support the decisions made in prevention for the coming years.

StandUP Polk is a community coalition working together to prevent harm and promote health through education, public awareness, and advocacy including strategies to prevent youth substance abuse.

For more information, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777 or by email to: standuppolk@inneractalliance.org

RED RIBBON FIFTH GRADE RALLIES POSTER, POETRY & ESSAY CONTESTS – WINTER HAVEN AREA WINNERS

RED RIBBON FIFTH GRADE RALLIES 

POSTER, POETRY and ESSAY CONTESTS – WINTER HAVEN AREA WINNERS 

Polk County, FL – InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Fifth Grade Rally for The Facts Poster, Poetry, and Essay Contest for Fifth Grade Students in the greater Winter Haven/Haines City area schools. Contest participants were recognized during the Red Ribbon Rally on Thursday morning, May 12, at 10:00 a.m. at Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven.

The prevention rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Students were challenged to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate how they live their lives drug free and show the truth about how most young people do not use drugs or alcohol. Overall winners in each category were awarded cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place).

Winter Haven Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners

Poster Contest
1^st Place $100.00 - Kariann Martinez from Loughman Oaks

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Glenisse Bruno Vazquez from Loughman Oaks 

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Andrew Tysarczyk from Davenport School of the Arts

                                   

Poetry Contest
1^st Place $100.00 - Jaida Graham from Dundee Ridge Middle Academy

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Alison Bergeron from Auburndale      

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Aidan Copeland from Lena Vista

Essay Contest
1^st Place $100.00 - Kaylee Stoudemire from Elbert
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Meaghan Knowles from Lake Alfred  

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Ciara Folk from Davenport School of the Arts

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall – Berkley

Guest speaker for the Rallies is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America encouraging students to do their best in all of their endeavors. Grady is the author of “Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and “Teen Power and Beyond.”

InnerAct Alliance is proud to have provided substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities since 1985 with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, teen-driven social marketing, and awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others with an important substance abuse prevention message.

For further information on the Fifth Grade Rallies, please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.  

RED RIBBON FIFTH GRADE RALLIES POSTER, POETRY & ESSAY CONTESTS - LAKELAND AREA WINNERS

 RED RIBBON FIFTH GRADE RALLIES
POSTER, POETRY & ESSAY CONTESTS - LAKELAND AREA WINNERS

Lakeland, FL – InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Fifth Grade Rally for the Facts Poster, Poetry, and Essay Contest for Fifth Grade Students in the greater Lakeland area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the Red Ribbon Fifth Grade Rallies, which take place on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at The Lakeland Center.

The prevention rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Students were challenged to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate how they live their lives drug free and show the truth about how most young people do not use drugs or alcohol. Overall winners in each category will be awarded cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place).

Congratulations to Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners

Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners for 9:30 AM RALLY

Poster Category           
1^st Place $100.00 - Naline Pierre from Highlands Grove                

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Ava Wilke from Wendell Watson
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Katie Marie Jarvis from Kathleen

Poetry Category

1^st Place $100.00 - Leah Nipper from Dr. N.E. Roberts
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Julie Hollingsworth from Churchwell

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Taleah Brinson from Crystal Lake

Essay Category

1^st Place $100.00 - Gwendolyn Olson from Wendell Watson

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Madison Fletcher from Padgett

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Ashtyn Hallman from Highlands Grove  

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall – Kingsford

Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners for 11:30 AM RALLY

Poster Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Jonathan McCree from McKeel Academy Central

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Alicia Prevost from South McKeel 
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Susannah Braswell from Lincoln Academy

Poetry Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Tanya Pizarro from Southwest

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Alyssa Taylor from St. Paul Lutheran                   

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Kylie Spurlock from Lincoln Academy

Essay Category           
1^st Place $100.00 - Celeste Ramirez from Blake Academy

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Malaisha Jones from Cleveland Court

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Liam Goff from St. Anthony

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall – South McKeel

Guest speaker for the Rallies is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America encouraging students to do their best in all of their endeavors. Grady is the author of “Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and “Teen Power and Beyond.”

Another rally for Winter Haven and Haines City area schools will be held on May 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Polk State College Gym. Contest winners for those schools will be announced next week.

InnerAct Alliance is proud to have provided substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities since 1985 with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, teen-driven social marketing, and awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others with an important substance abuse prevention message.

For further information on the Fifth Grade Rallies, please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.  

Spring 2016 Prescription Drug Take Back Event Nets 1,908.14 lbs. of Medications

Spring 2016 Prescription Drug Take Back Event 

                                   Nets 1,908.14 lbs. of Medications

Polk County, FL - StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies were proud to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event on April 30, 2016 for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted human and pet medication.

An estimated 1,908.14 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals were collected and safely disposed of via incineration, exceeding the expected goal of 1,500 pounds. Drop-off sites included Auburndale Police Department, Davenport Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Lake Alfred Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, Lake Hamilton Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, and Winter Haven Police Department.

The latest event brings the total for collections held in Polk County to nearly 8,400 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals dating back to 2010. All medications were safely disposed of via incineration. 

Unwanted medications may also be taken to the county’s six permanent drop sites at the Police Department locations in: Auburndale (2 Bobby Green Plaza, weekdays 8-5); Haines City (35400 Hwy 27, weekdays 8-5); Lake Alfred (190 N. Seminole Avenue, 24hrs/7days); Lake Hamilton (100 Smith Avenue, weekdays 8-5); Lakeland (219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, 24hrs/7days); and Winter Haven (125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, weekdays 8-5).  To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dispose of medication in the toilet.  

StandUP Polk is a community coalition working together to prevent harm and promote health through education, public awareness, and advocacy including strategies to prevent youth substance abuse. For more information, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.

FIFTH-GRADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN RED RIBBON RALLIES ON MAY 4 & 12, 2016

FIFTH-GRADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN RED RIBBON RALLIES ON MAY 4 & 12, 2016

Polk County, FL – Nearly 6,000 fifth grade students have been invited by InnerAct Alliance to attend Red Ribbon Rallies in May to encourage the choice of a positive lifestyle without the use of drugs. Events will take place on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at The Lakeland Center, and on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven.

The prevention rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school.  The facts show that the majority of young people choose not to use drugs or alcohol.  Instead, they find effective ways to deal with everyday pressures and challenges in their lives without resorting to substance use.

The guest speaker is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors. Community leaders and law enforcement members will also be on hand to encourage the choice of a positive, healthy lifestyle without the use of drugs.

Fifth grade students have been challenged to participate in the Fifth Grade Rally for The Facts Contest and create original essays, poems, and posters that illustrate how they choose to live their lives drug free and convey the truth about how most young people do not use drugs or alcohol. Contest winners will be recognized during the rallies with cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 awarded to overall first place winners in each contest category.

The mission of InnerAct Alliance is to reduce the abuse and underage use of harmful substances along with involvement in other risky behaviors while supporting positive healthy decisions through: Community Awareness and Support; Prevention Education; Economic Impact; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is proud to have provided substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities since 1985 with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, teen-driven social marketing, and awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others with an important substance abuse prevention message.

For further information on the Fifth Grade Rallies, please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.  

Congratulations UthMpact Class V Graduates

Congratulations UthMpact Class V Graduates!

On Thursday evening, April 7, 2016, UthMpact celebrated graduation for its Fifth Class of High School Student Leaders who successfully completed the 2015-2016 UthMpact Leadership Program. We are extremely proud that nearly 200 students representing every high school in the county have been enriched by this program in its five years in existence.

The UthMpact Leadership Program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, UthMpact Coalition, and key business partners, is designed to help teens develop crucial leadership skills and entails a two-day summer retreat, six Leadership Days spent traveling throughout the community experiencing the inner workings of local government, healthcare, education, business, volunteerism, and law enforcement, as well as participation in dozens of events and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. The group’s most prominent project has been its social-norms program, now in its 6^th year, that has impacted students in area high schools with important messages about bullying, distracted driving, tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and prescription drugs.

Congratulations to our UthMpact Class V Graduates:  Alyssa Blythe, Morgan Boles, Ana Brighton, AJ Cadena, Gabrielle Clark, Audrey Cossin, Trenton Curtis, Connor Devore, Alex Fagan, Rebecca Green, Macy Gullifer, Andre Hall, Trevor Hallett, Kayli Higginbotham, Hannah Hogg, Taylor Jackson, Francis Mabito, George Madden, Demetrius Marshall, II,    Megan Martinez, Magdalena Moskal, Sydney Mumbauer, Sadie Owen, Nandan Patel, Victor Persichetti, Colin Phillips, Desmond Richemond, Yatziri Rodriguez, Brandon Rubio, India Saxena, Lyla Saxena, Rachel Swygert, Carlos Torres, Greeshma Venigalla, Anastasia Wall-Lobdell, Taylor Welch, Caleb Willis, and Cole Yrastorza.

The April 7^th ceremony also honored graduating seniors from UthMpact classes III, IV, and V:  Bella Basalone, Morgan Boles, Gabrielle Clark, Jared Cossin, Catherine Curran, Emily Dunson, Lindsay Giliam, George Madden, Megan Martinez, Magdalena Moskal, Hadley Owen, Michaela Sawyer, Julia Schindler, James Shiver, Rachel Swygert, Carlos Torres, and Cole Yrastorza.

UthMpact  is proud to congratulate James Shiver and Bella Basalone, two deserving students who each  were awarded $500 UthMpact Scholarships for exemplifying the qualities of leadership within UthMpact and their respective schools and communities. Other special awards presented at the UthMpact ceremony were the “Lasting Impact Award” to Anastasia Wall-Lobdell, for her impactful leadership embodying the mission and future vision of UthMpact, and “Most Community Service Hours” to Desmond Richemond.