Sponsors needed for youth summer outreach program

The Youth Summer Outreach program is searching for individuals and businesses to form new partnerships to fund the YSO program for an underage drinking-prevention program.

The program trains and educates youth to go into the community to raise awareness during summer vacation by targeting communities with a campaign that involves underage drinking prevention, awareness and educational materials.

“The program started in 2009 as a pilot project with only two students, and with huge success and great results, we are now planning and coordinating our fifth YSO program,” said Fathers Against Drunk Drivers Founder Robert Ybarra. “The students have a great time raising awareness with us during the summer months when they’re on vacation. They are educated and trained to go into the community with us.”

FADD takes the students out into the community three times a week from mid June to mid August, or until they go back to school.

Donations are essential, Ybarra said, adding that he needs people and businesses to step up as main supporters to make the program happen.

“At this time we do not have any government grants or big corporate sponsors,” Ybarra said. “Without donations, there would be no youth summer outreach programs. There would be no FADD.”

Sponsor levels include bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels of $100, $200, $300 and $500, respectively.

The program began in 2009 as a pilot project. In 2011, a new section was created on its website dedicated to students, teachers and schools.

Visit www.faddintl.org for more information, or contact Robert Ybarra at 756-1748 or by e-mail at faddintl@gmail.com