Check out the newest information about the Courage to Speak® Foundation and drug abuse prevention. Click here to view even more events, programs, and news for the Courage to Speak® Foundation. Click here to download race sponsor, volunteer, participant registration form Click here to view the letter for Ian’s Race  Click here to for the press release May 9, 2013 Running Toward a Healthy Lifestyle The Courage to Speak Foundation Announces The 15th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race to take place on Saturday, July 27, 2013 at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, CT.   Ginger Katz, CEO and Founder of The Courage to Speak® Foundation and author of Sunny’s Story, announced The 15th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race, which will take place on Saturday, July 27th at 8:00 am at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Connecticut and is promoted by the Lightfoot Running Club. Click here to read more.  Local anti-drug crusader Katz to appear on O'Reilly Factor  By LESLIE LAKE  Thursday, May 2, 2013 Ginger Katz and Bill O'Reilly after her interview NORWALK -- Viewers of the Fox News Channel O'Reilly Factor will see a familiar face on Friday night May 3rd at 8pm and 11pm as local anti-drug crusader Ginger Katz will join Bill O'Reilly to address the topic of reducing sentencing guidelines for drug dealers. Click here to read more Mother whose son died from drug overdose shares heart-rending story: Her book relates boy's tale through eyes of the family dog By Andrea Bulfinch abulfinch@fosters.com Tuesday, April 9, 2013 Courtesy photo Ginger Katz talks to seventh- and eighth-grade Dover Middle School students on Monday about the death of  her 16-year-old son, Ian, from a drug overdose. She shares his story in a book titled "Sunny's Story," which tells Ian's story as seen through the eyes of the family dog. DOVER — If one student can be saved from a fatal drug overdose, the work and time put into sharing her son's story will have been worth it for Ginger Katz, author of “Sunny's Story.” The book tells the tale of her son Ian's death due to a drug overdose through the eyes of the family beagle. Dover Middle School students have each read the book and on Monday, heard from Katz herself as she spoke during two assemblies at the school with her husband Larry Katz, Ian's stepfather. Click here to read more Woman who lost son to drugs to tell Ian's Story By Andrea Bulfinch abulfinch@fosters.com Saturday, April 6, 2013 DOVER — The story of Sunny the Beagle, a tragic tale of how a canine’s best friend was needlessly lost to drugs, will be told by “Sunny’s Story” author, Ginger Katz, to students at Dover Middle School Monday. The story is inspired by the author’s son Ian’s losing battle with drugs. Click here to read more Photos above by Richard Bonenfant  Giving people the Courage to Speak in Westford By Joyce Pellino  Crane GateHouse News Service March 30, 2013  Ginger Katz founded the Courage to Speak in 1996, just months after her 20-year-old son Ian James Eaccarino died of an accidental drug overdose. Katz is speaking at the Stony Brook Middle School, 9 Farmer Way, Tuesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. The Courage To Speak Foundation develops drug prevention curricula for elementary, middle and high school students as well as for parents through Courage to Speak -- Courageous Parenting 101. Katz speaks to parents and students of all ages. More information can be found at couragetospeak.org. The event is sponsored by Lowell General Hospital and the Westford Parent Connection. Click here to read more Families Empowered by Having the Courage to Speak® By Andrew Brophy Wednesday, March 20, 2013  Andrea Mandujano, a fourth grade student at Brookside Elementary School, reads a letter to Ginger Katz, CEO and founder of The Courage to SpeakAE Foundation, during the 9th Annual Courage to Speak Empowering Youth to Be Drug-Free Family Night at West Rocks Middle School in Norwalk on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Photo: Amy Mortensen In death, Ian Eaccarino is helping others fight against the addiction he couldn't overcome in life. Hundreds of Norwalk middle-school students made a pledge this year not to use drugs after hearing of Eaccarino's battle with drug addiction and accidental death from a heroin overdose at the age of 20. Click here to read more Kids urged to remain drug free, parents encouraged to speak out at West Rocks event  By ROBIN KAMINSKI  Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Marc Abubo from Brookside Elementary School shows off his anti-drug art which is among many on display by local  students Tuesday at the 9th annual Courage To Speak Empowing Youth to be Drug Free Night at West Rocks School. Hour photo/Matthew Vinci NORWALK -- For the past 16 years, Ginger Katz has countlessly relived the painful story of her son Ian's drug overdose in an attempt to dissuade children from going down the same path. On Tuesday, Katz once again reached out to children and parents to talk about the dangers of drugs at the ninth annual Courage to Speak Empowering Youth to be Drug-Free Family Night at West Rocks Middle School. Click here to read more March 19, 2013  Norwalk Students Take Drug-Free Vows By: Mike Peal   Students from across Norwalk vowed a drug free future Tuesday night at West Rocks middle school. Tuesday marked the Courage to Speak Foundation's ninth annual drug free family night, which aims to do exactly what it sounds like: encourage families to stay drug free together. Click here to read more March, 15, 2013 Courage to Speak Family Night is set, Katz meets Clinton The Courage to Speak Foundation will hold its 9th annual Courage to Speak Empowering Youth to Be Drug-Free Family Night at 5:15 p.m. on March 19, at West Rocks Middle School. Click here to read more. March 08, 2013  Foundation Gives Students Courage to Speak - West Rocks to host 9th annual drug prevention event  By: Mike Peal Ginger Katz knows a little bit about a drug free community.  She's been advocating for one for 16 years -- ever since her own son, Ian, died of a drug overdose.  "I wasn't ashamed of my son," Katz says.  "He was a good kid but he made an unhealthy decision to use drugs.  And I was not going to lie about him." Click here to read more.  YOU’RE INVITED! Click here to view a letter from Ginger inviting you to Family Night Click here to view the Family Night Invitation Flyer Click here to view the Family Night Poster Click here to view the Family Night Letter Click here to view Sponsorship Agreement Click here to view the Press Release Click here to view the Save the Date Click here to listen to the radio interview of Ginger Katz  Click Here Listen to this Radio Interview of Ginger Katz with John Voket talking about the 9th Annual Courage to Speak Empowering Youth to be Drug Free Family Night! ***fast-forward to the 45-minute mark to hear the segment with Ginger (you  may need to download the audio file to  your computer then click to play it on  your designated music software) Teen drug use the focus of speaking event at New Canaan High By Tyler Woods Published Monday, February 18, 2013 Ginger Katz, founder of The Courage to Speak Foundation, shared the story of her son's  drug use with parents gathered at New Canaan High School on Feb. 6, 2013. Katz warned parents that low-level teen drug use could develop into addiction and dangerous consequences. Photo: Tyler Woods Her son died after snorting heroin in the basement of her house nearly 17 years ago, and Ginger Katz has been sharing her story with children, teens and parents ever since. Katz, the founder of the Courage to Speak Foundation, a Norwalk-based 501(c)(3), spoke to the public at New Canaan High School on Wednesday, Feb. 6. Earlier in the week she had made the presentation to ninth- and 10th-graders in one session and 11th- and 12th-graders in another. The foundation works to engage home, school and community in a public health endeavor to keep children safe from drugs. Click here to read more.  February 5, 2013 Expert talks teen substance abuse in New Canaan Wednesday Ginger Katz, CEO and founder of the Courage to Speak Foundation,  with a photo of her late son Ian, will be in  New Canaan on Wednesday, Feb. 6 Children will likely be offered alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, often many times, starting in middle school and continuing through high school. What can you do about this? Learn about substance abuse and gain the knowledge and skills needed to keep your children safe at a town-wide presentation by Ginger Katz, CEO and founder of the Courage to Speak Foundation, on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m. at New Canaan High School. Click here to read more.  February 1, 2013 Ginger Katz to Speak at NATIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA Norwalk, CT - Ginger Katz, CEO and Founder is headed to the Washington, D.C. area to join more than 2,000 substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from throughout the country for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's (CADCA) 23rdAnnual National Leadership Forum.  Click here to read more.                     The Courage to Speak® Foundation will conduct a “Train the Trainer” program for new facilitators to teach Courage to Speak - Courageous Parenting 101®. The training will take place on Wed. May 1st, 2013 at 10am at The Courage to Speak Foundation Office, 71 East Ave, Suite M, 2nd Floor, Norwalk, CT or Wed, May 8th, 2013 at 10:30am at Plainville Public Library, 56 East Main St., Plainville, CT. The Foundation will train social workers, teachers, prevention experts, law enforcement and other interested professionals who work with youth and families as facilitators to teach Courage to Speak - Courageous Parenting 101® to parents in their communities, schools, youth and civic organizations and other forums. Launched in 2008,109 professional facilitators are credentialed by the Courage to Speak® Foundation to teach Courageous Parenting 101® to parents in English and Spanish in communities throughout CT, NY, MA, RI and MI. To fill out an Application to become a Facilitator Click Here! Click Here to See the Flyer View the Press Release _________________________________________________________________________________________________ January 8, 2013  Grandparents Raising Teens Offered Free Talk By Ginger Katz Raising a teen is no easy task, and for grandparents raising teenagers the thought of broaching tough subjects like alcohol use and bullying may be even more daunting. Community Renewal Team's Generations Campus that houses grandparents raising grandchildren is all too familiar with these struggles and is about to kick off a lecture and workshop series to help foster beneficial intergenerational communication strategies. Click here to read more.  In Sunny’s Story, author Ginger Katz is the voice of her voiceless son and their family beagle, Sunny. In simple, but descriptive prose, Ginger lets Sunny tell the story of their beloved Ian’s experimentation with cigarettes, drugs and alcohol and its tragic consequences. Click here to read more.  To read about The Courage to Speak Foundation's Program Statistics click here. To read testimonials about The Courage to Speak Foundation click here.

Save The Date For The 9th Annual Courage to Speak®  Empowering Youth to Be Drug Free Family Night

Click here to view the Family Night Letter Click here to view Sponsorship Agreement Click here to view the Press Release

---

                         
Take a look at our New Program and Services Brochure 


Outside Brochure
Inside Brochure 

Take a look at Ginger's Overview of Work Here

---

We hear about tragic true stories like this every day on the news – but it doesn’t have to happen to your child. Come and hear a powerful presentation by Ginger Katz, who founded The Courage to Speak® Foundation with her husband Larry in 1996. The organization’s goal is to foster open communication between teens and parents, so that parents may keep their children safe and help their teens make healthy decisions.

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 15, 6 to 9 p.m.
WHERE: Amarante’s Sea Cliff, 62 Cove Street, New Haven
EMCEE: Award-winning Channel 8 newscaster Jocelyn Maminta

See flyer here

---

September 18, 2012

Knowledge is Power: Courage to Speak-Courageous Parenting 101® -The Lesson That Could Save Your Child’s Life

It is a fact that our children will be offered alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, often many times, starting in middle school and continuing through high school.  What can you do about this?  Learn about substance abuse and gain the knowledge and skills needed to keep your children safe.

A free parent education series, entitled Courage to Speak-Courageous Parenting 101^®  developed by experts with the Courage to Speak^® Foundation will be offered in English and Spanish at West Rocks Middle School, 81 West Rocks Road, Norwalk CT. The first of the three-session course will include a presentation by Ginger Katz, CEO and founder of the Foundation and author of Sunny’s Story, at 6:30 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012. 

Click here to read more. 

---

September 26, 2012 

 

Courage to Speak Foundation opens family resource center

State Rep. Gail Lavielle (R-Norwalk) spent a lot of time with her summer interns, and she talked to the young people extensively about what they thought of the new Connecticut drug laws--the one decriminalizing possession and personal use of less than one half ounce of marijuana, and the one approving the medical use of the marijuana.

"They are very confused now. They don't really understand what's OK to do and what isn't, and really what is legal and what is not," Laveille told the people gathered at the opening of the Courage to Speak Foundation Family Resource Center in Norwalk last Friday morning. "And whether having anything to do with it at all is maybe OK.

Click here to read more.     

---

September 2012 

 

Courage to Speak Foundation Opens Resource Center

The Courage to Speak Foundation cut the ribbon on its Family Resource Center Friday morning.

The foundation, started by Ginger and Larry Katz after their son, Ian Eccarino, died of an accidental drug overdose in 1996, has made anti-drug presentations at schools across the country, but the resource center will allow students and parents increase access to the foundation's materials.

Click here to read more.   

---

The Courage to Speak Foundation will dedicate its new Family Resource Center on September 21, 2012 at 8:45 AM in its headquarters at 71 East Avenue, Suite M, 2^nd Floor in Norwalk, CT. The new center will provide information on substance abuse and prevention to educate parents, teachers, and children.  Among those attending the dedication are: Norwalk Mayor Richard A. Moccia, Norwalk Chief of Police Thomas Kulhawik, Interim School Superintendent Tony Daddona and the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Click here to read more.  

 
New Haven runners take top two spots in Eaccarino Memorial 9-miler

NORWALK -- There was plenty of competition at the 14th annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-mile race on Saturday at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk as 164 runners officially crossed the finish line.

At the head of the pack were a pair of runners from New Haven as 20-year-old Colin Lu clocked in at 59 minutes and five seconds to place first and 31-year-old Joe Lauer finished a close second, just four seconds behind him.

Click here to read more.  

Running Toward a Healthy Drug-Free Lifestyle

The Courage to Speak Foundation Announces The 14^th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race to take place on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, CT

July 21, 2012 "Drug Prevention Race to Save Lives"  The 14th Annual Ian James Eaccarino 9 Mile Race   July 10, 2012   The Courage to Speak Foundation Receives Funding for Drug Prevention Education in Bridgeport The Courage to Speak Foundation is pleased to announce the receipt of a $15,000 Donor Advised Grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation for its continued work in the Bridgeport Public Schools. Awarded for the third consecutive year, this significant grant was made possible by a local donor who wishes to remain anonymous and receives philanthropic advisory services from the Foundation. This funding will support the implementation of the Courage to Speak® Drug Prevention Curriculum for Grades 4-7 in Bridgeport Public Schools.   Click here to read more.     July 10, 2012 The Courage to Speak® Foundation Receives Funding from the First County Bank Foundation, Inc. The Courage to Speak® Foundation is pleased to announce the receipt of a $5,000 grant award from the First County Bank Foundation, Inc. This grant will aid in the Foundation’s mission to “Save lives by empowering youth to be drug free and encouraging parents to communicate effectively with their children about drugs.”  Click here to read more.    June 27, 2012   Norwalk Mom Spreads Her Courage To Speak by Christine Loughran Drug addiction is not a character flaw, said Ginger Katz, the founder of the Courage to Speak Foundation. It’s a disease that requires professional help, just like any other. “The problem doesn’t seem to be going away,” she said. “I’ve always said that if you don’t talk about a problem, you won’t be able to find a solution.” Katz helped launch the Norwalk-based organization in 1996 after she lost her 20-year-old son Ian to a drug overdose. Her goal, which has now reached a national level, is to prevent her family’s tragedy from happening to others by raising awareness through educational programs as well as presentations and word of mouth. Click here to read more.     June 20, 2012  Solis honored by Patriots for paying it forward Sixteen volunteers from across New England, including Luis Solis of Norwalk, were honored as Myra Kraft Community MVPs by the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation in a ceremony at Gillette Stadium last week. The Community MVP Awards, a program for the past 12 years, honor individuals who exemplify leadership, dedication and a commitment to improving their communities through volunteerism. Click here to read more.   June 15, 2012  Norwalk's Solis honored by Kraft family foundation By CHRIS BOSAK Hour Staff Writer NORWALK -- Luis Solis, owner of Norwalk Pizza and Pasta and Don Carmelo's Mexican Grill, recently received a Myra Kraft Community MVP Award, which honors individuals who exemplify leadership, dedication and a commitment to improving their communities through volunteerism. Solis volunteers with The Courage to Speak Foundation, which will receive a $2,500 grant from the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation as a result of Solis's honor. Solis, along with the Courage to Speak Foundation, were honored at the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Luncheon held this week at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, pro football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and tight end Rob Gronkowski were on hand to congratulate the winners.  Click here to read more.

Parent tells of son's struggle with drug abuse  

Reporter - Eleanor Joyce/ NorwichBulletin.com 

As Ginger Katz spoke, pictures of her son, Ian, playing sports and attending his prom were projected onto a screen May 9 at Bacon Academy.

Katz said Ian “was captain of the soccer team, and girls just wouldn’t leave him alone.” 
Ian, a college student, died in 1996 from an accidental drug overdose at home in Norwalk at the age of 20.

“His doctor told us to tell people Ian died of a heart attack, but that was a lie,” Katz said. “If this is happening to us, this is happening to other families.”

After Ian’s death, Katz founded The Courage to Speak Foundation. Today, the education and awareness program has reached 40 states, and has 98 instructors.

Katz and her husband, Larry, spoke at Bacon Academy as part of a program sponsored by Colchester Youth Services.

During the day, students went to an assembly to hear the couple’s presentation. In the evening, more than 50 parents, children and community members attended a second session. Katz recalled that initially, Ian tried to assure his parents, “tobacco, a sip of beer and a little weed, that’s all I do.”

“But Ian soon started to cover up and deny things,” she said. Katz said parents, such as herself, enter a state of denial and sometimes blame themselves. “My job as a parent was to keep him safe,” Katz said.

Ian got counseling and went into a rehabilitation program, where he had to submit to urine testing. “We thought the problem went away,” she said. Instead, Katz said, Ian got better at lying and covering up his drug use.

Katz recommended parents discuss drugs with their children, and that youth have three to five adults that they can talk with.

“If you see someone in trouble, say something. It could save their lives. Kids, it’s all about making good decisions, thinking before you act,” Katz said.

Katz asked the Bacon Academy students earlier in the day why they thought students use drugs and their responses included stress, peer pressure and pain.

Parent Jim Ambrosia attended with his son Cody, 13, who will enter Bacon in the fall.
“It was wonderful. What she said, ‘knowledge is power.’ As a parent you have to get a hold of that power,” Ambrosia said.

Cody said what stood out for him was, “the fact that the drugs are so much more potent now.” Cody said he does have several adults in his life that he can talk to.

Parent Tina Ashley also appreciated Katz’ story.

“She had the courage to share her experience, strength and hope, and that changes lives,” Ashley said.

Get in touch
For more information, email Ginger Katz at gkatz@couragetospeak.org or call (877) 431-3295. Contact Colchester Youth Services at youthservices @colchesterct.gov or by calling (860) 537-7255.

Upcoming Presentations

See two upcoming presentations at Bacon Academy in Colchester, CT on May 9, 2012 and Foster Adoptive Mission in Bridgeport, CT on May 21, 2012.  For information on how to register or to learn more about each event take a look below! Please join us if you are able to attend. 

See Flyer for Bacon Academy Here
See Flyer for Foster Adoptive Mission Here

Courage to Speak - Courageous Parenting 101^® "Train the Trainer" for New Facilitators

Be a Part of our Team Online!

Become a Facilitator of

Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting101^®

Calling ALL Socials Workers, Drug Prevention Specialists, Health Class Teachers, Law Enforcement, Guidance Counselors, Youth and Family Services Directors,  Prevention Coalition Members and More!

CLICK HERE go to apply to take the FACILITATOR TRAINING ONLINE  

Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting 101: Offered free of charge, this multi-session substance abuse prevention education program (English and Spanish) is designed to help parents understand the impact of drug abuse on youth and give them the knowledge required to communicate more effectively with their children about the dangers of drugs and other risky behaviors.

This course covers:

-Teen drug use trends and party culture

-Protective factors and developmental assets

-Communication and listening strategies

-Why kids use drugs

-How to help your child handle stress

-Parenting styles and enabling

-The adolescent brain

-Setting boundaries

-Practical steps if use or abuse is suspected

-Warning signs

-Sources of help and more 

Evaluated by the Yale University School of Medicine:

According to the evaluation performed by Yale University, parents who have taken this course reported statistically significant increases in:

* General communication with their child

* Communication with their child about drugs

* Their knowledge about their children's lives

* Their knowledge and ability to recognize warning signs and reported that they were fairly confident in their knowledge of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs

LISTEN  to Ginger Katz, CEO & Founder, and  

Larry Katz, M.S. Nutrition & B.S. Psychology,  

discuss Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting 101 with Radio Personality, Wendy Corey. 

Fill out the application to attend this training

Learn more about Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting 101^®

For more information call 
Program Director, Carol Troy at (203) 831-9700 or email ctroy@couragetospeak.org   

The Courage to Speak^® Foundation Latest Video 2012

The Courage To Speak® Foundation Launches New Website to Continue to Protect the Lives of Children Across the Country from Drugs

The Courage to Speak® Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of their new website, www.couragetospeak.org, which features two new and exciting elements. First is the ability to access the online facilitator training to teach Courage to Speak- Courageous Parenting 101®, a free drug prevention course for parents wishing to arm themselves with the knowledge of how to keep their children safe from drugs and other risky behaviors. This online course will allow the Foundation to train new facilitators of the course throughout the country, therefore making the program available to more parents than ever before.

The new website will also include a blog for sharing timely and important prevention news and getting your feedback. The blog will allow children, parents, educators and more to have access to the most recent information about drug abuse prevention at their finger tips. Besides these new additions to the website, all other aspects of the site will be updated with the latest information, presentation schedule, list of upcoming events, personal testimonials from parents and students, resources and advice for parents and more. The new website will better serve the community in our collective mission to save lives by empowering youth to be drug free and encouraging parents to communicate effectively with their children about the dangers of drugs.

Ms. Katz has reached hundreds of thousands of people across the country, helping parents and educators keep our children safe. After her son Ian died of a drug overdose, Ginger vowed to help others avoid that heartache. The Courage to Speak Presentation inspires students, parents, educators and others to find healthy solutions in their schools and communities. Ms. Katz is also the author of Sunny’s Story, the critically acclaimed book on drug abuse told from the family beagle’s perspective and read in libraries, schools and homes nationwide. For more information about the Courage to Speak® Foundation and to see the upgraded website, visit www.couragetospeak.org, call 1-203-247-3975, or email Ginger Katz at gkatz@couragetospeak.org

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Leadership Forum

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's (CADCA) 22^nd Annual National Leadership Forum

February 2012 

The Courage to Speak Foundation has been invited by SAMHSA (US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) to CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) 22nd Annual National Leadership Forum to share the Courage to Speak Drug Prevention Programs with coalitions throughout the nation at Prevention Day on February 6th at the Gaylord Conference Center in the Washington DC area.

Ginger Katz, CEO and Founder, was selected by SAMHSA to deliver the Courage to Speak Presentation and provide an overview of the Courage to Speak Drug Prevention Programs – which effectively engage home, school and community to address youth substance abuse. With experts in the field, the Courage to Speak Foundation developed distinctive drug prevention education curricula for elementary, middle and high school taught by classroom teachers, Courageous Parenting 101® for parents and other proven drug prevention resources for students, teachers, parents, schools and communities.

Ms. Katz has reached hundreds of thousands of people across the country, helping parents and educators keep our children safe from drugs and other risky behaviors. After her son Ian died of a drug overdose, Ginger vowed to help others avoid that heartache. The Courage to Speak Presentation inspires students, parents, educators and others to find healthy solutions in their schools and communities. Ms. Katz is also the author of Sunny’s Story, the critically acclaimed book on drug abuse told from the family beagle’s perspective and read in libraries, schools and homes nationwide and has presented

As the premier and largest training conference for prevention and treatment professionals, CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is a 4-day event packed with multiple opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally-known experts and policymakers. The Forum brings together more than 2,500 participants representing community anti-drug coalitions from all regions of the country, government leaders, youth, addiction treatment professionals, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals and faith-based leaders.

For more information about the Courage to Speak Foundation visit www.couragetospeak.org, call 1-877-431-3295, or email Ginger Katz at gkatz@couragetospeak.org

About The Courage to Speak® Foundation:

The Courage To Speak® Foundation, Inc. exists to save lives by empowering youth to be drug free through fostering education and open communication about the dangers of alcohol and other drug use. Ginger Katz founded the nonprofit organization in 1996, just months after her 20 year old son Ian James Eaccarino died of an accidental drug overdose. She and her husband Larry pledged to do everything in their power to help prevent such a tragedy from happening to another family. The Courage to Speak Foundation develops drug prevention curriculum for elementary (based on Sunny's Story), middle and high school students as well as for parents through Courage to Speak - Courageous Parenting 101. Ms. Katz has given nearly 1,000 presentations to over a million young people and the adults who care about them. Please visit www.couragetospeak.org

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is sponsoring the Courage to Speak® Foundation be a part of CADCA's 22nd Annual National Leadership Forum - the Nation's largest training event for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers.

Ginger Katz will be presenting at Prevention Day on February 6, 2012.