25^th Anniversary Annual Appeal

1982 – 2007

   . . .  helping our families address substance abuse issues

Executive Director 

Lynne D. Krukosky

Board of Trustees 

Jennifer Somers, President
Linda J. Williams, V. P.
Mary Fox, Treasurer
Edward Savino
Sandy Montano
Matthew Buesing
David Rippert
Richard Rixey
 

May, 2007

Dear Friend of Cape Assist:

Parents today face increasing challenges in raising their children.  In today’s world, there are so many “personalities,” but few role models.  Everywhere children turn, they see so much hype, and so little substance; they’re surrounded by so much noise, and so little silence; they feel so much pressure to act, with so little time to think.  In the face of this confusion and anxiety, some turn to dangerous substances.

“Melissa” was a freshman in high school when she started drinking.  Under pressure to fit in, she had a few beers with her new friends on weekends.  Soon she was binge drinking hard liquor.  She had trouble staying asleep at night because alcohol was affecting her central nervous system.  She took some of her mom’s sleeping pills, which made it difficult to wake up in the morning.  She started skipping school.  She went to “pill parties” to maintain her supply of sleeping pills.  Melissa’s grades began to suffer, and she no longer played field hockey.  She tried to stop drinking but could not.  By the time she was a junior in high school, Melissa was addicted to alcohol and sleeping pills.  Her future was compromised at the tender age of 17.

In our children’s young lives, there are serious decisions to make.   Could we have prevented what happened to Melissa?  I believe we could have, and I believe Cape Assist has prevented similar scenes from playing out in the lives of young people in our community. 

Research shows that despite all the challenges, parents still hold the most influence over their children.  A strong family gives children the best chance to grow into healthy adults.  Cape Assist is in the business of preventing substance abuse, and one way to do that is by strengthening families. Communicating with teenagers, setting limits, spending time together as a family – these are some of the things we emphasize in our Strengthening Families Program.

The growing field of substance abuse prevention has identified specific strategies that work in preventing young people from turning to drugs and alcohol. Cape Assist uses these strategies in proven programs and services such as:

·         Forest Friends and Sea Life (for pre-school through 2^nd grade)

·         K.A.R.E. Center (after-school program)

·         IMPACT (alcohol education for first-offending teens)

·         Student Assistance (school-based substance abuse prevention)

·         Resource Center (substance abuse information and education)

·         Referral Services (for individuals/families in need of counseling/treatment)

I am proud of the role Cape Assist plays in the community.  We depend on the generosity of our donors to continue our efforts.  Please make a contribution to Cape Assist and help give our children and families the chance to enjoy a healthy, drug-free future.  Your generous support, in any dollar amount, will make a difference.  We have set our goal at $25,000 for this special 25^th anniversary year.  With your help, I am confident we will reach it. 

Thank you for considering a contribution to Cape Assist this year.

Sincerely,

Lynne D. Krukosky

Executive Director    
  

            25^th Anniversary Cape Assist Annual Appeal 2007

             Examples of how your contribution goes to work right here in Cape May County: 

Sobering statistics:

·         Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking.
 

·         Children who begin drinking alcohol before age 15 have a five times greater chance of developing a problem with alcohol than those who wait until the legal age of 21.

Hope for families:

·         The more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs.  Teens who dine with their families 5-7 nights per week receive the most benefit.
 

·         Children whose parents were involved, talked with them, and set clear expectations for their behavior were more likely to see alcohol as harmful and were less likely to initiate alcohol use early.  
 

Research data from:

CASA (Center of Addiction & Substance Abuse) 

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration)

3819 New Jersey Avenue, Wildwood, NJ  08260     609.522.5960   609.522.4074 (fax)

To donate through our website, please go to www.capeassist.org

For financial information on Cape Assist, including IRS Form 990, please go to www.guidestar.org