Port Chester Cares Community Coalition Wins $125,000 Grant

The Port Chester Cares Community Coalition has been awared a $125,000 grant as part of a federal effort to support youth anti-substance abuse efforts.

The funding is part of $875,000 in federal grants going to programs in Westchester:

• Westchester Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Free Youth (Westchester County)
• PACT – Parents and Community Together (Pelham)
• Port Chester Cares Community Coalition
• Ossining Communities That Care
• Ardsley SAYF Coalition
• Larchmont-Mamaroneck Responsible Action: Drug and Alcohol Resource (RADAR) Coalition
• White Plains Community That Cares

Here's how the Port Chester Cares Community Coalition describes itself:

“The PCCCC is a group of individuals, invested in the community, working together in the area of the Port Chester School District to promote positive, safe, productive and healthy lives for all, through research, education, and advocacy and by focusing our resources to reduce youth substance use and other high risk behavior and promote positive outcomes."

Events organized by the coalition this year have included the , encouraging families to spend time together by having family meals at local restaurants, and the in June. 

Coming up: Family Film Night on Sunday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m., featuring the free showing of "The Lorax" at Port Chester High School’s Ryan Stadium.

“Helping youth avoid the dangers of substance abuse is critical to healthy communities and thriving families,” said U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, in announcing the federal grants.  “Each of these initiatives is a model of effective programming that involves the community in keeping our children safe from the dangers of drugs and alcohol.  I am so pleased the federal government will support these worthy initiatives.” 

The  grants were awarded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy Drug-Free Communities Program.  The program provides grants to community coalitions that facilitate citizen participation in local drug prevention efforts.  Since 1998, more than 2,000 Drug-Free Communities grants have been issued nationwide.