Thank you!

November 8, 2010

Dear Editor:

“I’m Not Afraid To Take A Stand” was the theme for an unbelievably successful Red Ribbon Week 2010. It was a banner year with record numbers of individuals, businesses, organizations and agencies joining together to celebrate drug free, violence free youth in La Paz County.

Major supporters this year included Parker Area Alliance for Community Empowerment (PAACE), La Paz County School Superintendent’s Office, Arizona Western College, Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona, Colorado River Indian Tribes, La Paz County Public Health and Education Prevention Program (PHEPP), New Hope Hospice, Walmart and schools throughout La Paz County.

The week long campaign kicked off in Bouse with a Red Ribbon Parade and Fun Day. The Parker Area Chamber of Commerce headed up our Business Decorating Contest and awarded two grand prize baskets filled with items donated by Kiki’s Cottage, KLPZ, BlueWater Cinemas and Anita’s Beauty Creations. We appreciate all the businesses who showed their support by decorating. Soroptimist Club of Parker “Painted the Parks Red,” with red ribbons, and National Bank of Arizona showcased a display in their lobby to inform the community about PAACE and Red Ribbon Week. BlueWater Cinemas donated prizes, displayed posters from the Poster Contest and showed Red Ribbon information during movie previews. Fascinating Things donated a number of bows and put on a “bow making workshop” at the Players 9th Street Youth Center.

Numerous activities took place throughout the week including events at Parker High School, Salome High School and Scholars Academy sponsored by PAACE, PHEPP, Youth 4 Youth 4-H Club and University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. A number of area businesses provided incentives to kids wearing their Red Ribbon Wristbands including; Burger King, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, KFC and BlueWater Cinemas in Parker, as well as Loves Travel Center Subway, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Silly Al’s Pizza and McDonald’s in Quartzsite. On Wednesday, KLPZ, KPKR and U of A Cooperative Extension sponsored “Stand-Up Against Drugs and Violence,” a countywide event to remind students and others why we recognize Red Ribbon Week each year. Schools decorated classroom doors and students at Blake Primary School took part in their own Red Ribbon Week assembly and parade, marching around their campus.

As always the week culminated with our annual Family Fun Day. It was another overwhelming success with more than 870 people in attendance. Thank you to the more than 80 individuals and businesses who sponsored our t-shirts by donating $25 as well as those who also donated prizes for events throughout the week and for Family Fun Day including;

Duce and Tammy Minor  ●  Bulldog Lock & Key  ●  Hal and Nancy Collett  ●  HEMET Productions  ●  KPKR 95.7 FM River Rat Radio  ●  National Bank of Arizona  ●  La Paz Career Center  ●  Betty Hunter Realty  ●  Parker United Methodist Church  ●  Pastor Gary and Jeannie Ward  ●  Oasis Mini-Mart  ●  Judge Charlene Shontz-Weis  ●  Judge Joe Weis (Memory)  ●  River Cities United Way  ●  David Plunkett Realty  ●  AEA Federal Credit Union  ●  Parker Area Chamber of Commerce  ●  Parker Schools  ●  Parker Oil Products, Inc.  ●  Bob’s Furniture  ●  River Rags  ●  Don and Lois Moore  ●  Colorado River Regional Crisis Shelter – New Hope Thrift Store  ●  Long’s Pizza  ●  Parker Sears  ●  Elite Customs  ●  Spanky’s RV & Marine  ●  Quartzsite Rotary Club  ●  Farmers Insurance Company  ●  Parker Accounting Services  ●  Subway  ●  Carvel/Cinnabon  ●  Community Intervention Associates  ●  Chuy’s Car Wash  ●  Chuy’s Barber Shop  ●  David Plunkett Realty – Bouse  ●  Friends of the Bouse Public Library  ●  Bouse General Store  ●  Bouse Public Library  ●  Bouse Genies  ●  Bouse Elementary Student Support Team  ●  A & C Mercantile  ●  Bouse Southern Baptist Church  ●  Soroptimist International of Parker  ●  BlueWater Cinemas  ● Players 9^th Street Youth Center  ●  Youth 4 Youth 4-H Club  ●  Parker Rotary Club  ●  Sparkletts Water  ●  Parker Police Explorers  ●  Lickity Stitch  ●  Fascinating Things  ●  Don and DoRann Davis  ●  Bashas’  ●  Del Monte  ●  Parker Police Department  ●  Lion’s Club  ●  La Paz County Sheriff’s Department  ●  KLPZ 1380 AM Country and a Little More  ●  Arizona Department of Public Safety  ●  Town of Parker  ●  University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Office  ●  Parker Pioneer  ● VFW/Ladies Auxiliary/American Legion Auxiliary  ●  Bouse Volunteer Fire District  ●  River Medical  ●  Dollar General  ●  Beall’s Outlet  ●  Emerald Canyon Golf Course ● Arizona Tire & Wheel ● Country Kitchen Cafe ● Christ’s Church on the River

The Parker Police Department and Parker Police Explorers supplied hot dogs, buns and condiments. Sparkletts Water donated bottled water. The Parker Lions Club supported Family Fun Day by spending the day barbequing over 800 hot dogs and making cotton candy and popcorn. Blake-Wallace PTA provided a bounce house for the kids. Others taking part in Family Fun Day included, Carvel/Cinnabon, Subway, Youth 4 Youth 4-H Club, Colorado River Regional Crisis Shelter, La Paz County Career Center, Parker Fire Department, Soroptomist International, River Medical, Community Intervention Associates (CIA), Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), First Things First, Wallace Junior High School, La Paz County Sheriff’s Department, Parker Public Library, Mish Mash Studios, Girl Scouts/Brownies, CRIT Head Start, Bashas’, Christ’s Church on the River, Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Ariziona, Del Monte Fresh Produce, U of A Cooperative Extension, PHEPP, Oasis Mini-Mart, Don & DoRann Davis, La Paz County Sheriff’s Department, Wallace Junior High School and the Parker Pioneer.

No doubt, we could fill an entire page with thank you’s! Short of that, we simply want to express again, our sincere appreciation to each and every business and individual who found some way to “Take A Stand” against drugs and violence during Red Ribbon Week 2010. Please remember, it is important to let the youth in our community know every day that we support them and encourage them to be happy and successful by living their lives drug free, and violence free.

Sincerely,

Duce Minor
PAACE Executive Director