Red Ribbon Week kicks off Monday

Red ribbons will be proudly worn across St. Tammany Parish this week in support of the same message — Stand Proud-Take a Stand. Red Ribbon Week is Monday through Friday, and the focus will be on presenting a healthy drug-free lifestyle education program throughout all schools.

PRIDE, the Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education, began the red ribbon program to raise drug awareness and education. It will be passing out the tradition red wristbands and ribbons for students and teachers.

In addition, the PRIDE troupe will perform at Fontainebleau High School in Mandeville Monday morning and Creekside Junior High in Pearl River Monday afternoon. The troupe is comprised of 170 high school students who want to make a difference and promote a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle to their peers. They sing, dance, perform skits and generally provide an entertaining and informative program about the dangers of drugs, smoking and alcohol.

Schools have their own schedule of events planned for the week, many containing themes such as jersey day, where students can wear a team jersey to team up against drugs; inside-out day, when students wear their clothes inside out; crazy sock day; hat day; and red day, when students wear red.

The PRIDE 25th anniversary Gala and annual Giving Campaign will be held Sunday at the Castine Center in Pelican Park in Mandeville from 6-9 p.m.

Admittance to the fundraiser and education program is free and open to the public.

In addition to two performances of the PRIDE troupe, there will be a silent auction and other surprises, said Libby Cole, prevention coordinator for PRIDE.

PRIDE also provides leadership training, family life-skills, education and prevention programs designed to reduce the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.