CONTACT: Elizabeth Golshteyn | National Family Partnership
P: 305-856-4886
E: EGolshteyn@InformedFamilies.Org
This Year the Red Ribbon Campaign Delivered over 200 Million Messages to Be Drug-Free!
(Photo: Region 3 School Winner – Becky Hoffman – Lee’s Summit – Pleasant Lea Middle School )
December 4th, 2023 – Miami, FL– The results are in! The National Family Partnership (NFP) is proud to announce the twenty (20) winners of its 13th Annual National Red Ribbon Week® Photo Contest, held in conjunction with National Red Ribbon Week,® which takes place each year from October 23rd through 31st. Families and individuals who entered on behalf of their schools will receive an Apple iPad and a $1,000 donation will be made to the K-12 school of their choice in support of drug-free prevention education.
Sponsored by the National Family Partnership (NFP) and co-sponsored by our longest standing partner, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the annual contest invites families and schools across the country to decorate the fronts of their homes and schools with a double-looped red ribbon to create awareness about the importance of staying drug-free. In addition to the double-looped red ribbon, all photo contest submissions were required to incorporate the 2023 campaign Theme, “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free.” ™
National Family Partnership is leading the charge in America to help families and children to reach their full potential. NFP is committed to helping families and children reach their full potential. Nancy Reagan’s message from the 1980s is still relevant today as we face the latest drug epidemics-this is a disease of denial and blame. Parents are the Number One Direct Factor that kids don’t use drugs. This is why National Family Partnership partners with NIMCO. It is impossible to help without donations such as NIMCO. NIMCO is the only place families, children, and schools can purchase Red Ribbon Merchandise Theme material to support ongoing drug education in the schools.
The 2023 Red Ribbon Week Theme, "Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free."™ was submitted by Danielle Helm, a Youth Service Coordinator from Russell County Middle School in Russell Springs, Kentucky. “I chose this theme because drugs alter our current brain development and hinders further growth. Drugs decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the reward system of our brain, such as Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins. This can block our brain from naturally experiencing happiness,” said Danielle. "Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free". is about making positive choices to be happy and healthy-that is being kind to our mind.”
The winning photos were among hundreds of entries uploaded to www.RedRibbon.org. Ten (10) winners received the most votes in their designated regions, and ten (10) winners were chosen from a list of categories that included: Most Creative, Best Use of Theme, Most Educational, Most Ambitious, Best Use of Family and Community, and Most Creative School.
"The red ribbon symbolizes a national unity on drug prevention” said Peggy Sapp, President and CEO of Informed Families and Volunteer President of National Family Partnership. “Our goal is to nurture a 21st century generation of children and teens who are taught about the dangers of substance misuse.”
DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was murdered in 1985, is the inspiration behind the Red Ribbon Campaign. Americans started spontaneously wearing the red ribbon as symbol for drug education and awareness. The campaign and contest are reminders about the importance of staying drug-free, and the contest aims to engage communities in a fun and interactive way.
Did You Win? Visit www.RedRibbon.org/Contest/Winners to view the twenty (20) winning photos!
2023 Contest Winners
Regional Home Winners:
- Region 1 – Angela Mumford – Cambridge Springs, PA – Cambridge Springs Jr./Sr. High School
- Region 2 – Emma Williams – Swanquarter, NC – Mattamuskeet School
- Region 3 – Becky Barnhill – Edina, MO – Knox County School District
- Region 4 – Jose Jacob Unsay – Dededo, Guam – John F. Kennedy High School
- Region 5 – Dinah Joy Bustamante – Folsom, CA – Sutter Middle School
Regional School Winners:
- Region 1 – Kelly Sartre – Braintree, MA – Braintree High School
- Region 2 – Jennifer Moser and Jacqueline Ortiz – Miramar, FL– Glades Middle School
- Region 3 – Becky Hoffman – Lee’s Summit – Pleasant Lea Middle School
- Region 4 – Erica Guevara – Brownsville, TX – A. X. Benavides Elementary School
- Region 5 – Kristen Cunningham – Saratoga, California – Saratoga High School
Home Judges Awards:
- Most Creative – Laura Beebe Wiegand – Cambridge, MA – Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
- Most Ambitious – Lynne Chambless – Tustin, CA – Calvary Christian School
- Best Use of Family and Community – Jean Goy – Ramona, CA – Mt. Woodson Elementary School
- Best Use of Theme – Dan Trinh – Alhambra, CA – Monterey Highlands Elementary School
- Most Educational – Ruth Chi – Upper Marlboro, MD – St Mary of the Assumption
School Judges Awards:
- Most Creative – Alisa Nepp – Ringgold, GA – Ringgold Elementary School
- Most Ambitious – Rachel Knight – Orlando, FL – Orlando Science Elementary
- Best Use of Family and Community – SRO Deputy Jodi Kauffman – Wooster, OH – Triway Local Schools
- Best Use of Theme – Angie Corno – Baltimore, MD – St. Joseph School-Fullerton
- Most Educational – Carley Welborn – Diana, TX – New Diana High School
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About the National Family Partnership
The National Family Partnership was established in 1980 and is a national leader in drug prevention, education and advocacy. Its mission is to educate families, and to help kids grow up safe, healthy and drug free, through the promotion of two national campaigns: Red Ribbon Week® and the Lock Your Meds® campaign for prescription drug abuse awareness. Learn more about Red Ribbon Week at www.RedRibbon.org, Lock Your Meds at www.LockYourMeds.org and NFP at www.nfp.org.
