Contact Information:
Michelle Vernuccio
Media Coordinator
973.467.2100 x24
michelle@drugfreenj.org

HUDSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOUT DOWN DRUGS

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Hudson County high school students who participated in the “7th Annual Hudson County Shouts Down Drugs” music competition performed their substance abuse prevention songs live on Friday, April 11, 2008, at the Newport Centre, Jersey City.

High school students throughout Hudson County were asked to create a substance abuse prevention song with original lyrics. This peer-to-peer song writing competition was created by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and United Way of Hudson County to reach out to teenagers through the most inspiring media outlet, music.

A panel of judges came together the night of the concert and selected the first place winners for this year’s competition. A group called, Zeal composed of Domnique Grant, Kaniesha Smith and Julian Gregory Summers, from Henry Snyder High School took first-place honors with their winning song titled “Pressure”. Zeal was awarded with a $1,000 music contract from the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and United Way of Hudson County officials.

The runners-up in this song writing competition include Drug Free Groups (Jozell Moon, Jonathan Morales and Nicholas Robinson) from Mount Carmel Guild High School in Kearny, Ryan Sinisi from Secaucus High School in Secaucus and Ryan Roche from Liberty High School in Jersey City. Each runner-up received an achievement certificate and trophy.

“Music is a universal language and this event provides teenagers with the opportunity to promote drug prevention to their peers in a very create way, “explained Angelo M. Valente, executive director of the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey.

“United Way of Hudson County is proud to support the “Hudson County Shouts Down Drugs” music competition, a project that encourages Hudson County high school students to be peer leaders in the fight against drugs,” explained Daniel Altilio, president and CPO, United Way of Hudson County.

"We were pleased, once again, to serve as annual host of Hudson County Shouts Down Drugs and provide local kids with a venue to voice this important message about substance abuse prevention," commented Newport Centre Director of Mall Marketing Jill Daniel. "As part of our commitment to give back to the community in which we do business, we fully support these youngsters and congratulate the first-place honorees from Henry Snyder High School for their inspiring song and fine achievement."

The Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) was created in 1992 with a mission to reduce the incidence of substance abuse throughout New Jersey. PDFNJ continues to serve as an anti-drug alliance to localize, strengthen and deepen drug and alcohol abuse prevention media efforts in our state. PDFNJ also offers school-based programs, drug-free workplace assistance, and parent education training. The Center for Prevention Research, provides grant support to New Jersey Scholars researching all substance abuse related issues, and acts as a central depository of information for all members of the New Jersey prevention community, government officials and the media to utilize. PDFNJ works in cooperation with the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the NJ Department of Human Services. All PDFNJ programs are available free of charge to the residents of New Jersey.

Newport Centre is managed by Simon Property Group, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Located in close proximity to Manhattan, the mall is anchored by Sears, Macy’s, Kohl’s and JC Penney with over 150 specialty stores. Additional Simon Property Group information is available at www.simon.com.