FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 23, 2025

Contact: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org

From left: St. Francis Academy third-grade teacher Angela Nielsen; Joe McQueen, Senior Regional Public Affairs Manager for Hudson County; Maria Spina, Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at the PSEG Foundation; PDFNJ Executive Director Angelo Valente; St. Francis Academy Principal Deborah Savage; and the third-grade class.

Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and PSEG Foundation Celebrate Healthy Choices with Third Graders at St. Francis Academy

UNION CITY, NJ—Third-grade students at St. Francis Academy received a special visit on Tuesday, June 17, as part of a statewide initiative by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and the PSEG Foundation. The organizations joined educators, local leaders, and students to celebrate the distribution of the Third Grade Healthy Life, Healthy Decisions Coloring and Activity Book, a resource that promotes drug-free and healthy living.

This educational event marked a milestone in the campaign, which has now reached 40,000 third graders across New Jersey in 2025 alone. The Life Choices book, filled with fun activities such as coloring pages, puzzles, and wellness tips, features a healthy choices contract signed by students, parents, and teachers to affirm their commitment to a substance-free lifestyle.

Tuesday’s visit was attended by Maria Spina, Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at the PSEG Foundation; Joe McQueen, Senior Regional Public Affairs Manager for Hudson County; Union City Commissioner Maryury Martinetti; Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ; third-grade teacher Angela Nielsen; Principal Deborah Savage; and the enthusiastic third-grade class.

“Hearing the students’ insightful and deeply thoughtful questions was truly moving,” said Maria Spina, Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility and PSEG Foundation. “It’s clear they’re engaging with the material in a meaningful way and truly grasp the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. At the PSEG Foundation, we aim to uplift communities, and that begins with empowering our children, who represent the future and heart of our communities.”

The Union City event reflects a broader effort by PDFNJ and the PSEG Foundation to partner with schools, community organizations, and law enforcement across New Jersey to foster early education and prevention strategies that support long-term wellness for children.

“The excitement and energy from the students at St. Francis Academy remind us why this program is so important,” said Valente. “We’re doing more than sharing educational material. We’re helping to shape lifelong values around health, self-confidence, and making positive choices.”

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Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication.  To date, more than $200 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 230 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.