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The latest effort by the Spokane Shock had no effect on the standings in the Arena 2 Football League. Few fans were there to cheer and not a single sparkling catch was shown on the replay screen.
The impact, however, may go far beyond any success the team has on the field this season.
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| Members of the Spokane Shock football team, (from left to right) Aaron Williams, Markee White and Jimmie Sutton, volunteered their time with students from West Valley High School last week to help tape a series of public service announcements about the dangers of substance use. The WVHS contingent is part of a regionwide group called Washington Drug Free Youth that promotes the benefits of staying free from drugs and alcohol. Photo by: Craig Howard |
As part of a collaboration with the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, several representatives from the Shock worked with a crew from Community Minded Media and students from West Valley High School to produce a series of public service announcements warning against the dangers of drug and alcohol use. The commercials were filmed last week at the team’s practice facility near the Spokane Business and Industrial Park. Each of the West Valley students – 15 total – are part of an organization called Washington Drug Free Youth, comprised of local middle school and high school students who have made the decision to stay substance-free.
Defensive back Aaron Williams, wide receiver Markee White and multipurpose player Jimmie Sutton donated their time to the project. A pair of 30-second PSAs will air on during televised Shock games while a 15-second message will be featured at home contests in the Spokane Arena.
Williams said he hoped those who saw the commercials would take time to listen and think.
“It’s important for us to be positive examples,” he said. “I’m hoping this will make a difference.”
Williams grew up in Huntington Beach, Calif., before moving on to play football at Cal-Poly Pamona. He said the influence of an older brother helped him stay away from the pitfalls of substance abuse.
“I think peer pressure has a lot to do with it,” Williams said.
Williams said his “relationship with God” helps keep him clean and sober these days. He expressed hope that the WDFY project would help improve the image of athletes as role models.
“We get a bad rap a lot of the time,” Williams said. “But there are quite a few athletes who really contribute to their communities.”
Maintaining a positive support system is one of the pillars of WDFY, first established in 1995 at Lakeside High School in western Spokane County.
There are now 23 chapters of WDFY in schools throughout Eastern Washington including Central Valley, University, West Valley and East Valley high schools.
The WDFY group at University, formed just three years ago, now has 225 members. There are over 300 students involved at East Valley.
“Everyone is accepted,” said Kendra Juarez, the youth program coordinator at GSSAC for four years. “You don’t have to have money or be popular to be part of WDFY. There are students from all walks of life.”
WDFY students generate awareness about the consequences of substance use through an agenda that includes voluntary drug tests throughout the school year. The schedule also includes a variety of activities and community service projects. Students also receive discounts from approximately 40 local businesses that have signed on to be WDFY vendors.
Chrissy Emerson, a West Valley senior and president of the school’s WDFY chapter, said the program provides a support system for kids to stay clean and sober.
“I think it definitely sends a message that you don’t have to follow a crowd,” she said. “And even if you are – there is a crowd you can turn to that’s doing something positive.”
Allison Sattin, Drug Free Communities coordinator at GSSAC who helped organize the commercials, gave credit to Shock owner Brady Nelson for his support of a good cause.
“This was really a group effort,” she said. “It just proved how our community can work together to generate awareness about staying substance-free.”
Want to find out more?
To learn more about the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council or becoming a WDFY merchant, call 922-8383. GSSAC provides free brochures, posters and other information with substance-free themes. Helpful Web sites include www.drugfree.org and www.timetotalk.org.
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By
Craig Howard
