EL1 New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Fisher Cats Join Six-Team Effort to "Strike Out Inhalant Abuse"

Published on June 20, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats News Release


MANCHESTER, NH - The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Double-A Eastern League Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, have teamed up with the Alliance for Consumer Education to create a New England-wide program to "Strike Out Inhalant Abuse" at six Minor League ballparks in six different states in 2012. The effort seeks to bring awareness to the serious problem of inhalant abuse in a unique program designed to educate parents, school officials, and individuals in the community about the often-overlooked dangers.

The Fisher Cats will work with school officials and student organizations, including SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapters, to conduct awareness school assemblies and community appearances with mascots and players to educate fans about the dangers of inhalant abuse. The Inhalant Awareness message will be shared all summer through team websites and in-stadium announcements, and the program will culminate in an "Awareness Game" at each stadium.

On Friday, June 15, the Fisher Cats began their inhalant abuse program with a visit to Henry Wilson Middle School in Farmington. Jenna Raizes, Senior Public Affairs Manager, and Fungo met with more than 100 of the school's seventh graders, teachers, and guidance counselors. Selected students challenged Fungo in "healthy habits" games including a shuttle run contest and push-up challenge before learning about the unhealthy habit of inhalant abuse. Throughout the assembly, participating students were rewarded with tickets to the Fisher Cats' Inhalant Abuse Prevention Night.

The Fisher Cats' Inhalant Abuse Prevention Night will take place at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium on Saturday, August 18 as the Fisher Cats take on the Altoona Curve, Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A special report by the "Partnership for a Drug-Free America" revealed that 1 in 5 students in the USA between the grades of six and twelve have abused an inhalant at least once in their life. In fact, inhalants are the fourth-most abused substance.

"We see a need to share this important message with families in the Fisher Cats community and throughout all of New England," said Fisher Cats president Rick Brenner. "The Fisher Cats look forward to working with the other teams on this unprecedented effort to impact all of our fans."

Additional assemblies are scheduled throughout summer and into the fall. To learn more about the Fisher Cats "Strike Out Inhalant Abuse" program, contact Jenna Raizes at 603-641-2005 ext. 177 or jraizes@nhfishercats.com. Visit www.inhalant.org for more information on inhalant abuse prevention and the Alliance for Consumer Education.

Fungo and the Fisher Cats meet with students at Henry Wilson Middle School in Farmington to express the dangers of inhalant abuse.

Check out the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from June 20, 2012


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