I would like to nominate the Douglas County D.A.R.E. Foundation for the $1000.00 grant being offered by YourHub.com. The Douglas County D.A.R.E. Foundation assists in providing funding for the Douglas County Sheriff Office, Castle Rock Police Department, and Parker Police Department D.A.R.E. Programs.

In 1990, because complete funding to provide the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program was not available, the "Douglas County D.A.R.E. Foundation" was established and obtained its certification as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation is made up of dedicated community and School District members along with personnel from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Castle Rock Police Department, and Parker Police Department.

Along with proper management and funding, the Foundation works to ensure that all Douglas County Public Schools have the opportunity to receive the D.A.R.E. curriculum in their classrooms, which currently costs about $15.00 per student. Funded through public and private donations, the Foundation provides more than half of all funding for classroom study materials along with the entire costs of other related teaching aids.

D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teach children how to resist violence and the pressure to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. The core program targets fifth and sixth grade students who are exiting elementary school and entering the middle school level, a time when they are very vulnerable to peer pressure. In addition to teaching the D.A.R.E. Program, the teaching officers also visit with the kindergarten through fourth grade classes and focus on child safety and prevention issues.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office dedicates three full-time deputies to teach the D.A.R.E. program. The Castle Rock Police Department and Parker Police Department provide officers to teach the curriculum to their local elementary students. It is the goal of the Douglas County D.A.R.E. Foundation to work with the Douglas County School District in maintaining a positive role in the lives of our youth.

Since its local introduction in 1990, thousands of Douglas County fifth and sixth graders have successfully completed the D.A.R.E. program. One of the oldest and largest substance abuse and violence prevention programs in the United States, D.A.R.E. is also the most extensive drug prevention program in the country.

An important byproduct of D.A.R.E. is the impact made by these uniformed officers, who work onsite in the classroom. Because of these highly credible D.A.R.E. officers in the schools, students develop a close and trusting relationship.

When not in a classroom teaching, each D.A.R.E. officer is a roving, armed, uniformed andradio-equipped officer in the school. Given that many school population's number in the thousands of students per school, schools are communities of their own. D.A.R.E. officers protect those communities.

D.A.R.E. is one of the few prevention programs that excite students, parents, and communities. That excitement and awareness is often expanded to include other diverse prevention and intervention approaches. D.A.R.E. officers are encouraged to become aware of all school and community prevention initiatives and to encourage participation in broad based parenting, peer, student to student, and community awareness projects to prevent violence and drug use.

D.A.R.E. teaches kids how to recognize and resist the direct and subtle pressures that influence them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs.

For more information about the Douglas County D.A.R.E. Foundation and the D.A.R.E. program, visit www.dcsheriff.net