Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse, Inc.

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Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse awarded Selby Foundation grant

Dollars will go directly toward increasing

the awareness of the harmful effects

of substance abuse here in Sarasota County.

Venice Gondolier Sun   July 31, 2005

STAFF REPORT

SCoSA Executive Director Curt Lavarello congratulates Sherri Reynolds for being one of the five Selby honorees who received $10,000 to benefit her nonprofit organization of choice.

     The Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse was recently selected to receive a $10,000 grant on behalf of the William G. Selby and Marie Selby Foundation, to be used to further the mission of promoting substance abuse free environments here in Sarasota County.

     The grant came as a result of the Selby Scholar Search, which included applications from 10 states and a pool of more than 3,000 potential recipients.  Former Selby Scholar and Coalition Board Member Sherri Reynolds was chosen and had the opportunity to name the organization that she would provide the grant to.

     "We are absolutely ecstatic that Ms. Reynolds chose our Coalition, which further demonstrates her commitment to this community and the reduction of harmful substances that ruin so many lives," said Curt Lavarello, executive director of the countywide coalition.

     "There is probably not a person in Sarasota who has not been touched by someone they love or know that has had a drug or alcohol problem," said Sherri Reynolds, who also oversees the Safe & Drug Free Schools Program for the Sarasota County Public Schools.  "It is important that we work together as a community to solve the issues of drug abuse in not only our youth, but our elderly population as well."

     In 2000 a study conducted by the Coalition revealed that the total economic cost in Sarasota County in terms of substance abuse was more than 200 million dollars, when you factor in crime, health care and loss of productivity.  "Both the Selby Foundation and Ms. Reynolds are to be commended for their commitment to this community, and it is our hope that others in Sarasota County will join us in our quest to save lives" said Lavarello.

     For more information about assisting the Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse, call the Coaltion at 922-7233 or visit www.SCoSA.org.

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