1. 1 THE BOCA RATON OBSERVER
WONDER
WOMEN
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
We don’t use
scare tactics with
the kids because
we know that
doesn’t work.
Dynamic Duo
Hanley Center Foundation’s
“Twins” Focus On Prevention
empower our audiences through
a laid-back, interactive presenta-
tion,” says Hamilton.
Adds Lentz: “We don’t use scare
tactics with the kids because we
know that doesn’t work.”
The foundation is on the front-
lines of the addiction epidemic,
having expanded its evidence-
based prevention programming.
The goal is to serve more than
120,000 Florida students over the
next three years.
The prevention staff provides
age-appropriate substance abuse
programs to children from elemen-
tary to high school, in both public
and private schools, using a model
that reinforces self-confidence, pos-
itive messaging and positive peer
pressure. They also offer presenta-
tions to parents and caregivers.
Lentz and Hamilton focus their
efforts on the Alcohol Literacy
Challenge, a 90-minute interac-
tive session during which they talk
about the myths associated with
drug and alcohol abuse.
“A lot of people think drug and
alcoholabusebeginsinhighschool,”
says Hamilton. “But the average
age of first use in Florida is 13.”
Instead of using old-fashioned
scare tactics, the Hanley Center
Foundation’s program focuses on
the real physical effects of what
happens when students drink or
use other substances.
“The way we address the issue
of drinking allows students to take
a look at the facts and make their
own decisions,” Hamilton says.
“We aren’t trying to make deci-
sions for them, and that works.”
Ashleigh Lentz is 24. Her “twin,”
Abby Hamilton, also is 24. The
two aren’t related, but their passion
for educating teens about the dan-
gers of drugs and alcohol brought
them together, and, now, everyone
at the Hanley Center Foundation
refers to them as “The Twins.”
They even have their own Twit-
ter handle, @TwinzTweet, which
they created to educate and em-
power youth across Florida about
living a healthy and substance-free
lifestyle.
The two are among 19 mem-
bers of the foundation’s substance
abuse prevention team who visit
schools across Florida to engage
students in an open dialogue
about the dangers of drugs and
alcohol using positive messaging.
“The goal is to educate and
Hanley Center Foundation is located at 900 54th St., West Palm Beach. For more information, call
561-841-1122 or visit hanleycenterfoundation.org.
“
”
ABBY HAMILTON AND
ASHLEIGH LENTZ