Gabriella Ferri and Khadija De Burgo from Ricci Middle School in North Providence partnered to create the winning entry in a three town poster contest designed to increase awareness of the consequences of underage drinking and to present the message from the student point of view. The poster, titled "Think Before You Drink," focused on drinking and driving. The poster idea was converted to a billboard which was posted for the month of April at the Smith Street and George Waterman Avenue intersection in North Providence.

"This contest and the posting of the billboard are very timely," said Joseph DeSantis, CEO of Tri-Town Community Action Agency which sponsored the program along with the Coalitions. "It's prom time and tragically, one of the rituals is drinking and driving which results in hundreds of deaths nationwide. Parents need to talk to their teens and establish a written agreement concerning safe driving rules."

Seventy-nine middle and high school students from Johnston, Smithfield and North Providence submitted poster designs. Entries from each town were displayed at local Stop & Shop stores where more than 300 members of the community voted on their favorite entry. In addition to the grand prize winners who shared a $500 prize, the first place middle and high school entry in the three towns each received $100. The town winners respectively are: North Providence: Partners Matthew Mollo and Greg Pelland (Middle School) and Mary Francis Murphy (High School); Smithfield: Sarah Baumlin (Middle School)and Kimberly Ezeama (High School); Johnston: Partners Kendra Cimaglia and Gianna Rengigas (Middle School) and Kaitlyn Manion (High School).

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalitions of Johnston, Smithfield and North Providence have been engaged in a wide variety of public awareness and advocacy activities over the past year to highlight the consequences of underage drinking and of providing alcohol to underage youth. The Coalitions have provided funding to the police departments to increase enforcement and school departments to implement programs within the schools that addresses the misperceptions youth have regarding alcohol and drug abuse. Since the Coalition programs began in 2008, studies show a 23% decrease in teenage drinking as well as improved recognition of the risks.

The Coalitions are mandated by the RI Substance Abuse Prevention Act and are funded by grants from the RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services. The state funding comes from federal grants from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration.

Tri-Town Community Action Agency is the coordinating agency for the North Providence, Smithfield and Johnston Coalitions. For further information contact the Coalition Director:

Joseph DeSantis, Tri-Town Community Action Agency CEO , presents Khadija DeBurgo (L) and Gabriella Ferri (R) $250 each for their Grand Prize entry in the Substance Abuse Prevention Poster Contest.