SADD Celebrates 25 Years
|  Video
|
| Jody Kerzman |
| 11/2/2006 |
 |
| When it comes to alcohol, high school senior Chad Boger has strong beliefs.. "I really believe that underage drinking and destructive decisions kids are making these days aren`t what it`s all about," he says. On this day, those beliefs have brought him here for a photograph with Governor Hoeven. Hoeven has proclaimed this "SADD Week" in North Dakota. And today, SADD members like Chad will celebrate the organization`s 25th anniversary. "SADD has come a long way. The organization has changed a lot in those 25 years," says Lee Erickson, state supervisor of the SADD organization. Even the name of the organization has changed. SADD used to stand for Students Against Drunk Driving. Today, it`s short for Students Against Destructive Decisions. Leaders say that`s because the kinds of issues facing teens go far beyond driving drunk. "Branched out to things like suicide, pregnancy, violence, alcohol and drug use in general," says Lee. And the pressures kids face start at a younger age every year. So SADD groups have started targeting kids still in elementary school. The idea is the earlier kids are exposed to positive alternatives, the better choices they`ll make down the road; choices Chad made at a young age. "I made my decisions because of my beliefs," says Chad. But Chad says no matter what your beliefs, the fact is, underage drinking and other destructive behaviors are illegal and dangerous. It`s a message he plans to continue spreading through the organization that has helped him make positive choices. Chad will be the emcee at Bismarck`s SADD celebration tonight. It begins at 7:00 in the Memorial Hall of the Capitol. It is free and open to the public and is one of thousands of celebrations that will take place all across the nation tonight. Parents, students and police will be lighting lanterns as a sign of their support of the organization. |
BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO BISMARCK STORIES
© 2009 KFYR-TV
Home | News | Weather | Sports | Webcast | Morning News | Programming | Primetime Rewind | Advertising & Sales | About Us
Community Connection | Movies | Contests & Promotions | Search | Links | Contact Us | Follow us on: Facebook and twitter
Sister Stations: KMOT in Minot, KQCD in Dickinson, KUMV in Williston
