Warwick. Warwick Valley Prevention Coalition hosts Youth PSA Awards Gala

The Warwick Valley Prevention Coalition (WVPC) held a Youth Public Service Announcement (PSA) Awards Gala on Friday, April 14, at the Mountain Lake Park in Warwick.

The WVPC, in collaboration with the Warwick Valley Middle and High Schools, sponsored a PSA contest.

The red-carpet event with Master of Ceremonies Patrick Liszewski, WVHS senior, featured entertainment by the Acting Out Playhouse, stand-up comedian Dennery Simon, and numerous presenters. All of these youth are members of the Warwick Valley Youth Coalition.

Participants created PSA videos on topics such as tobacco and vaping, underage drinking, misuse of drugs, bullying and other topics that affect them directly in their communities. The videos premiered at the Gala and will be shown on local networks, social media, the local drive-in movie theater and in training sessions.

“PSAs promote awareness of a particularly compelling social issue and work to encourage individuals to act in positive, appropriate ways,” said WVPC Youth Coordinator Kerry Malone-Demetroules. “They work more effectively when they are created by their peers, and they also tend to have a ‘coolness’ factor not present in a handful of other awareness initiatives.”

There were many awards as well as dinner by volunteer Chef Chris Collins, desserts by volunteer Trish Vatentino, sound by Steve Regan, and the event was filmed by Jojo.

For more information about the coalition, contact Malone-Demetroules by sending an email to Kerry.wvpc@gmail.com.