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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Jennifer de Vallance, ONDCP (202) 395–6618
Kelly Hancock, Westfield, (310) 575–6021
October 23, 2003
Westfield Shoppingtowns Join White House Drug Policy Office to Promote Youth Drug Prevention in Communities Nationwide
Local Youth Use Art to Communicate Anti-Drug Messages
(Washington)—Los Angeles-based shopping center operator Westfield America, Inc., is teaming up with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and community-based youth organizations in the fight against youth drug use. In support of ONDCP's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, Westfield, which operates 65 Shoppingtowns across the country, is sponsoring a "What's Your Anti-Drug?" series of murals at the company's centers in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, and Ohio.
The murals, designed and painted by local youth in each community ranging in age from grade school to high school, will carry the anti-drug message to millions of shoppers. Produced with materials donated by local businesses, the anti-drug murals emphasize the positive things youth are involved in—such as athletics, music, volunteerism—and what they can achieve when they do not use drugs. The murals, which are currently being painted, will remain on display at their respective Shoppingtowns for several weeks before being donated to local community organizations or government entities for permanent display.
"The support of corporate America is an essential element in keeping our youth healthy and drug-free, and we are truly grateful for partners such as Westfield in this effort," said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "Shopping centers are community focal points and, thanks to Westfield's participation, we have a tremendous opportunity to reach millions of parents and teens every day all across America. We look forward to a long and successful partnership."
National research shows that parents are the single most important influence on their children when it comes to drugs. To help further the Media Campaign's outreach, Westfield distributed a "Questions: The Anti-Drug" tip card for parents at its centers across the country.
"Westfield is proud to be a part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy's program to provide families with tools they can use to help prevent drug use," said Westfield CEO Peter Lowy. "We are an integral part of the communities in which we live and operate, and it's important to us that we do what we can to help our neighbors—and indeed our own families—who make up those communities, remain healthy and drug-free."
The partnership with Westfield is part of the Campaign's ongoing effort to enlist corporate America in youth drug prevention. Businesses are encouraged to provide in-kind donations of goods and communications services and financial contributions to underwrite advertising, programs, and materials. Through collaboration with corporate America, the Campaign reaches more youth and parents with Campaign messages and information in more places, more often and more persuasively.
Westfield America, Inc., is the United States subsidiary of the Westfield America Trust based in Australia. WFA owns a majority interest in the Westfield America portfolio of 65 centers, branded as Westfield Shoppingtowns. Westfield Shoppingtowns are home to over 8,500 specialty stores and encompass more than 65 million square feet in the states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington.
In 1988, with the bipartisan support of Congress and the President, ONDCP created the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, an effort designed to educate and empower youth to reject illicit drugs. Counting on an unprecedented blend of public and private partnerships, non-profit community service organizations, volunteerism, and youth-to-youth communications, the Campaign is designed to reach Americans of diverse backgrounds.
For more information on the ONDCP National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign visit www.mediacampaign.org, www.freevibe.com or www.theantidrug.com.
