Elk County- St. Marys Area United Way President Doug Gaffey presented a grant award of $10,000 to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (ADAS) Angie Eckstrom, Executive Director and Sheri Larson, Prevention Supervisor. ADAS is one of the many partnering organizations that have sought grant money from the St. Marys Area United Way.

Over the next couple of weeks, the United Way will continue to notify the public of all the grant recipients and award amounts. The grant funding disseminated in 2023 is as a result of the funding raised during the St. Marys Area United Way 2022 campaign. Funding raised in 2023 will be available for organizations to seek grant funding in 2024.

ADAS will be utilizing their grant funding to provide drug and alcohol education to Elk County schools through a program named Too Good for Drugs. The goal of this education in the schools it to help reduce anti-social behavior and drug usage among youth.

The Too Good for Drugs program uses an approach of addressing underlying factors by building skills in resisting peer pressure, goal setting, making healthy decisions and learning new refusal skills. ADAS mission is to provide quality and compassionate substance use and co-occurring services, empowering individuals to develop responsible healthy lifestyles.

The St. Marys Area United Way relies on the contributions from companies and local individuals. If you would like to become one of these individuals or corporate donors, please call 781-6000 or mail your check to the St. Marys Area United Way, 44 So. St. Marys Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.