May 19, 2008

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PITTSBURGH--Pitt football players joined Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl at a highly successful DARE Graduation held at Heinz Field. The ceremony included over 2,300 students from 47 local elementary schools.

As part of the first-ever DARE Program held at Heinz Field for elementary school students in the Pittsburgh area, 12 members of Pitt's football team volunteered their time during the two and a half hour lunch program. The Panthers also spent time the day before preparing lunches and gift bags for all the fourth, fifth and sixth graders attending.

The ceremony began with remarks from former DARE graduate Luke Ravenstahl, while other former graduates, including Pitt senior Eric Thatcher, addressed the crowd. Thatcher stressed the importance of continuing to make good decisions in life, in order to be safe and successful.

The Panthers were introduced to the elementary students after emcee Diane Richard, Public Information Officer for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, asked the crowd "who plays at Heinz Field besides the Pittsburgh Steelers?" Upon an energetic and loud response, Pitt's student-athletes ran onto the field to the Pitt Victory Song.

DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is the world's largest and most successful educational drug prevention program that is developed for children. A highly acclaimed program that was founded in 1983 and gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence, DARE is a police officer led series of classroom lessons that have been implemented in 75 percent of our nation's school districts and in more than 43 countries around the world.