By Cindy Himes

The Penguins Foundation has partnered with FBI Pittsburgh Division to support the Heroin Outreach Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative again this season.

Prescription Opioid abuse and Heroin use have reached pandemic levels across Western PA, impacting all walks of life, regardless of age, race or socioeconomic boundaries.  And dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year has not made things any easier.  To combat the increase in abuse, the Penguins Foundation has teamed up with the FBI Pittsburgh Division and other community stakeholders to create and support the HOPE initiative.

For the sixth year, HOPE has held a PSA Contest and encourages high school students to participate by submitting a video that encourages anti-drug behavior.  This year, 16 videos from 9 school districts across 8 different counties in Western PA were submitted.

On April 5, contest winners were announced by the FBI Pittsburgh Division.  Congratulations to the students at the following schools for their HOPE PSA Contest winning entries – all amazing thought-provoking videos:

First Place:

South Fayette High School: This is Temporary, Addiction Isn’t

Second Place:

Indiana County Technology Center: The Darkness

Third Place:

Forest Hills High School: Blink of an Eye

The program focuses on formulating proactive solutions, particularly in the areas of education, prevention and awareness.  Students were asked to create a 1 to 3-minute video that focused on the everyday challenges that young adults face; why young adults choose to self-medicate; and how young adults can choose a safer coping method.

Student winners received gift packages from the Penguins Foundation including a Pens’ duffle bag, bobble heads and hat.  In addition, each winning school received a monetary gift from the program partners.

“Congratulations” to the winning schools and to the students from all school entries for participating and supporting such a worthwhile endeavor!  For more information on the HOPE initiative and to view all the videos, click here: https://fbipghcaaa.org/hope/youth/psacontest/