Grassley was one of many members of Congress to participate in the "Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs," which is sponsored by the Kmart Family Foundation. For today's race, the Foundation will donate $500 to the drug prevention charity selected by each member of Congress who participates. Grassley selected the Mason City Youth Task Force to receive his $2000 contribution. The foundation is a non-profit group established solely to educate, prevent and fight drug use by youths nationwide.
"I have always taken care of my yard in New Hartford, but I never knew those skills would become so valuable," said Grassley. "I am pleased to direct this contribution to the Mason City Youth Task Force. I want to give my full support to community-based anti-drug efforts which can have a positive impact on the lives of our youth. Monetary contributions are important to getting these efforts off the ground, but the key to sustaining the drive is to have the volunteer support and dedication of parents, educators, law enforcement officials, business leaders, medical professionals, and other concerned citizens."
Grassley today also received a commitment from Kmart CEO, Floyd Hall, that the Kmart Family Foundation would plan a "Kids Race Against Drugs" in Iowa in 1998 to help in the fight against teenage drug use. The Foundation has not determined the date or location for the Iowa event.
Today's race was held in front of the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue as part of 38-city, 25-week tour, and was co-sponsored by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, or CADCA. Grassley's finishing time in the race was 1 minute and 16 seconds. The winning time for today's course was 1 minute and 10 seconds. Honorary co-chairs of the Kmart Family Foundation include Paul Newman, Jaclyn Smith, Kathy Ireland, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Ireland attended today's race along with boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard.
During the first year of the tour, the Foundation donated approximately $500,000 to drug prevention charities throughout the country. Money is raised for donations when the Foundation contributes $5 for each child who participates in the races. For today's race, the Foundation will donate $500 to the drug prevention charity selected by each member of Congress who participates.
A senior member of the Judiciary Committee and Chairman of the Narcotics Control Caucus, Grassley has taken a lead to address drug use, crime and public safety issues affecting local communities in Iowa. Last year, Grassley conducted a series of 14 open forums in Iowa to gather information from the grassroots about juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. In addition, won congressional approval and the President's signature for legislation he introduced to promote anti-drug initiatives at the local level. The new law, the Drug Free Communities Act of 1997, will allocate $150 million over the next five years to create a matching grant program through which community-based coalitions could qualify for grants of up to $100,000.
"All of these initiatives aim to maximize the efforts of community coalitions in the war on drugs. With a common goal of preventing and treating illegal drug use, we can make a difference one child, one parent, one worker, one community at a time," said Grassley.