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Created: May 08 2014

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- On Saturday, May 17,2014, thousands of students from across Broward County will come together for the 2^nd annual Above the Influence March and Rally, a yearly event to empower youth in our community.  A joint effort created by United Way of Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse and Broward County Public Schools (BCPS), the Above the Influence March and Rally is designed to celebrate students making the right decisions – to resist peer pressure, and avoid violence and drugs. So far, more than 2,500 participants have registered. In addition to the lead agencies for the event, collaborating partners include Broward Sheriff’s Foundation, Hanley Center, Florida Department of Health in Broward County, Sun-Sentinel and ICenter Community Foundation. Organizers of the event are hoping to draw 3,000 to 5,000 children, ranging from kindergarten to 12^th grade, to the event. The students will march 1.2 miles from Apollo Middle School, located at 6800 Arthur Street in Hollywood, FL to McArthur High School at 6501 Hollywood Boulevard.

The rally will begin at 9 a.m. with a welcoming address by Michaelle Pope, Executive Director for BCPS Student Support Initiatives. The march to McArthur High will begin at 9:30 a.m.  At McArthur High, students and their families will enjoy performances by step team dancers, cheerleaders, youth poets, marching bands and other local talent.  Mikael Wagner, Media Policy Analyst & Communications Manager at the Office of National Drug Control Policy (a component of the Executive Office of the President), will also address the crowd.

“We are so excited to be teaming up again with BCPS and other youth-serving community agencies to create this fantastic event which empowers our students and celebrates the right choices that they are making every day,” said Kathleen Cannon, President & CEO of United Way of Broward County. “We need to continue to draw attention to the many, many students in our community who have joined charitable and civic organizations, focused on their education and have a bright future.  By honoring these wonderful kids, we hope to inspire others to emulate them.”

Above the Influence is a national movement to encourage children to be themselves and not allow negative influences to affect them.  The Above the Influence March and Rally takes the concept even further, urging children to persevere in the face of obstacles and to celebrate the wonderful opportunities that abound.

“Every day our students demonstrate their greatness in a variety of ways,” said Broward Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “The Above the Influence March and Rally is a great way for us to connect as a community with a show of support for our students and their families, as they strive to remain ‘above the influence’ and positively impact the lives of others.”

For more information on Above the Influence, please visit www.ati2014.org. For questions, please contact Sam Monroe at smonroe@unitedwaybroward.org or (954) 453-3747.  To register for the Above the Influence Rally, please log on at Above the Influence March and Rally.