Illinois Right to Life Committee
ACTION STEPS NEEDED
(ILLINOIS)
Take Action to Support Project Reality
Dear Friend of Project Reality: Governor Rod Blagojevich
May 2, 2003 Dear
Representative __________: I am writing to
ask you to support the continuation of a crucial program that impacts the health of tens
of thousands of youth across the State of Illinois each year.
Project Reality a
501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization, has been funded by the State of Illinois since
1987. During this 2002-2003 school year,
with a state grant of $1.2 million, Project Reality served 78,000 students in
approximately 450 schools in our state with the critical health message of abstinence as
the healthiest lifestyle. As you work to
amend the budget, we ask that you support full funding for Project Reality’s
programs, which are not currently included in the governor’s budget proposal. This Illinois state grant enables
Project Reality to offer its services free of charge to any school in the state. These services include teacher trainings, Game
Plan and Navigator abstinence curricula, I Can Do That! character
education curriculum, motivational speakers such as Miss America 2003 Erika Harold, and
Parent Power workshops. Services are
available in English and Spanish. There is no other agency in Illinois
that addresses this crucial issue of abstinence and adolescent health with the experience,
scope and cost effectiveness of Project Reality. Project
Reality has become a national leader in the field of adolescent health because of its work
in Illinois and receives numerous requests from other states interested in replicating its
success. In 2000, the State of Illinois was
given a $20 million bonus from the federal government for reducing its teen birth rates to
the lowest in 40 years. The governor and
public health officials credited "pro-abstinence" efforts in part for the
decline. The
continuation of Project Reality's funding will result in the continued improvement of
adolescent health and save costs in health care, teen pregnancy services, family planning
services and mental health costs. The youth
of Illinois need your support in order to hear the message of abstinence as the best way
to prevent teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and the emotional cost of teen
sexual activity. Please make your voice heard
in the legislature as an advocate for adolescent health by urging that Project
Reality’s longstanding grant be fully funded in the FY ’04 budget. Sincerely, YOUR NAME HERE Cc: Governor Rod Blagojevich
May 2, 2003 Dear Senator __________: I am writing to
ask for your support for the continuation of a crucial program that impacts the health of
tens of thousands of youth across the State of Illinois each year.
Project Reality, a
501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization, has been funded by the State of Illinois since
1987. During this 2002-2003 school year,
with a state grant of $1.2 million, Project Reality served 78,000 students in
approximately 450 schools in our state with the critical health message of abstinence as
the healthiest lifestyle. As you work to
amend the budget, we ask that you support full funding for Project Reality’s
programs, which are not currently included in the governor’s budget proposal. This Illinois state grant enables
Project Reality to offer its services free of charge to any school in the state. These services include teacher trainings, Game
Plan and Navigator abstinence curricula, I Can Do That! character
education curriculum, motivational speakers such as Miss America 2003 Erika Harold, and
Parent Power workshops. Services are
available in English and Spanish. There is no other agency in Illinois
that addresses this crucial issue of abstinence and adolescent health with the experience,
scope and cost effectiveness of Project Reality. Project
Reality has become a national leader in the field of adolescent health because of its work
in Illinois and receives numerous requests from other states interested in replicating its
success. In 2000, the State of Illinois was
given a $20 million bonus from the federal government for reducing its teen birth rates to
the lowest in 40 years. The governor and
public health officials credited "pro-abstinence" efforts in part for the
decline. The
continuation of Project Reality's funding will result in the continued improvement of
adolescent health and save costs in health care, teen pregnancy services, family planning
services and mental health costs. The youth
of Illinois need your support in order to hear the message of abstinence as the best way
to prevent teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and the emotional cost of teen
sexual activity. Please make your voice heard
in the legislature as an advocate for adolescent health by urging that Project
Reality’s longstanding grant be fully funded in the FY ’04 budget. Sincerely, YOUR NAME
HERE |