From among the many submissions received from youth all across the U.S., this years winning slogan “Be Free – Live Free – Drug Free” was unanimously selected. “I was thinking about how to be free. To live free and be free, you need to be drug free,” says winner Jack Somers.
The annual contest is held in collaboration with Mentor Foundation USA and motivates youth to become advocates for drug prevention. This year the campaign went national, garnishing a 300% increase in submissions and participants from 26 states.
“We are pleased to continue to partner with Mentor Foundation USA. They are leaders in helping to raise awareness in young people about the dangers of drug use,” says Daniel Kulle, president of H&M North America. Buy your shirt online at: http://www.hm.com/us/search/#!/products?q=mentor. Proceeds go to support Mentor Foundation USA’s continued work on substance abuse prevention amongst youth.
As in the past, this year’s announcement was made in conjunction with the “Shattering the Myths” Youth Rally, held at the House of Sweden in Georgetown. On hand at this years event where Dr. Ruben Baler, of the National Institute on Drug Abuse; Veronica and Devin Eckhardt, the surviving parents of teenager Conner Eckhardt; Margot Wallström, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs; and David Mineta, Deputy Director of the ONDCP.
H & M, Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) is one of the world’s largest fashion retailers known for offering fashion-forward apparel and quality basics. H&M was established in Sweden in 1947. Today there are 321 stores in the U.S. and approximately 3,300 H&M stores in 54 markets worldwide.