Ray County Coalition Receives
American Medical Association Foundation Healthy Lifestyles Grant

The Ray County Coalition, a group of volunteers from Hardin, Lawson, Orrick, Richmond and Stet, has been awarded a grant from the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation’s Healthy Living Program. Tri-County Mental Health Services offers administrative and direct technical assistance to the Coalition.

The program addresses critical healthy lifestyle issues by providing mini-grants to grassroots organizations who are on the front lines in their communities. Selected projects target youth and address the topics of nutrition and physical fitness, alcohol, drug and smoking prevention and violence prevention. The Ray County Coalition will be continuing to focus on Underage Drinking by promoting the science regarding the impact that alcohol has on the adolescent’s, underdeveloped brain. The Ray County Coalition has receive state recognition as well as two national awards for their successful strategies and outcomes.

The Ray County Coalition was one of 20 nonprofits across the country that received such a distinction this year.

The $4,993 award was granted to help fund an extension of their social marketing campaign, “Think underage drinking doesn’t affect a teen’s brain? Think again” campaign. The five school districts in Ray County will also be able to implement a student led social norming campaign to change the norms of some adolescents who view underage drinking as acceptable behavior. Social marketing and social norming are science based, evidence based, strategies that are known to reduce underage alcohol use.

“Substance abuse not only influences people’s health and wellbeing, it also has a negative effect on the individuals around them,” said Barney Maynard, MD, President of the AMA Foundation. “The AMA Foundation is proud to support community initiatives that address alcohol, drug and smoking prevention education and awareness.”

The Ray County Coalition meets monthly at the 19th Hole in Richmond, MO. For more information visit www.raycountycoation.org.

The AMA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt foundation, is committed to improving the health of Americans through philanthropic support of quality programs in public health and medical education. Visit www.amafoundation.org to learn more.

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