News

Brooks Canavesi Nominated for Jefferson Award

Executive Director Brooks Canavesi was recently nominated for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.



Nomination submitted by one of our volunteers

Description of how his efforts impact the community:
Brooks created a new paradigm of social service delivery. By meeting the population’s needs at a level where it had meaning to the participant, he was able to engage those who would have otherwise been marginalized by existing models of social service delivery systems. Young people are learning to use technology in their housing units. The very young are receiving drug-free musically interactive presentations schools. Residents of public housing units are growing their own organic produce. Families and their terminally ill children are being financially supported.

Short story that demonstrates the character and qualities of the individual and his volunteer efforts:
Brooks’ first efforts centered on proving to a friend that positive peer pressure can impact people’s lives using creative means. Because of that effort, an international T-shirt company was founded which delivers drug, alcohol and tobacco free messages to the youth of the US and UK. From this, the rest of Frontline Initiative’s programs came in to fruition. Brooks, a trained IT specialist and financial advisor, tirelessly encourages everyone to meet citizens at their level and together create paths to excellence.

Wish List

Project Green

Truck and Trailer
Tomato Cages
Chicken Wire
Top Soil
Shovels, Rakes, Hoes,
7 horse power rototiller or higher
Landscaping Fabric
Land
Bricks
Postal Scale
Working Power Tools
Saws, Drills, Hammers

Creative Technology

Computers
Printers
Laptop / Notebook Computers
Projector

Office Supplies

Paper
Pens
Post-Its
Rubber Bands
Hanging Folders
Folders

Drumtrail & Lucid Music Rock Class Academy

On May 22nd 2009 Poison Free was honored to bring in our Drumtrail performance along side Lucid Music for a school wide assembly. Please take a look at the photos below and stay tuned for video clips of the performance coming soon to the Poison Free site.

Morado Dwellings Garden Press Release

Poison Free and The Prevention Network are pleased to announce installation of The Growing Roots Community Garden at Morado Dwellings in Beaver Falls. Ground allocated by The Housing Authority of the County of Beaver will be broken this Saturday, May 2, at 1:00 pm. Residents of Morado Dwellings may participate in growing over 20 varieties of vegetable crops for themselves in Bio-Dynamic raised beds. No chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides will be used. The garden is to serve as a prototype for future community gardens Poison Free plans to develop in Beaver County.

The Garden will be supervised by Michael McGee, who will also provide hands-on instruction in healthy cooking, composting and other valuable information. McGee, Poison Free’s Environmental Director, holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Lesley University, Cambridge MA, and has studied sustainable practices throughout the continental U.S. and Hawaii.

The public is invited to this Saturday’s groundbreaking. Learn more at www.poisonfree.org and www.frontlineinitiative.org

Local programs unite to help kids

By Larissa Theodore, Times Staff
MONDAY MARCH 30, 2009 :: Last modified: Monday, March 30, 2009 12:09 AM EDT

Longtime friends Brooks Canavesi and Steve Wetzel both graduated from Blackhawk High School and Penn State University. The two have something else in common: a desire to help children.

Their organization, Frontline Initiative, does just that via Poison Free, a program headed by Canavesi, 30, of Brighton Township, and the Hero Program, headed by Wetzel, 33, of Monaca.

The Hero Program serves the needs of terminally ill children and their families and encourages messages of hope and strength. Wetzel said the program also gives sick kids a much-needed diversion from their everyday suffering.

“I truly believe children who are terminally ill, they’re the real heroes — and their families,” Wetzel said.

“What we’re doing is filling the gaps that some of the older organizations are missing,” Wetzel said. “It’s such a good organization, and we have so much to offer. It’s a way to really help the youth and future generations.”

As a way to support sick children and help their families financially, the organization has begun a fundraiser in which sponsors receive wristbands, each engraved with a number that corresponds with a child.

Wristbands may be ordered through www.heroprogram.org.

Donors can find current information about the child’s daily progress online and see the effect of their donations. The Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays baseball franchises have agreed to take photos wearing the bracelets, Wetzel and Canavesi said.

Poison Free offers children the opportunity to take graphic design and Web design courses, hands-on programs that teach green sustainability and conservation, and drum and music sessions focusing on peer-pressure resistance.

Canavesi, a financial adviser, had already started the Poison Free nonprofit about two years ago when Wetzel approached him with the Hero idea. The two decided to combine their goals under one organization.

Wetzel, also the Freedom Area High School baseball coach, developed a close relationship with 18-year-old John Challis Jr. of Freedom, who died last year from a rare form of cancer. Wetzel said he always felt a calling to help sick and disabled children.

“By meeting John Challis, he did teach me that there’s a way to help. … There’s so much need out there, there couldn’t be enough support,” Wetzel said.

Wetzel and Canavesi hope the community will respond positively to the wristband fundraiser.

“I’ve seen Beaver County come together in the past, and I know they can do it again,” Wetzel said, referring to how the community pulled together to rally around Challis during his last months.

Challis’ oncologist, Dr. Anthony Graves of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, is the organization’s board president.

Larissa Theodore can be reached online at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

THE INITIATIVES

Poison Free
  • Creative Technology — The free class provides graphic design and Web design courses for children and teens. Web sites have been designed for various businesses.
  • Project Green — Teaches children about nutrition and conservation. Next month, the organization plans to break ground on a garden in Morado Dwellings in Beaver Falls.
  • Drum Trail — Inspires young children through a rhythmic journey focusing on resisting peer pressure.
Source: www.poisonfree.org

Hero Program

  • Heroes for Heroes — The program provides bedside entertainment to terminally ill children, such as Sony PlayStation equipment and visits from artists, musicians and athletes.
  • Hero Scholarships — Memorial awards are established for high school seniors who inspire children.
  • Athletic Camps — Teach healthy children sports and character-building.
Source: www.heroprogram.org
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