Cowboys Mascot Teaches Kids to Live Drug Free

Rowdy, the official mascot of the Dallas Cowboys, took time away from the gridiron to teach Mansfield ISD youth that you can’t score in life by doing drugs.

The mascot was the special guest at Danny Jones Middle School for Red Ribbon Week, a nationwide effort to visibly take a stand against drugs. He educated the seventh and eighth graders about the dangers of drugs and encouraged them to stay safe and smart.

In true Rowdy fashion, the program was filled with entertainment and dancing, which included dance-offs, crowd chants and giveaways. Event organizers hoped the upbeat pep rally would inspire students to make the right choices in life.

Rowdy pumps up the crowd at Jones Middle School.

“We wanted to get everybody’s juices flowing,” said Jones Middle School PTA President Lisa Huff. “I hope they take away the message that being drug free is valid and good and always something that we want to do as good people in the world, and that we make that commitment all of our lives.”

The 2016 theme for Red Ribbon Week was: YOLO. Be Drug Free. (YOLO stands for You Only Live Once.)

Schools all across Mansfield ISD held events that encouraged kids to say no to drugs. Several campuses wore red ribbons, took part in special activities and held dress-up days to show the importance of living a drug-free lifestyle.

Red Ribbon Week also motivates youth and parents to have open dialogue about the need to live a healthy lifestyle because children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those who don't.

The first Red Ribbon campaign began more than 30 years ago. Today, the Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of young people. View more information about Red Ribbon Week and sign the pledge.

Respect Yourself. Be Drug Free.

Red Ribbon Week, the nationwide campaign to take a stand against drugs, is 30 years strong and continues to gain momentum. The annual initiative is held every year on Oct. 23-31.

Joe Scriv, Champ, Principal Rita Ashley, and Mavs Man
getting ready to inspire kids to be drug free.

Campuses around Mansfield ISD joined the effort to show the importance of living a drug-free lifestyle. Students and staff took part in activities like putting a cap to drugs by hearing hats, showing that they have power over drugs by dressing up as super heroes, and turning their backs to drugs by wearing their clothes backwards.

Mary Lillard Intermediate School had something special in store for their students to kick off Red Ribbon Week. Dallas Mavericks mascots Champ and Mavs Man visited the campus to encourage the kids to stay confident and resist peer pressure.

“We talk to the kids about making sure they stay drug free and make better choices so that they can stay on the path to success,” said Joe Scriv of the Dallas Mavericks Organization.

Organizers said the performers were the perfect touch to get the message across.

“We really wanted to provide something students could relate to,” said Lillard PTA chairperson Lisa Huff. “After brainstorming, we thought this high-energy show would bolster student morale and let the students know that cool people really don’t do drugs.”

Mansfield Mayor David Cook and Principal Rita Ashley
after the proclamation of Red Ribbon Week.

The finale was certainly one to remember as Mavs Man dunked over several students and staff who were standing under the basketball net. It was yet another reminder to the kids that they can’t perform at those optimum levels if they start using drugs.

Mansfield Mayor David Cook ended the event by proclaiming it to be Red Ribbon Week in the City of Mansfield. He inspired the crowd to take the Red Ribbon theme to heart throughout the entire year: Respect yourself. Be drug free.