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| From left, Steve Frisby, First Lady Anita Perry and Mike Hathcoat. |
Students and faculty alike were delighted that Texas First Lady Anita Perry chose to visit the Phoenix Academy of Austin in honor of statewide Family Day. During her visit, the First Lady chatted with students, and spoke out about the importance of parental involvement as a simple, effective way to reduce drug and alcohol abuse by teenagers. She also encouraged families across the state to enjoy dinner together in observance of this special day.
“Today, we celebrate a commitment to family and the healthy development of Texas children,” said Perry. “For many Texans, eating dinner together as a family is a regular occurrence and I applaud that healthy habit. For those who have not started a schedule of sharing meals, I encourage you to dedicate family time to beginning a new routine, together.” Research shows that children who eat dinner with their families on a frequent basis are at lower risk of substance abuse, and have a higher academic performance.
The First Lady was joined by Steve Frisby, president of Randalls and Tom Thumb, who has partnered with the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) to encourage families to continue efforts to share meals. In recognition of Family Day and their commitment to fighting substance abuse in Texas, Randalls and Tom Thumb also generously donated $10,000 to support Phoenix House programs for teens in Texas, including the Phoenix Academy of Austin.
“The First Lady’s visit was a very positive experience for our students,” said Mike Hathcoat, director of Phoenix Houses of Texas. “Family involvement is a key factor in the success of our programs, and reopening lines of communication between parents and teens is at the heart of what we do here at the Academy. To have this very special celebration of Family Day meant a lot to all of us.”
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