Gateway Rehab and Rotary District 7300 Cosponsor
Leadership Program for Teens

Summer camp to be held at Robert Morris University in July

Pittsburgh – Gateway Rehab president and chief executive officer Dr. Kenneth Ramsey has announced that Gateway and Rotary District 7300 have partnered to present a program that equips teens to identify and develop their talents to impact their communities through leadership, prevention, and service.

The newly christened Rotary-Gateway Teen Leadership Institute features a summer camp experience for junior high and high school students who currently are not caught up in destructive behaviors, such as drinking or drug use. The intent of the program is to help those who might be at risk to make good choices, support teen leaders who choose to stay drug-free, and encourage teen leaders to promote positive choices among their peers by implementing action plans developed during camp in their schools and communities.

The summer camp will be held at the Moon Township campus of Robert Morris University in July. Teens will spend several memorable days on campus participating in workshops, seminars, motivational presentations, and other challenging activities to encourage development of leadership skills and reinforcement of healthy life choices.

Joel Nagel, 2005-2006 Rotary District 7300 governor, said that the Rotary “viewed a partnership with Gateway Rehabilitation Center in its Teen Leadership Institute as an excellent opportunity to have a direct impact on our community by helping young people avoid giving in to drug or alcohol abuse. We wanted to let these young people know that there are adults who care about them and are there to offer support at such a critical time in their lives.”

Begun in western Pennsylvania in 2001 and known then as the Gateway Teen Institute, the Teen Leadership Institute provides a framework of team building, peer prevention, education, support, and leadership development to promote self-discovery and character growth. The benefits extend beyond the camp experience, as attendees are encouraged to use the skills they acquire to spread positive lifestyle messages in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods.

As one camp attendee said, “Not only was I taught effective ways to prevent drug use in my school and how to help others avoid it, but I met people who were just like me, people who were good students, fun to be around, and looking to enjoy themselves. It has been a life changing experience for me.”

Through an initial three year commitment to the Teen Leadership Institute, Rotary will be directly involved in planning, recruiting, fundraising, and marketing; individual members also will be welcomed as volunteers, mentors, or speakers at the camp and to assist in implementing action plans developed by attendees to address specific challenges faced by their schools or communities.

The partnership was endorsed by incoming District governors Robert Rupp (2006-07) and Dennis Crawford (2007-08), who both saw the potential for the Rotary-Gateway Teen Leadership Institute to grow beyond the targeted 100 attendees for this summer’s camp.

In making the announcement about the newly-formed partnership, Ramsey thanked Rotary District 7300 for its investment in the Teen Leadership Institute and expressed the hope that, “through Rotary involvement, more teens and their families will hear about the program and appreciate its value in encouraging healthy lifestyle choices.”

Applications for the Teen Leadership Institute will be available on-line at gatewayrehab.org or by calling 800.472.1177, ext. 1257. Contact Gateway’s public relations office for more information about the Teen Leadership Institute at 724.378.4461, ext. 1107.

Gateway Rehabilitation Center is a private, non-for-profit organization offering comprehensive prevention services and treatment for adults, youth and families with alcohol and other drug problems.  With locations throughout Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, Gateway provides services for over 9,000 individuals annually.