The Racicot Award - Wyoming First Lady Nancy Freudenthal has been named the National Leadership Foundation’s 2010 Racicot Award recipient in recognition of her efforts to prevent childhood drinking. The Racicot Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Leadership Foundation, a unique coalition of current and former governor’s spouses, federal agencies, public organizations, and private entities working to prevent the use of alcohol by children ages 9 to 15.
Mrs. Freudenthal has utilized her role as First Lady to change the conversation about childhood alcohol use and to support youth groups around Wyoming whose mission is to prevent substance use by children. “Nancy, more than anyone else, exemplifies the leadership skills and commitment to preventing childhood drinking. We are delighted she is being recognized this way. Her efforts in Wyoming have shown great commitment and have made a big difference in the lives of many young people in the state, and we applaud her for that,” said Hope Taft, the First Lady Emeritus of Ohio and President and CEO of the Leadership Foundation. Mrs. Freudenthal’s message, whether at town hall meetings in Wyoming communities or in policy discussions with federal officials, is straightforward and empathetic, and it underscores the urgency of addressing the issue. “This isn’t about prohibition; it’s about keeping our children safe,” Mrs. Freudenthal said. Mrs. Freudenthal has worked collaboratively with the Wyoming Liquor Division, the Mental Health & Substance Abuse Division of the Wyoming Department of Health, the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police and parents with the belief that better outcomes are achieved when educational approaches are coupled with strategies aimed at altering the social, legal, and economic contexts in which drinking occurs. Mrs. Freudenthal received the award Tuesday in National Harbor, Md., at the National Leadership Foundation’s “Ten Years of Service” celebration. For more information on the subject, visit the Wyoming First Lady's Initiative To Reduce Childhood Drinking Web site at
www.wfli.org.
