Sundt Memorial Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Sundt Memorial Foundation is a United States 501(c) non-profit organization that is committed to developing and distributing a positive drug prevention message to youth nationwide.
Inspired and founded by Jon Sundt, the mission of the Sundt Memorial Foundation is: "To influence the hearts and minds of kids by inspiring them to live their natural high and to reject drugs." The foundation was created in memorial of Jon Sundt’s two brothers, Steven and Eric Sundt. Both used drugs as teenagers and subsequently experienced usage-related deaths.
The Sundt Memorial Foundation mails a free DVD
(at each release) to every middle school in the United States (90,000 in 2009).
Upon request, the organization hosts school assemblies in the local San Diego area. Each month, the Foundation disseminates a free online newsletter to parents, teachers, students, and donors nation-wide. Newsletters report items of interest in world news, creative activities to do with children, and highlights individuals with interesting natural highs.
Based in La Jolla, California, the foundation is run by a full-time staff led by Executive Director, Michelle Ahearne. President Jon Sundt and a Board of Directors: Pete Johnson, Josh Billauer and Doug Kay contribute to principal decision-making. Seasonal employees and volunteers are hired to help with the preparation and presentation of the main fundraising event held each year in La Jolla, California. All proceeds from this annual live and silent auction gala go directly toward the production and distribution of the Natural High DVD Series.
The foundation conducts follow-up investigative phone interviews with schools nationwide to assess the effectiveness of the DVDs. Both positive and negative feedback is used to make adjustments in subsequent film releases. Thousands of students, parents, and school faculty send testimonials to the foundation. These messages are shared with the public via the foundation’s websites and newsletters.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(DARE) program initiated in the 1980s by Los Angeles
police officers takes a different approach to combating drug usage in schools. The “Just Say No” campaign has a zero-tolerance message; however, independent research has ceased to consider DARE as an effective means of drug prevention since the early 1990s. In fact, a report issued by the Surgeon General of the United States evaluated the DARE program and placed it in the "Does Not Work" category.
Carson B Wagner, an assistant professor in the Department of Advertising at the University of Texas at Austin
and the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism
at Ohio University
studied the effects of the 1987 anti-drug “this is your brain on drugs” campaign. He discovered these ads produced a counter-intuitive result on society. Instead of discouraging drug use, the strong anti-drug imagery and language provoked a curiosity that appeared to stimulate an experimentation epidemic among youth. His findings were presented before the United States Congress
. Wagner says that the 'What’s Your Anti-Drug?' campaign, featuring teens talking about the activities they pursue instead of drugs, is an excellent example of an ad that does not inadvertently arouse curiosity. It limits the focus on the anti-drug argument and concentrates on something else, in this case alternative activities such as skateboarding.”
In its 2008 Annual Report, the International Narcotics Control Board
(INCB) of the United Nations
affirmed the influence of celebrity on young people.
“Celebrity ‘endorsement’ of drug-related lifestyles is particularly relevant when it comes to the issue of deterring drug use among youth, who are often most vulnerable to the cult of celebrity and its attendant.”
The New York Times March 5, 2008 edition furthermore reports the findings of the INCB with regard to celebrity and youth.
The Sundt Memorial Foundation uses the influential ‘power of celebrity’ to reinforce its anti-drug message. By soliciting drug-free celebrities to testify on behalf of living a “natural high”, SMF exposes youth to positive role models.
1995: UCSD Sundt Memorial Open, a surfing competition in memorial of Steven and Eric Sundt raises $13,000 to support Teen Challenge
, Sobriety House, and other nonprofit drug rehabilitation and mental health services.
1999: SMF hosts its first Annual Fundraising Gala in La Jolla, California. The proceeds directly support the production and distribution of the first Natural High DVD.
2000: Fifth Annual UCSD Sundt Memorial Open and production of the first Natural High DVD. A copy is sent to all schools in the state of California free of charge.
2005: SMF produces Natural High II, the second in its DVD series. A copy is sent to all schools in the United States free of charge.
2008: SMF produces Natural High III, the third in its DVD series. A copy is sent to all schools in the United States free of charge.
2009: SMF produces Natural High IIII, the fourth in its DVD series. A copy is sent to all middle schools in the United States free of charge.
Inspired and founded by Jon Sundt, the mission of the Sundt Memorial Foundation is: "To influence the hearts and minds of kids by inspiring them to live their natural high and to reject drugs." The foundation was created in memorial of Jon Sundt’s two brothers, Steven and Eric Sundt. Both used drugs as teenagers and subsequently experienced usage-related deaths.
Strategy
In order to communicate a drug-free message to kids throughout the United States, the Sundt Memorial Foundation produces the Natural High DVD Series. Each film features celebrities sharing their candid thoughts and reasons for choosing to live drug-free. Films feature clips of award-winning athletes showing off their paces and of singers and dancers performing. The videos are action-packed and embrace popular culture in order to capture the attention of students. Dozens of talented professionals share their sober success stories.The Sundt Memorial Foundation mails a free DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
(at each release) to every middle school in the United States (90,000 in 2009).
Upon request, the organization hosts school assemblies in the local San Diego area. Each month, the Foundation disseminates a free online newsletter to parents, teachers, students, and donors nation-wide. Newsletters report items of interest in world news, creative activities to do with children, and highlights individuals with interesting natural highs.
Based in La Jolla, California, the foundation is run by a full-time staff led by Executive Director, Michelle Ahearne. President Jon Sundt and a Board of Directors: Pete Johnson, Josh Billauer and Doug Kay contribute to principal decision-making. Seasonal employees and volunteers are hired to help with the preparation and presentation of the main fundraising event held each year in La Jolla, California. All proceeds from this annual live and silent auction gala go directly toward the production and distribution of the Natural High DVD Series.
Videos
- Natural High 1: Riding the Drug Free Wave was released in 2000 and features professional surfers and skaters, including Tony HawkTony HawkAnthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
, Kelly SlaterKelly SlaterRobert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
, Willy SantosWilly SantosWilly Monolato Santos is a Filipino-American professional skateboarder born in Subic Bay, Philippines. He has been skateboarding for 19 years. He currently resides in Poway, California but grew up in Mira Mesa. He attended Ericson Elementary School from kindergarten...
, Malia JonesMalia JonesMalia Jones is a model and surfer.- Life and career :Jones was born in Loma Linda, California, although she returned to Kailua, Hawaii, at the age of two. Jones is of Hawaiian, Spanish-Filipino, German and English descent . She began to surf competitively in her early teens, and at age 15 won the...
, Taylor KnoxTaylor KnoxTaylor Knox is an American professional surfer. He is currently competing on the ASP World Tour.Knox was born in Thousand Oaks, California and began surfing at 8 years old. He moved with his family to Carlsbad at 13 and continued to pursue his dream of becoming a pro surfer...
, Ray BarbeeRay BarbeeRay Barbee is an American skateboarder from San Jose, California. He was one of the first skateboarders to bring freestyle/flatland tricks to street, technical ollie combinations and numerous no comply variations....
, Tim CurranTim CurranTim Curran is a musician, retired professional surfer and a spokesperson for the Surfrider Foundation. During his successful surfing career, he was one of the best surfers on the World Championship Tour, and was consistently in contention for the world championship...
, and Christiana Janssen.
- Natural High 2 was released in 2005. An all-star cast includes professional snowboarders and other extreme sport competitors, motocross champions, and hip hop dancers including Travis PastranaTravis PastranaTravis Alan Pastrana is an American motorsports competitor and stunt performer who has won championships and X Games gold medals in several events, including supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross, and rally racing. He runs a show called Nitro Circus with some of his friends...
, Gretchen BleilerGretchen BleilerGretchen Bleiler is an American professional halfpipe snowboarder. She currently resides in Aspen, Colorado and is married to Chris Hotell.-Career:...
, Kelly ClarkKelly ClarkKelly Clark is a snowboarder born in the village of West Dover in the town of Dover, Vermont. She has been snowboarding since she was 8 years old, and began competing in 1999...
, Ricky CarmichaelRicky CarmichaelRicky Carmichael is a racer known for his success in Motocross. He is currently competing in NASCAR. He drives the #4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series and the #30 Chevrolet Impala part-time for Turner Motorsports in the Nationwide Series...
, Laird HamiltonLaird HamiltonLaird Hamilton is an American big-wave surfer, co-inventor of tow-in surfing, and an occasional fashion and action-sports model. He is married to Gabrielle Reece, a professional volleyball player, television personality, and model...
, Mr. WigglesMr. WigglesSteffan "Mr. Wiggles" Clemente is a street dancer, noted for his popping skills. He is a member of the Rock Steady Crew, The Electric Boogaloos, Tribal Click and Zulu Nation. Wiggles has been active as a dancer, actor, choreographer, dance instructor, music producer and graffiti...
, Wendy Fisher, Tori Allen, Dave Downing, Crazy Legs, and Nina Heiberg.
- Natural High 3 was released in 2008. Contributing celebrities include two bands: P.O.D.P.O.D.Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
and SwitchfootSwitchfootSwitchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
, vocalist MýaMya-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
, and choreographer to the stars, Darrin HensonDarrin HensonDarrin Dewitt Henson in The Bronx, New York City, New York is an American choreographer, dancer, actor, director and producer.-Career:...
.
- Natural High 4 was released in 2009. This film features pro skater Paul Rodriguez Jr.Paul Rodriguez Jr.Paul Rodriguez III , also known by his nickname P-Rod, is a Mexican-American professional street skateboarder and actor.-Early life:...
, pro golfer Anna RawsonAnna RawsonAnna Rawson is an Australian professional golfer and model. She currently plays on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur and modeling career:...
, rock band Relient KRelient KRelient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
, NBA player Mike Conley Jr., WNBA player Lisa LeslieLisa LeslieLisa Deshaun Leslie-Lockwood is a former American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA. She is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner...
, and pro surfer and musician Timmy Curran.
Efficacy
It is ultimately the responsibility of teachers and other school faculty to decide whether or not to incorporate the Natural High DVDs they receive in the mail with their pre-existing drug education and prevention curriculum.The foundation conducts follow-up investigative phone interviews with schools nationwide to assess the effectiveness of the DVDs. Both positive and negative feedback is used to make adjustments in subsequent film releases. Thousands of students, parents, and school faculty send testimonials to the foundation. These messages are shared with the public via the foundation’s websites and newsletters.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education
Drug Abuse Resistance Education
Drug Abuse Resistance Education, better known as DARE, is an international education program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior. D.A.R.E., which has expanded globally since its founding in 1983, is a demand-side drug control strategy of the U.S....
(DARE) program initiated in the 1980s by Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
police officers takes a different approach to combating drug usage in schools. The “Just Say No” campaign has a zero-tolerance message; however, independent research has ceased to consider DARE as an effective means of drug prevention since the early 1990s. In fact, a report issued by the Surgeon General of the United States evaluated the DARE program and placed it in the "Does Not Work" category.
Carson B Wagner, an assistant professor in the Department of Advertising at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism
E. W. Scripps School of Journalism
The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, widely considered one of the best journalism schools in the country, is part of the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University....
at Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
studied the effects of the 1987 anti-drug “this is your brain on drugs” campaign. He discovered these ads produced a counter-intuitive result on society. Instead of discouraging drug use, the strong anti-drug imagery and language provoked a curiosity that appeared to stimulate an experimentation epidemic among youth. His findings were presented before the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. Wagner says that the 'What’s Your Anti-Drug?' campaign, featuring teens talking about the activities they pursue instead of drugs, is an excellent example of an ad that does not inadvertently arouse curiosity. It limits the focus on the anti-drug argument and concentrates on something else, in this case alternative activities such as skateboarding.”
In its 2008 Annual Report, the International Narcotics Control Board
International Narcotics Control Board
The International Narcotics Control Board is the independent and quasi-judicial control organ for the implementation of the United Nations drug conventions...
(INCB) of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
affirmed the influence of celebrity on young people.
“Celebrity ‘endorsement’ of drug-related lifestyles is particularly relevant when it comes to the issue of deterring drug use among youth, who are often most vulnerable to the cult of celebrity and its attendant.”
The New York Times March 5, 2008 edition furthermore reports the findings of the INCB with regard to celebrity and youth.
The Sundt Memorial Foundation uses the influential ‘power of celebrity’ to reinforce its anti-drug message. By soliciting drug-free celebrities to testify on behalf of living a “natural high”, SMF exposes youth to positive role models.
History
1994: Jon Sundt starts SMF and begins speaking at school assemblies.1995: UCSD Sundt Memorial Open, a surfing competition in memorial of Steven and Eric Sundt raises $13,000 to support Teen Challenge
Teen Challenge
Teen Challenge is a Pentecostal Christian recovery program and a network of Christian social and evangelizing work centers. It is a 12-18 month program that serves drug addicts, alcoholics, gang members, prostitutes and people with other characteristics that the program considers to be...
, Sobriety House, and other nonprofit drug rehabilitation and mental health services.
1999: SMF hosts its first Annual Fundraising Gala in La Jolla, California. The proceeds directly support the production and distribution of the first Natural High DVD.
2000: Fifth Annual UCSD Sundt Memorial Open and production of the first Natural High DVD. A copy is sent to all schools in the state of California free of charge.
2005: SMF produces Natural High II, the second in its DVD series. A copy is sent to all schools in the United States free of charge.
2008: SMF produces Natural High III, the third in its DVD series. A copy is sent to all schools in the United States free of charge.
2009: SMF produces Natural High IIII, the fourth in its DVD series. A copy is sent to all middle schools in the United States free of charge.