(Naperville, IL) – Operation Snowball, an award-winning leadership program empowering youth to lead drug-free lives, is holding a celebration walk in Naperville on Saturday, October 4.

“By participating and supporting the walk, participants will be raising awareness and showing support for alcohol and drug prevention in their communities and a commitment to help Illinois youth choose to live a healthy lifestyle,” said program director Mary Jo Davies.

According to the 2012 Illinois Youth Survey, binge drinking rose among 12th graders, Davie noted. The prevalence of binge drinking among high school seniors was 30.5% in 2012 compared to 23.4% in 2010.

Additionally, Davies said that the study revealed that more 10th grade youth are driving after using marijuana or other illegal drugs. Compared to 10th grade youth in 2010, more 10th graders in 2012 report driving a car after using marijuana or other illegal drugs during the past year (8.5% in 2010 vs. 10.9% in 2012).

“Operation Snowball, Inc., with more than 70 community and school-based Snowball chapters across the country, is a substance abuse prevention program focusing on leadership development empowering youth to lead healthy drug-free lives,” Davies stated.

The non-profit Operation Snowball is funded in part by a grant from the Skokie-based Cebrin Goodman Center an affiliate of the Lillian and Larry Goodman Foundations.

The walk will start at the Grand Pavilion and the event day registration begins at 9 a.m. The walk will begin at 10 a.m. Registration for this event is $20 for adults and ages 10-17 are $15. Under age 10 are free.

For more information, contact Mary Jo Davies, mdavies@iadda.org or 800.252.6301 extension 18.