Sunny’s Story

A drug prevention book written by a mother who lost her son to a drug overdose from the viewpoint of the family beagle, Sunny. It's a great learning tool for kids, parents, teachers, and others.

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Educational Programs & Curriculum

Learn more about Courage to Speak® substance use prevention education programs for Elementary, Middle, and High School students.

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Press Releases 2010

July 20, 2010

First County Bank Foundation awards $10,120 grant to the Courage to Speak Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of a local bank, thousands of parents in Hispanic communities will gain the knowledge and skills to keep their children safe from drugs. The First County Bank Foundation has awarded a $10,120 grant to the Norwalk-based Courage to Speak Foundation to translate course materials for its acclaimed training program, Courage to Speak – Courageous Parenting 101™, into Spanish. read more


June 16, 2010

Courage to Speak® Foundation Receives Gift to Provide Sunny’s Story Books to Norwalk Schools. The Courage to Speak Foundation received a donation from Luis and Kristen Solis, owners of Norwalk Pizza and Pasta to provide 80 copies of the book Sunny’ s Story to the Norwalk Schools. The book is a drug prevention book for children of all ages, parents and educators.read more


May 10, 2010

Winner: Nonprofit Advocate of the Year; Ginger Katz, The Courage to Speak Foundation: Educating students about drug abuse and saving young lives. “Silence is a killer when it comes to children and drug abuse,” said Ginger Katz, founder and CEO of The Courage to Speak Foundation. “If we don’t speak about this problem we’re not going to have solutions. And if we don’t have solutions, children will die.” Katz knows this heartache. She and her husband Larry lost their 20-year-old son, Ian, in 1996 to a drug overdose. From that moment, their lives changed forever. read more


April 27, 2010

THE 12th ANNUAL IAN JAMES EACCARINO MEMORIAL 9 MILE RACE AND 5K HEALTH WALK
Ginger Katz, CEO and Founder of The Courage to Speak® Foundation and author of Sunny’s Story, announced the 12th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race and 5K Health Walk on Saturday, July 24th at 8am at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk sponsored by The Lightfoot Running Club, the Parks and Recreation Department of Norwalk, Booth Financial, WSTC1400/WNLK1350. read more


April 26, 2010

Ginger Katz, CEO and Founder of The Courage to Speak® Foundation and author of Sunny’s Story, announced the 12th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race on Saturday, July 24th at 8am at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk sponsored by The Lightfoot Running Club, the Parks and Recreation Department of Norwalk, Booth Financial, WSTC1400/WNLK1350. Ginger and her husband, Larry, have been members of the Lightfoot Running Club for over 27 years and are co-founders of The Courage to Speak Foundation. read more


April 23, 2010

The Courage to Speak® Foundation will conduct a “Train the Trainer” program for new facilitators to teach Courage to Speak – Courageous Parenting 101™. The training will take place at West Rocks Middle School, 81 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT on June 2, 2010 at 6 pm. The Foundation will train social workers, teachers, prevention experts, law enforcement and other interested professionals who work with youth and families as facilitators to teach Courage to Speak – Courageous Parenting 101™ to parents in their communities, schools, youth and civic organizations and other forums. read more


April 20, 2010

It is a fact that our children will be offered alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, often many times, starting in middle school and continuing through high school.  What can you do about this?  Learn about substance abuse and gain the knowledge and skills needed to keep your children safe.  The Courage to Speak Foundation will conduct a FREE three-session drug prevention and education program, called Courage to SpeakCourageous Parenting 101®.  To sign up for the three-session education and prevention course for parents, call 203-831-9700 or visit www.couragetospeak.org for a registration form. read more


March 31, 2010
Students took the microphone and had the courage to speak out against drugs at the 6th Annual Courage to Speak Empowering Youth to be Drug Free Family Night, which took place Thursday, March 18th at West Rocks Middle School in Norwalk. The auditorium was filled with an audience of their parents and families, teachers, school and government officials, community leaders, law enforcement, clergy and others who gathered to applaud the students’ commitment not to use drugs. read more


March 25, 2010
The Connecticut Association of Schools has named Ginger Katz, founder and CEO of the Norwalk-based Courage to Speak Foundation, as the recipient of its 2010 Distinguished Friend of Education Award. The award is given annually to an individual outside the field of education who has made strong contributions to public education at the local, state, regional, or national level. read more


March 4, 2010

The 6th Annual Courage To Speak Empowering Youth to Be Drug Free Family Night will take place on Thursday, March 18, 2010, 5:30 p.m., at West Rocks Middle School, 81 West Rocks Road, in Norwalk. All are invited to the event, which will bring families, educators, and community leaders together to affirm their commitment to keeping our children safe from drugs. Dinner is included. read more


February 23, 2010

Announcing the Sixth Annual Courage To Speak Empowering Youth to Be Drug-Free Family Night. “Knowledge is Power”: learn how you can protect you child from the dangers of drug use. The event will take place on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at West Rocks Middle School in Norwalk, CT at 5:30 PM. Address: 81 West Rocks Rd, Norwalk. Snow date: March 18. read more


February 18, 2010

The Courage to Speak Foundation is pleased to announce the receipt of a $14,000 Donor Advised Grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation for its continued work in the Bridgeport Public Schools. Awarded for the second consecutive year, this significant grant was made possible by a local donor who wishes to remain anonymous and receives philanthropic advisory services from the Foundation. This funding will support the implementation of the Courage to Speak Drug Prevention Curriculum for Grades 4-7 in eight Bridgeport Public Schools. read more


January 4, 2010

The Courage to Speak Foundation has announced plans to implement another five-session prevention and education program, called Courage to Speak – Courageous Parenting 101®. The next parent series will begin at Roton Middle School in Norwalk, January 5, 2010 with the Courage to Speak presentation by Ginger Katz and introduction and continue every consecutive Tuesday, January 12, 19, 26 and February 2. read more