News
Apolo Anton Ohno wraps up tour!
Our nationwide Ask, Listen, Learn tour with Apolo Anton Ohno came to a satisfying conclusion on Friday, in Apolo’s hometown of Seattle.
We knew it was going to be big. Apolo was excited to come home, and Seattle was excited to see him. There were a lot of people in Seattle excited about the program and Apolo’s involvement, and we’re sorry we couldn’t fit all of you in!
Robert McKenna, Attorney General of Washington, introduced Apolo. “Apolo is an excellent example for kids in our state, demonstrating that you can do anything when you choose dedication, determination, and living a healthy and active lifestyle and reject underage drinking.”
While the tour may be over, the Ask, Listen, Learn program’s work continues. Visit www.asklistenlearn.com often to keep up with our efforts – read the blog, sign up your kid to be a member of our Ask Listen Learn Team, and learn about our newest SuperStar – Dara Torres – who will appear in an Ask Listen Learn advertorial in SI KIDS’ April issue. It'll be out on April 1st.
Apolo Anton Ohno Continues to Spread the Ask, Listen, Learn Message Across the US
Apolo Anton Ohno and The Century Council have been getting the word out about Ask, Listen, Learn all over the country!
Apolo encourages kids to say "YES" to a healthy lifestyle and "NO" to underage drinking at both a grassroots level by going into middle schools and speaking directly to kids, as well as in the mainstream media. In the past couple of days he has brought the Ask, Listen, Learn message to features on Fox News’ America’s News Room, Access Hollywood, and most recently this morning on Live with Regis and Kelly. View the Access Hollywood interview below!
The fun has only just begun. Apolo is set to visit more middle schools across the US all next week! Keep watching our blog and following our Tweets and Facebook posts for more updates and photos as he travels to Colorado, California, Illinois, and his home-state Washington.
Apolo Anton Ohno visits Robert Wagner Middle School!
He’s won eight Olympic medals.
He’s the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian in history.
He’s mastered the intense competition of short track speed skating.
He’s the star of the 2010 Winter Games.
But can he withstand 430 hyper sixth-graders?
Today, Apolo Anton Ohno participated in an Ask, Listen, Learn event with The Century Council at Robert Wagner Middle School in New York City. This is part of a nationwide school tour, meant to encourage kids to say ‘YES’ to a healthy lifestyle and ‘NO’ to underage drinking.
“The decisions I made as a young teen heavily influenced where I am today. In fact, many of the decisions I’ve made off-the-ice have contributed most to my success,” said Apolo Anton Ohno. “I truly believe that healthy habits and positive choices start at childhood which is why I’m proud to establish my own Foundation and work with The Century Council to spread healthy messages, including “say no” to underage drinking, to kids across the country.”
Apolo’s nationwide tour will continue. Next is an appearance Saturday morning at Greenwood Athletic Club in Greenwood Village, CO, outside of Denver.
Check out coverage of the event here!
Apolo Anton Ohno partners with The Century Council to promote 'Ask, Listen, Learn' nationwide
The most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian in history and star of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Apolo Anton Ohno has partnered with The Century Council and its Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix program. Ohno, in conjunction with the newly formed Apolo Anton Ohno Foundation, will embark on a five-city tour to schools throughout the U.S. encouraging kids to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to underage drinking. The Apolo Anton Ohno Foundation, established by the eight-time Olympic medalist, will focus on providing youth of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds with the opportunity to play sports, be active and learn about the benefits of making responsible and positive choices.
The post-Olympic tour will kick off on Thursday, March 4th in New York City and will continue with visits to Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle. Ohno, in partnership with The Century Council, will bring the Ask, Listen, Learn program to schools across the country through a series of interactive sessions with middle school children to encourage them to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to underage drinking.
“The decisions I made as a young teen heavily influenced where I am today. In fact, many of the decisions I’ve made off-the-ice have contributed the most to my success,” said Apolo Anton Ohno, winner of eight-record breaking Olympic medals in short-track speed skating. “I truly believe that healthy habits and positive choices start at childhood which is why I’m proud to establish my own Foundation and work with The Century Council to spread healthy messages, including “say no” to underage drinking, to kids across the country.”
Ralph Blackman, President and CEO of The Century Council added, “Parents wield the most influence over a teen’s decision to drink, or not to drink, alcohol. By working with an elite role model such as Apolo Anton Ohno, we’re encouraging parents to talk to their kids about Ohno’s incredible achievements and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle but also the dangers of underage drinking.”
Ask, Listen, Learn was developed by The Century Council in 2003 alongside a team of educators and psychologists specializing in middle school-aged students to educate parents and kids about the dangers of underage drinking. This year, in partnership with PE4life, The Century Council created an interactive, physical fitness activity (“game”) that builds on the existing Ask, Listen, Learn program. The activity is based on recent research by Harvard Medical School’s Dr. John Ratey showing that for a person’s brain to function at its peak, the body needs to move. The “game” teaches kids about the health consequences of underage drinking and encourages kids to “say ‘YES’ to a healthy lifestyle and ‘NO’ to underage drinking."
In the coming weeks, Ohno will demonstrate the game at school and community-based organizations. According to a study conducted by Knowledge Networks on behalf of NBC Universal, 88% of parents say the Olympics is a great way to encourage children to adopt healthy behaviors such as exercising and eating right. Acting as a positive role model, Ohno will hold question and answer sessions with kids at each event.
Also online, Ask, Listen, Learn’s website, www.asklistenlearn.com, encourages kids to pledge to make healthy choices. The website features “SuperStars” including Apolo Anton Ohno who send positive messages to kids about staying fit and healthy and explains why elite athletes say “no” to underage drinking. The website also provides parents with information and strategies to help jumpstart the conversation about the dangers of underage drinking.
Safer roads for everyone - The Roads Safe Act of 2010
In 2006, The Century Council committed its support for the exploration of advanced technologies to prevent drunk driving. The Century Council believes that development of technology to prevent drunk driving holds great promise if it is moderately priced, absolutely reliable, set at the legal BAC limit of .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and unobtrusive to the sober driver.
We are pleased to reaffirm this longstanding support by supporting The Roads Safe Act of 2010, introduced today by Senator Tom Udall (DNM) and co-sponsored by Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). This legislation would significantly increase Federal funding for the ongoing exploration of advanced technologies to prevent drunk driving led by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the auto industry.
The Century Council is proud of its nearly 20 year commitment to fighting drunk driving and our many partnerships with groups like AAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the National District Attorneys Association, among others. Through these efforts we have worked to reduce drunk driving especially among repeat offenders and people who drive at high BAC levels of .15% or above. For these drivers, The Century Council also favors tiered systems that mandate more severe penalties, treatment, and aftercare.
We applaud the leadership of Senator Udall and Senator Corker in working to develop technology that would prevent people from driving drunk and save thousands of lives each year. Click here to learn more about the Roads Safe Act of 2010.
Dr. Wolf: My 13-year-old pierced her belly button. How can I trust her again?
Dear Dr. Wolf,
My 13-year-old has been pestering me for permission to get her belly button pierced for the past year. My answer has always been no, she is too young.
Last night she revealed that she had gone ahead and done it without my permission. I had said no, and she went and did it anyway. There were good reasons why I said no.
Now it’s a trust issue. She has to trust me, and I have to be able to trust her. (And if I had known she would do it anyway, I would have helped her research to make sure she was getting it done in a safe place.)
If she feels she can get away with this one, what next? I am stumped. This is a first-time thing for me.
Distressed Mum
Dear Distressed Mum,
First, let me address the two big issues: trust and control.