Chris Herren speaks in Queen Anne’s County; Free event highlights substance abuse awareness

CHESTER – Former Boston Celtics player Chris Herren is coming to Kent Island next month for a free community event as part of QAC Goes Purple.

Herren is set to speak at 7 p.m. on November 13, 2018 at Kent Island High School, with livestream available at Queen Anne’s County High School. Both events are free and open to all. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Herren also is set to speak at two in-school assemblies for public school students, grades 9-12. The student assemblies are not open to the public.

“Queen Anne’s County Public Schools is committed to helping parents and students learn about the importance of preventing the use of opioids, and empowering youth to take a stand against all substance abuse,” said school superintendent Dr. Andrea Kane. “We welcome Mr. Herren and believe hearing his story first-hand that evening will be a very moving and powerful experience for our community as well as our students.”

A high school basketball legend from Fall River, Massachusetts, Herren scored more than 2,000 career points while at Durfee High School and ultimately realized his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA in 1999. Herren then went on to play for his hometown team, the Boston Celtics.

Herren struggled with substance abuse for much of his career and got sober in 2008. He shares his story of substance abuse and recovery in his memoir, Basketball Junkie, and in the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films documentary Unguarded.

In June of 2009 Herren launched Hoop Dreams with Chris Herren, a company that offers basketball trainings, camps and clinics to top basketball prospects in New England. He then founded The Herren Project dedicated to treatment navigation and education on the dangers of substance abuse.

In 2012 The Herren Project launched a national campaign, Project Purple, that encourages people to stand up against substance abuse. Since its inception about 300,000 teens nationwide have adopted the program.

Launched on the heels of a spate of opioid overdoses in Queen Anne’s County, QAC Goes Purple promotes education and awareness about the opioid epidemic. Primarily a prevention initiative, QAC Goes Purple is based upon THP Project Purple, and empowers our youth and our community to ‘Go Purple’ as a sign of taking a stand against substance abuse.

The program includes education and implementation of purple clubs in our high schools, with the community displaying purple lights throughout September as a show of solidarity and support.

QAC Goes Purple is an initiative from the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff and Queen Anne’s County Drug-Free Coalition, in partnership with the Opioid Intervention Team/QAC Department of Health, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools, Queen Anne’s County Commissioners and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation.

More information is available at www.QACGoesPurple.org. Find us on Facebook @QACGoesPurple or contact us at QACGoesPurple@gmail.com.

QAC is a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization – donations to which are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

###

~ QAC Goes Purple