Upcoming Events:

February 10, 2009 – 6th Annual Creativity Contest

ProjecTruth is proud to announce our Sixth Annual Abstinence Education Creativity Contest for Western New York students ages 12 to 18 or students in the 7th to 12th grades.  The contest theme is “Waiting is Easier because…”

The contest is designed to encourage students to creatively express their understanding of the benefits of remaining sexually abstinent until marriage and/or the consequences of high-risk behavior through art, essays, poems, and/or music.

Who is Eligible
Western New York students in grades 7- 12.  Entries will be divided into two categories:

Category 1: 7th and 8th Grade Students
Category 2: 9th – 12th Grade Students

• Students may submit one entry per category.
• Maximum poster size is 18” x 24”.
• All entries must represent the theme of sexual abstinence until marriage.
• No sexually explicit graphics or photos may be used.
• Correct spelling and grammar must be used.
• Text may not contain slang or vulgarities of any kind.
• Chalk drawings will not be accepted.
• Winners will be judged on the best representation of the abstinence until marriage theme and artistic consideration as portrayed in a positive light.
• Maximum words for essays and poems is 100 words or less.
• Song lyrics must be written, along with an accompaniment of music/lyrics recorded on a music cassette or music CD.
  

Student Name
Parent or Guardian Name
Age / Grade
School
Home Address
Phone Number

Submit your entry at school or directly to ProjecTruth at:
ProjecTruth
3982 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14226-3411
*Entries may be submitted when completed, prior to the February 10 deadline date.

Student Prizes!
1st Place and 2nd Place in each category.    

School Prizes!
School with the most entries (includes all categories)

In addition to winning prizes, the winning posters, essays, poems, and/or song lyrics may be used on ProjecTruth’s website, www.ProjecTruth.com, and within its curricula.

Contest Forms:

• Cover Letter
• Rules

Latest News:

October 29, 2008 – Abstinence is Cool

More and more teens across the nation are revolting against the idea that they must date or have sex to be "cool" or "in." Keith will take this topic head on with audience interaction, humor, energy, and facts. Keith will empower teens to join in the New Sexual Revolution: abstinence until marriage and a fulfilling sex life afterwards.

When: October 29, 2008
Where: West Valley High School
5359 School St.
West Valley, NY 14171
Cost: Free

Keith will also conduct a workshop with community parents and guardians based on hisbook, "Fighting Back: How to Promote Abstinence in a Sex Saturated World". Keith has developed a system that always leads to strong parent turnout at his evening workshops.

Keith uses his trademark comedy and high energy to show the social, psychological, and health gains that abstinence from sex includes. He also makes it clear that abstinence is the only CERTAIN way to avoid pregnancy and STDs. He uses audience interaction to show where peer pressure comes from and how to beat it. Keith shows how love and sex are not the same thing. He ends upbeat by illustrating that those choosing not to have sex are the true rebels.

For more information, please call ProjecTruth at (716) 332-3910.

Former NFL Players, Former Miss Black California to Speak To Teens on Character Building

BUFFALO, NY, Sept. 17, 2008 – “The Naked Truth: A Character and Self Esteem Building Extravaganza,” featuring former NFL football players and a former beauty queen, will be held Saturday (Sept. 20) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy in Buffalo. Event co-sponsors are St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy and Catholic Charities’ ProjecTruth.

Saturday’s event follows a similar presentation, including the same speakers, to be offered to students ages 12 and older of Buffalo Public Schools on Friday (Sept. 19). That presentation will take place in a Buffalo high school and will be broadcast live to other Buffalo schools.

Character and self-esteem motivational speakers Keith Davis, Devin Wyman and Lakita Garth will address the teens on Saturday as well. The event, which will be held at St. Luke’s Mission, 325 Walden Ave., is free and open to youth ages 12 and older, as well as parents. Free lunch will be provided.

Former New York Giants linebacker Keith Davis performs feats of strength and utilizes his sense of humor while promoting abstinence until marriage, and. Devin Wyman, former New England Patriots defensive lineman, brings his own character-building message to teens. Lakita Garth, former Miss Black California, travels the nation sharing with teens the benefits of making the choice for abstinence.

St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy is a Roman Catholic Mission in Buffalo. This community, consisting of Amy Betros and Norm Paolini, Co-Founders and Co-Directors, and 15 full time lay missionaries, strive to live the Gospel message of God's great love and mercy for all His children through service to His poor and broken. Two ministries included the Good Shepherd Residence and the Don Bosco House.

ProjecTruth has reached more than 40,000 teens in more than 120 schools and community sites across Western New York with its character-based abstinence-only approach to reducing the social, physical, and emotional problems associated with sexual activity among adolescents.  

Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive direct human service provider in Western New York, serving all eight counties with 53 locations without regard to age, race or religious affiliation. Established in 1923, Catholic Charities also provides comprehensive counseling, services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming, emergency assistance, and education and job training, among other social services

ProjecTruth’s Creativity Contest Winners Awarded

Click here to see and hear some of this year's winners!

BUFFALO, NY, April 25, 2008 – ProjecTruth of Catholic Charities unveiled the “best of the best” winners that is, of its fifth annual Abstinence Until Marriage Creativity Contest: “Waiting is Easier because…” at an Awards Reception Friday afternoon in The Fairdale Banquet Center in Williamsville. The contest encourages students in seventh to 12th grades to creatively express their understanding of the benefits of remaining sexually abstinent until marriage and/or the consequences of high-risk behavior through art, essays, poems and/or music.

The winners are:

The honorees were joined at the reception by parents, teachers, school administrators, and the staff of ProjecTruth and Catholic Charities.

Judith Vogtli, PhD, Program Director for ProjecTruth, praised the youth for their work. “This is always an exciting event for ProjecTruth – it is our opportunity to celebrate the youth of Western New York and their amazing creativity, and to encourage young people in their commitment to abstinence and all good life choices.”

She added, “As educators, we are always highly impressed and humbled by the imaginative and inspired entries to the contest. This year was no different. All of the entries were on target with ProjecTruth’s principles, and the ideas and execution of them were inventive.”

A total 254 entries were received.  

Father Joseph Sicari, Diocesan Director of Catholic Charities, also welcomed the youth and congratulated the students.

“Your entries not only displayed creativity but you skillfully combined your talents with the positive message of abstinence. On behalf of everyone at Catholic Charities I extend my congratulations to you, and to all of our entrants,” he said.

First and second prizes were awarded for each category in both divisions: 7th & 8th grades and 9th through 12th grades. First place winners in each grade category and entry format received a $100 gift certificate to the Walden Galleria Mall and second place winners a $50 gift certificate to the mall. The winners also received a ProjecTruth CD/DVD, and the winners’ posters, essays, poems and/or song lyrics have been reproduced for distribution to area schools and organizations and will be published on the ProjecTruth web site, www.projectruth.com.

Mt. St. Mary Academy in Kenmore submitted 85 entries and took the prizes for the school with the greatest number of entries from students, including a $200 gift certificate to Office Max for art/school supplies, a framed reproduction of the winning poster and ProjecTruth’s “LifeSongs: Make the Right Choice” curriculum, including Scoreboard.

ProjecTruth has reached more than 40,000 teens in more than 120 schools and community sites across Western New York with its character-based abstinence-only approach to reducing the social, physical, and emotional problems associated with sexual activity among adolescents.  

Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive direct human service provider in Western New York, serving all eight counties with 53 locations without regard to age, race or religious affiliation. Established in 1923, Catholic Charities also provides comprehensive counseling, services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming, emergency assistance, and education and job training, among other social services