NotMYkid is collecting cell phones to help educate Valley students, parents and faculty.
“For every phone collected, Chatterbox Wireless donates $50,” says Blair Crawford, manager of public relations and marketing. “We will then give this money to schools to ensure that our program can remain in schools.”
NotMYkid is a local, nonprofit organization that inspires positive life choices by educating the community about the consequences of destructive youth behaviors. Its goal is to increase awareness of the challenges that kids face and provide information and resources to support their success.
“It all started in 1999 when Steve and Debbie Moak experienced their own child going through addiction. They thought because he was a good kid and they were an involved family that it wouldn’t happen,” Crawford says. “They realized that this is the mentality of most parents — ‘not my kid.’ But addiction doesn’t care who you are or what you are.”
The Moaks began talking to people in the community about the problem and from there the idea branched out. NotMYkid now has a group of speakers — teens who have gone through substance abuse problems, eating disorders, depression and other addictive states — who share their stories with other teens at schools around the Valley. The cell phone drive will provide funding to keep that effort going.
“So far the drive is going really well and we’ve had a great response,” Crawford says.
The cell phone drive will continue throughout the summer. To donate a cell phone, bring or mail it to the notMYkid offices at 5230 E. Shea Blvd. #100 in Scottsdale, 85254. Include your phone number, name, mailing address and email address. 602-652-0163 or notMYkid.
