Hopkins, MN—The Minnesota Twins and the Northern Region of SUPERVALU will be joining Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. in the first of two events celebrating the commitment of students, statewide, to strive to lead safe and healthy lifestyles.

This month began with a Proclamation from Governor Mark Dayton proclaiming April 4, 2013 as D.A.R.E. Day in Minnesota (document following).

Participating in our Twins events this year is Jennie-O and Cub Foods who will be joining SUPERVALU in donating the pregame picnic followed by a Twins game for 1400 students on Sunday, April 14, 2013.  The second D.A.R.E./Twins event will be on Sunday, April 28, 2013.

Throwing out the opening pitches at the Twins games will be the winner of Minnesota D.A.R.E.’s statewide poster contest.  For the April 14^th game, the winner is from Kasson-Mantorville Middle School whose D.A.R.E. officer is Jason Peck from the Kasson Police Department.  The pitch on April 28^th thrown out by a student from St. Phillips in Bemidji whose D.A.R.E. officer is Jon Hunt with the Bemidji Police Department.  Additional poster contest winners are attached.

Leading the 7^th Inning Stretch for Sunday’s game will be students with the Coon Rapids D.A.R.E. program lead by D.A.R.E. Officer Ken Young.

Other D.A.R.E. recognition events going on have been several D.A.R.E. games with the Minnesota Timberwolves;  (6) Minnesota Wild/D.A.R.E. games including games on April 21^st and April 23^rd; and an ongoing Family Staycation with Cambria Suites in Maple Grove.

Minnesota D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a prevention and education program that advocates and educates for healthy and safe children.  D.A.R.E. serves young people and their families teaching the skills to make positive decisions, provides education on safe and healthy lifestyles and gives the tools to enable them to resist engaging in negative and violent behaviors.  Over 25 million students have been reached worldwide and approximately 74,000 Minnesota students receive instruction annually.