GameChanger Program Comes to MMS
Governor and GameChanger Head Coach, Jim Justice, travelled to Marshall County on Tuesday to talk to students about the GameChanger Initiative and the dangers associated with Opioids, Fentanyl and all drug use as well as vaping.
The event at the John Marshall High School Center for Performing Arts also featured the premier of the age-appropriate film for 3-5 graders You Have What It Takes, a talk from Meg Bulger, former WVU Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer and GameChanger Education and Community Relations Liaison, the presentation of a check for $30,000.00 from James C. representing the Hartley Law Group to the Governor and GameChanger Founder and Executive Director, Joe Boczek and an announcement from Marshall County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Shelby Haines that Moundsville Middle School is becoming the fourth GameChanger School in Marshall County.
The afternoon ended with a birthday tribute to Baby Dog, who accompanied the Governor on the trip to the riverfront county. Students sang happy birthday and presented the ever-famous dog with a birthday cake and balloons and were given cookies with Baby Dog’s face on them as they exited.
“What a wonderful afternoon with a wonderful bunch of kids and educators. I can’t thank Superintendent Haines and her staff enough for all the planning for such a great cause which made for just an enjoyable afternoon right down to celebrating Baby Dog’s Birthday and dean Hartley and the Hartley Law Groupe for their generous donation in support of GameChanger’s prevention efforts in Marshall County.”
The West Virginia Governor took time to laud Game Changer for its efforts not only in Marshall County but throughout the entire state.
“I mean this sincerely when I say I couldn’t be prouder of GameChanger and am so honored to have been asked to serve as the first head coach. This movie You Have What It Takes is going to be vital in educating 3-5 graders in an age-appropriate way about the dangers of Opioid, Fentanyl and all drug use and vaping. GameChanger is making a difference in the lives of our kids in this state which pleases me so much.”
Haines, who has been supportive of the GameChanger Initiative since its inception, took time to praise the program, express her gratitude that Marshall County now has four schools in the program and thanked Dean Hartley and the Hartley Law Group for helping make that possible.
“I know as a staff we won’t be happy until all schools in Marshall County are GameChanger Schools, but we are making great strides in that direction thanks to people like Dean Hartley and the Harley Law Group. Dean attended Marshall County Schools, graduated from John Marshall and continues to make a difference in his community by the generosity he has shown today.”
Boczek, who founded the GameChanger Program in 2018 along with ex WVSSAC Executive Director Bernie Dolan and MVB Financial Corporation President Don Robinson says there just isn’t enough thanks to go around regarding the success GameChanger has enjoyed in such a short amount of time.
“GameChanger went from a jog to an all-out sprint the day Governor Justice agreed to be our head coach, coupled with the support from all the educators like Superintendent Haines and her staff here today and educators throughout the state along with those from the political world including all our representatives here today not to mention those in the business world like the Hartley Law Group. We have been truly blessed and, as a result, our kids are being truly blessed, he says.
As a youth-led positive development and community enhancement initiative, GameChanger programming educates, supports and empowers young West Virginians to live healthy, drug-free, lifestyles, while becoming our leaders of tomorrow.
To learn more about GameChanger, visit www.gamechangerusa.org