Saint Vincent College was awarded an $11,500 grant by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to support its mission of taking a proactive approach to student safety and underage and high-risk alcohol use. 
The PLCB selected Saint Vincent College and 62 other organizations throughout the commonwealth to receive a share of over $664,000 in funding for comprehensive community-based initiatives. The grant to SVC will be dedicated for a variety of uses including: support for policy/procedure revision and development; creation of a parental notification brochure that provides tools and resources; and increased student safety through security and a prevention specialist. The parental notification brochure will then be used as a model for other agencies’ brochures statewide.
“Saint Vincent College and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board have had a long-standing relationship in leading the way that colleges and state agencies can approach the issue of student safety,” Saint Vincent College Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Jamie Caridi said. Mr. Caridi pointed out that often PLCB hosts its seminars and workshops at SVC and sees the College as a leader in student safety efforts.
The grant will allow the College to study the effectiveness of policies and consult an expert to help strengthen procedures. SVC will also be able to provide more security personnel at sporting and other popular events, which draw a large number of students and community members, to ensure the safety of all who are present.      
“With some of this money Saint Vincent College will partner with the Prevention Projects to provide a Pennsylvania Certified Prevention Specialist who will work with the institution in developing intervention and prevention strategies, programs and service,” Mr. Caridi noted. He added that the Saint Vincent College Office of Public Safety will have the opportunity to attend PLCB-sponsored workshops to broaden its skills and techniques.
“This grant money will bolster the collaborative effort between the PLCB and Saint Vincent College and expand the resources in the fight against underage and high risk consumption,” PLCB Chairperson Jonathan Newman said.
This year’s total PLCB grant awards are an increase of 34 percent over the 2005-2006 funding level and are the largest awards, to date, by the PLCB for prevention and high risk use initiatives. PLCB recognizes that strategies to positively maintain a safe college environment are one way to affect changes in behavior in our communities beyond college campuses. The Liquor Control Board feels supporting proactive initiatives, like Saint Vincent College’s, helps to foster a life-long responsibility to prevent the misuse of alcohol.
“The PLCB will continue to set higher and higher goals and dedicate the financial support and resources for continued successes in education and prevention initiatives,” PLCB board member Thomas F. Goldsmith concluded.
The PLCB grant monies will support a range of initiatives including law enforcement training and community and youth outreach and prevention programs. The PLCB is an independent state agency that manages the alcohol beverage industry in Pennsylvania. It is responsible for licensing the possession, sale, storage, transportation, importation and manufacture of wine, spirits and malt or brewed beverages in the commonwealth, as well as operating a system of liquor distribution (retailing) and providing education and prevention services to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol misuse. The PLCB grant program is administered by the Board’s Bureau of Alcohol Education. 

For more information, visit http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/ and http://www.dontletminorsdrink.com/.

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