EHOVE gets $125K grant

MILAN TWP. — The federal government recently awarded $125,000 to EHOVE Career Center for the school's substance abuse prevention efforts. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the drug-free communities grant to the EHOVE Career Center's Future Leaders program. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, announced the grant in a news release issued by her office. "These funds benefit local organizations taking meaningful steps in their communities to prevent substance abuse, a critical issue in our region of northwest Ohio," Kaptur said. "By focusing prevention efforts on youth, we work to reduce the risk of future substance use as they age into adulthood. Encouraging drug-free communities empowers those closest to the problem to take meaningful, lasting action." EHOVE provides career training for both high school students and adults. Future Leaders is a club for high school students that encourages them to live drug-free and perform community service. Members of the club agree to take confidential, random drug screenings. EHOVE Future Leaders was launched in an assembly on Aug. 27 that drew more than 1,000 high school students, according to a news release issued by the school. "Students who commit to the program not only gain valuable learning and community service opportunities, but they also earn something actively sought out on applications to colleges and employers: the distinction of being drug-free," the news release states. Kaptur noted that she's been active in getting other grants for the Sandusky area to help local leaders deal with drug abuse. Those include a $1.8 million Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration award to the Erie County Health Department in 2023 and a $125,000 drug-free communities grant in 2018, also to the health department.