Foundation Spread Warnings of Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances
The Taylor Hooton Foundation recently announced a partnership today with Moroch, a Dallas-based integrated marketing agency. The foundation educates people across the nation about the effects of Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances. To date, the foundation has reached over one million students and delivers hundreds of educational programs to youth, adult influencers and professionals each year.
“This started as an effort to spread the message that this is a serious and life-threatening issue,” said Donald Hooton, Jr., President of the Taylor Hooton Foundation. “The sad fact is almost two million middle school and high school kids admit to using Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances, while only 19 percent of adults are aware of the problem. In fact, the majority of students we meet say they’ve never had a coach or adult speak to them about the dangers of these drugs. We’re on a mission to change that and we’re thrilled to have a world-class agency like Moroch help us reach even more people. Together, we can move mountains.”
The foundation was formed in 2004 after Taylor Hooton, a 17-year-old high school athlete from Plano, TX, turned to anabolic steroids. Shortly after his doping became known, Taylor quit using but fell into a deep depression and eventually took his own life. Realizing the need for more advocacy and awareness, Taylor’s family and friends started the foundation and have since partnered with various organizations including Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and numerous others. Currently, more than 40 professional athletes are members of the Taylor Hooton Foundation’s Advisory Board and All Me League and have pledged to play clean and free of Appearance and Performance Enhancing Substances.
“The fact that one in 16 high school students admit to using steroids and teen girls are the fastest growing group of new users is a scary – and sadly unknown – problem,” said Doug Martin, Chief Client Service and Development Officer at Moroch. “That could easily be one of our kids, a family friend or even our next new employee. The Hooton family took a tragic incident and turned it into a brilliant foundation that is saving hundreds of lives each day. We’re just honored to help drive that message home.”
For more information or to make a donation online, please visit taylorhooton.org.
