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National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Protecting children and families by fighting the leading known cause of mental retardation and birth defects
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“I first became aware of FAS in 1973, when I was a school nurse in an elementary school in Washington D.C. I had a 5 or 6-year-old child who did not seem to be doing well in school, did not grow, and had very unusual facial characteristics. The school counselor and I were very concerned. It was at that time that I happened to go to a conference at Howard University, where I learned about fetal alcohol syndrome, and I have to say that it was an eye-opener that changed my life.”
Joyce Day

     Former Senate Majority Leader Daschle to Debut
       Award-Winning Public Service Announcement
     at October 28 Press Conference in Beverly Hills

                           PSA SHOWS RISKS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DURING PREGNANCY


(LOS ANGELES, CA) – On Friday, October 28th at 11AM, Senator Tom Daschle, former Majority Leader of the United States Senate, will be joined at the Regent Beverly Wilshire by actress Gina Loring to debut a new Public Service Announcement cautioning women about the risk of drinking alcohol while pregnant. The award-winning PSA was produced by Women in Film's Los Angeles Chapter for the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS - www.nofas.org).

According to NOFAS, the leading national organization on this issue, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is America’s leading known preventable cause of mental retardation and birth defects. Even though FASD is completely preventable when pregnant women abstain from alcohol, as many as 36,000 infants are born with alcohol-related problems each year. NOFAS advises women who are pregnant or could be pregnant to abstain from alcohol.

"We are very pleased to have such significant figures as Senator Daschle and Women in Film Los Angeles involved in an issue critical to so many families," said Tom Donaldson, President of NOFAS. "Pointed educational efforts like this are always the first step to reducing the risk of a disease that is so unfortunate and preventable."

The empowering PSA targets women of all cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds. Says Tobie Loomis, Director and Co-Writer of the PSA, "I am so proud of everyone who has donated their time and talent in creating ‘Infinite Power.' This is an important yet underexposed issue that should be on the radar of far more women, families and caregivers."

WHO: Senator Tom Daschle, Actor Jimmy Smits and Gina Loring, NOFAS President Tom Donaldson

WHAT: Debut of Public Service Announcement on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

WHERE: Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel; El Camino Drive in Beverly Hills

WHEN: Friday, October 28th; 11:00AM

FOR DETAILS, CALL NOFAS: (202) 785-4585 or Women in Film (www.wif.org)

Copyright 2001-2004 National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome