“Big” Al Szolack stands with Adriana Botto (left) and Ryland Johnson, winners of the essay contest he sponsors, at a Harrison Township board of education meeting on May 19.
Public speaker and former basketball player “Big” Al Szolack was invited to the Harrison Township Board of Education meeting on May 19 to award winners of an essay contest he sponsored with the school district.
The contest had students write about the dangers of smoking, drugs and alcohol and what they would do to help their peers avoid substance abuse. The two winners were 12-year-old sixth graders Adriana Botto and Ryland Johnson, who read their essays aloud at the board meeting.
Their prize is free admission to the summer basketball camp Szolack holds at Harrison Township Elementary School.
“My purpose is to build their self-esteem,” he explained, “build their self-worth and get the issues they might be going through off their chest so they can learn to deal with life properly.”
Szolack gave a presentation to students at Pleasant Valley School in April, where, among other issues, he addressed suicide and his own issues with drug addiction.
After years of playing for the Washington Generals – the team that competes in exhibition games against the Harlem Globetrotters – Szolack got the news that his 27-year-old mother had died of a heart attack. He tried to cope by turning to cocaine, resulting in a seven-year addiction.
A talk with his fiancée’s mother eventually turned Szolack’s life turn around. Instead of lecturing or criticizing him, she gave him a hug. That inspired him to start his Do Hugs, Not Drugs program, through which he spreads his message to anyone willing to listen. Szolack has addressed Pleasant Valley students for three years.
“My first year here,” he recalled, “we had an incident where we helped a 12-year-old kid from harming himself. And then last year, we had a young lady who was thinking about harming herself and got her the help she needed. This year there was no incidents.
“These kids are precious.”
Szolack also presented a plaque at the board meeting to school Superintendent Missy Peretti, citing her support for his program and for helping students get help for their issues.
“The time that you take away from your family, your life, traveling, we certainly appreciate it,” Peretti noted, addressing Szolack. “Because it’s not just the time you’re coming in to speak to the kids, it’s the time that you’re caring, it’s the time you’re giving to the kids for your basketball camps in the summer – which my own kids have enjoyed in the past – it’s coming out tonight.”
