Determined Students, Parents Raise Money for Speaker : Anti-Drug Crusader Addresses Granada Hills School

The administration of Granada Hills High School told a small group of students and parents it could invite a nationally known anti-drug crusader to speak on campus on one condition: It must raise part of the $10,000 needed to bring in the tough-talking David Toma--in two weeks.

Fourteen days and dozens of telephone calls later--mostly to businesses and civic organizations--the students and parents and a handful of community groups secured pledges of more than $7,000.

“The school gave us two weeks,” recalled Mike Singer, one of the event’s organizers. “We got the thing rolling, and before we could stop it we had over $12,000.”

Half of the money went for Toma’s honorarium and $4,000 went for expenses, Singer said. The rest of the money will be used for drug-education programs at the school, he said.

Toma gave two presentations at the school Wednesday. A former police officer from New Jersey, Toma has preached his anti-drug gospel to millions of students across the nation with a no-nonsense approach that, as Singer said, “shakes them up pretty good.”

Toma is known for giving stirring speeches based on his experience as police officer and on his own problems with drugs and alcohol. His life inspired two television series, “Toma” and “Baretta.”

Three members of the school’s Students Against Drunk Driving chapter--David Weiss, Dana Overdevest and Chrissie Wagman--spearheaded the campaign. They introduced Toma before his morning presentation. Another key organizer was Allan Kekassy, a school guidance counselor, Singer said.

Organizers were supported by 119 sponsors, ranging from Northridge Lumber and Music Plus to the Chatsworth Women’s Club and Holy Cross Hospital, Singer said.

The chief sponsors for the event were Holy Cross, Granada Hills Concerned Students, Highlanders Booster Club and Friends of Granada Hills.

Bernadette Fasching, a spokeswoman for Holy Cross, said the hospital provided printing, money and staff time. Holy Cross also was one of several medical facilities and schools that provided 60 peer counselors who met with students individually and in small groups after Toma’s three-hour presentation to 2,370 students. He spoke to parents Wednesday night.

Student attendance was mandatory. Singer said counselors talked to some students immediately after hearing Toma speak.

Toma and the 60 counselors will be on campus today for further sessions with students.