"This effort to make alcohol less appealing and less available to children is important in every State. Alcohol use and abuse robs children of their creativity, their health, and their potential as adults. Prevention is the key."  —Mary Oberst

Introducing Mary Oberst, First Lady of Oregon

First Lady Mary Oberst, an attorney, is a strong advocate for civil rights and social justice. She brings her dedication to the health and well-being of families, and the community as a whole, to Leadership. A member since 2003, Ms. Oberst actively promotes Leadership's message in Oregon.

Ms. Oberst has been involved in Oregon Partnership's media campaigns and other initiatives to prevent underage drinking. In April 2007, she received a Leadership stipend to extend the media reach of Oregon's underage drinking campaign aimed at parents, called Face it, Parents.

This year, she will continue her support of SAMHSA's Reach Out Now Teach-Ins by participating in Teach-Ins at two elementary schools in Portland. The events will be featured in Portland Family Magazine. In 2006, Ms. Oberst supported SAMHSA's Town Hall meetings and led a Teach-In in an elementary school class.

Ms. Oberst also has participated in activities in support of Alcohol Awareness Month. In 2006, she voiced a radio ad in English and Spanish for Alcohol Awareness Month.

In 2005, she recorded two public service announcements, the first to support Alcohol Awareness Month, and the second to remind parents not to host teen parties where alcohol is served, to keep track of alcohol in their homes, and to talk with their children about the dangers of childhood drinking.

In April 2004, Ms. Oberst kicked off Alcohol Awareness Month with a news event at a middle school in Portland, where she spoke to students about the dangers of underage drinking and launched a statewide campaign aimed at parents and guardians. Her campaign partners were the Oregon Partnership and its Oregon Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking, the Department of Human Services (DHS), Boise, and Safeway. The event included “Talk About It Tuesday,” a program that involved 20 schools and 10,000 middle-school students across the State. Ms. Oberst also wrote an editorial on underage drinking published in the East Valley News.

Ms. Oberst also works with State officials in prevention efforts. In January 2007, she joined Oregon's Attorney General Hardy Myers and other leaders in announcing a package of bills that target underage drinking. The bills are under consideration in the State legislature. In 2006, on behalf of Governor Ted Kulongoski, she accepted a statewide assessment of the economic and social impact of alcohol and other drugs written by the Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs.

In 2003, Ms. Oberst and former First Lady Sharon Kitzhaber invited five former Oregon First Ladies to a meeting to introduce them to the Leadership initiative.

As First Lady, Ms. Oberst visits elementary schools to promote reading. She has participated in the nationwide programs, Read Across America and Scholastic 2004.

Ms. Oberst is a publications attorney. She is the co-author of Bridge to the Future: Honoring the Civil Rights Movement, published in 2002. She and her husband, Governor Ted Kulongoski, have three children.

Spouses of Governors who have completed their terms in their State houses are able to continue their work to prevent childhood drinking as members of the Leadership To Keep Children Alcohol Free Emeritus Group.  Click here for information on the Emeritus Group and a complete list of members.