This season, Major League Baseball and the Taylor Hooton Foundation are teaming up to reach impressionable youths who still want to “get bigger.” The foundation is collaborating with MLB on a public-service campaign featuring advisory board members from all 30 rosters. “We are so excited to have these world-class athletes step up to be role models for our young people, and we feel strongly that these public-service ads will send a powerful and valuable message,” Taylor Hooton Foundation President Don Hooton said. “Education is, without question, the most effective weapon we have to fight the epidemic of appearance and performance-enhancing drug use by our young people and these players are showing kids that they’ve achieved success the right way.” American Leaguers on the advisory board include Elvis Andrus of the Rangers, Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays, Brian Dozier of the Twins, Logan Forsythe of the Rays, Charlie Furbush of the Mariners, Brett Gardner of the Yankees, Dillon Gee and Alex Gordon of the Royals, Ken Giles and Dallas Keuchel of the Astros, J.J. Hardy of the Orioles, Jason Kipnis of the Indians, James McCann of the Tigers, Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox, Josh Reddick of the Athletics and C.J. Wilson of the Angels. National League advisory board members include Jake Arrieta of the Cubs, Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies, Michael Blazek of the Brewers, Jay Bruce of the Reds, Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals, Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, Nick Markakis of the Braves,Mark Melancon of the Pirates, Joe Panik of the Giants, Anthony Rendon and Logan Schafer of the Nationals, Tyson Ross of the Padres, Neil Walker of the Mets, Christian Yelich of the Marlins and Brad Ziegler of the D-backs. The Phillies and White Sox will announce 2016 advisory board members soon. To inaugurate the 2016 campaign back in March, Don Hooton presented a framed and matted print of Hardy’s version of the PSA to the Baltimore shortstop before a Spring Training game. Similar presentations were made by Hooton to other advisory board members at Grapefruit and Cactus League games. “Steroids are just like any other drug, they can kill you,” Hardy said. “I’m just standing up for the youth. It’s a good cause. Nobody should do them, especially young kids.” For the campaign, a print ad for each of the foundation’s current advisory board members has been created, with images provided by THF national partner Getty Images, and will be made available to each player’s respective team program/magazine for publication during this season. In addition, “It’s All Me” PSAs will run in programs at MLB jewel events. Advisory board members will also take part in educational activities in their local communities. Board members provide input on the most effective ways to educate North America’s youth about the dangers of anabolic steroids and other appearance and performance enhancing drugs. The Taylor Hooton Foundation has spoken to and educated more than one million people. Education, rather than random testing, is clearly the primary solution, especially considering that the median age for first-time steroid users is 15. A startling 85 percent of high school athletes say they never have had a coach, parent or teacher talk to them about the dangers of such drugs. Nearly one out of every five adults are unaware that high school anabolic steroid use is a problem; nearly two million middle school and high school kids admit to using steroids, for appearance and performance; and 36 percent of males 18-25 say they or someone they know has taken steroids or HGH. The Taylor Hooton Foundation has a Latin American outreach and travels throughout the Caribbean, speaking to thousands of RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) athletes, coaches and parents in partnership with MLB. Additionally, the foundation introduced a new eLearning program in 2014 — narrated by Bob Costas — to Little League Baseball that is offered to its one-million adult coaches and other volunteers. More information about the Taylor Hooton Foundation and its efforts is available attaylorhoot.org and allmeleague.com.