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Local Student Inspires California to go “Cuss Free” for a Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2010
CONTACT: Michael Tamariz
(916) 319-2044
Sacramento, CA – Inspired by the efforts of South Pasadena student McKay Hatch, Assemblymember Anthony
J. Portantino (D- La Cañada Flintridge) introduced Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 112 on Friday. The
resolution seeks to establish the first week of March as “Cuss Free Week” and invites all Californians to take the
No Cussing Challenge to “improve our relationships, set a tone of harmony and connectedness in our communities,
and inspire ourselves to higher endeavors.” The bi-partisan effort is Co-Authored by Assemblymember Cameron
Smyth (R - Santa Clarita).
In 1997, “Cuss Free Week” was initiated by McKay Hatch, currently a high school student. He established the
first No Cussing Club while attending middle school in South Pasadena. Immediately, there was resistance from
his peers. Pushing on, he utilized the internet, television and hard work to encourage people not to use profanity.
His club now boasts over 20,000 members around the world including in all 50 states. His website receives
thousands of hits per day with hundreds of parents, teens, and children taking the No Cussing Challenge online.
“I remember as a kid, my mother having a ‘cussing jar’ for us to use when we used an inappropriate word around
the house. As an adult, I can still use a little reminder from time to time about my word choices. Often times we
get into the habit of using certain words in certain situations and rarely stop to think about the impact these words
might have,” said Portantino. “Our goal with this resolution is to get people to realize that words do matter. At
the end of the day we may not eliminate profanity, but hopefully we can reduce the frequency with which it is
used.”
Here is how the Challenge works: The No Cussing Club’s website offers a label to place on a jar at your home or
office. When participants slip with foul language they can place money in a jar and donate the money to charity or
to financially strapped non-profit organizations.
“I’m going to put in a few bucks to start the jar in my office as a down payment on any potential mishaps’ I may
have during the week. I am extremely proud of McKay, whom I met a few years ago at a parade in South
Pasadena, for issuing this challenge and, more importantly, for having the courage to stand up to peer-pressure and
let his fellow students know how he felt,” added Portantino.
If approved by the State Assembly and Senate, the first week of March will be recognized annually by the State of
California as “Cuss Free Week.”
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