Warren County youth ages 11-14 are invited to submit a short video for the Warren Coalition’s Health Video Contest, running now through March 27th! The challenge is to create a 15-second or 30-second video promoting one of the following four healthy habits:
Getting Quality Sleep
Eating Healthy
Exercising Regularly
Drinking Water
Students can submit their original video to warrencoalition.org/health-video-contest between now and March 27th. Winners from EACH category will receive a $125 gift card! Students may submit one video for each category. All Warren County residents ages 11-14 are eligible for this competition, whether they are homeschooled or enrolled in public or private school.
“If I could give one tip to the students,” said Warren Coalition Deputy Director Celeste Brooks, “it would be to make sure you have good quality audio. Each year, the Coalition receives really creative submissions that lose because we can’t understand all of what is being said. Avoid recording at times and places when the wind is strong or there is a lot of background noise.”
Music should be omitted from the video unless it is royalty-free music. By submitting a video, a contestant gives Warren Coalition permission to use the video on their website and social media, and in commercials (including, but not limited to, social media, OTT, online or broadcast) to help promote healthy choices among youth.
This event is sponsored by the Warren Coalition, made possible by Project WAHOO (Working to Achieve Healthy Opportunities and Outcomes), funded by Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. For questions or more information, contact Celeste Brooks at celeste@warrencoalition.org
Misunderstandings increase when people hide behind keyboards instead of gathering and talking face-to-face. The market has introduced toys with AI (artificial intelligence) toys that seek to provide children with emotional connections that should be coming from other human beings. Social media continues to feed us with divisive feeds, using algorithms that don’t care about truth, but only how long you stay on the platform. Teens on social media excessively are exposed to more bullying and experience higher levels of anxiety and depression.
Technology itself isn’t the enemy, but our dependence upon it and how it is used certainly can be. Warren County Unplugged, organized by Warren Coalition as part of the Global Day of Unplugging, is a chance for us all to take stock of where we are in relation to social media, AI, and screens in general. Now in its third year, Warren County Unplugged will take place from Friday, March 6th through Saturday, March 7th, sundown to sundown. Participants are encouraged to sign up to pledge a reduction in social media and/or screen use during the 24-hour period, in exchange for being entered into prize drawings. This year’s prizes already include gift cards from Downriver Canoe Company and Hibachi Fresh, the latter of which were donated by Our Community Co-op Marketing.
“Our dependence on screens, social media, and AI has a negative impact on our ability to relate to each other, our mental health, and overall wellbeing,” explained organizer Celeste Brooks, Community Outreach Coordinator of the Warren Coalition. “We encourage folks to completely unplug for the 24 hours of Warren County Unplugged, but each person sets their own goal, which can include a smaller timeframe or partial unplugging. For example, you might choose to turn off your phone and focus on your family during meals or get off of Facebook for the day.”
From Friday evening to Saturday evening, local organizations and businesses are offering in-person activities, sales, and workshops to provide a distraction from the screens and make it easy to spend time with family, friends, and neighbors. Warren Coalition, Warren County Parks & Recreation, Scouting America, and Young Life will host the “Youth Unplugged Party” for youth of all ages at the Health and Human Services Complex at 465 W 15th St on Friday evening, March 6th. There will be a 3-on-3 volleyball tournament, backyard games, crafts, bingo, archery, and more! Additional information will be released in the coming weeks. That same evening, Samuels Public Library is hosting a Scottish Céilidh, which is a Scottish dance fundraiser that would make a great “phone-free” date night.
Various activities are already lined up for Saturday, March 7th. For the third year, Phoenix Project will encourage students to submit artwork during the week leading up to Warren County Unplugged, with an art show scheduled on the 7th. Jig ‘n’ Jive Dance Studio will kick off their annual Pot o’ Gold Scavenger Hunt that weekend. Habitat for Humanity plans to host a block party at the gazebo, weather permitting. Shenandoah River State Park will provide day passes that will be given away randomly at events throughout the weekend and also host two vernal pool explorations. Play Favorites, Explore Art & Clay, C & C Frozen Treats, and Down Home Comfort Bakery have all committed to hosting activities or sales, with details to be released soon. New to the events this year is On Cue’s Viva Unplugged, a fun, casino-style raffle fundraiser that will help support Warren County Unplugged!
Warren Coalition is thankful to the businesses that have stepped up to sponsor this event: On Cue, Downriver Canoe Company, Angels Korner Daycare and Learning Center, Mountain Laurel Montessori School, and Bret Hrbek of Edward Jones. A few additional sponsors are still needed, to help offset the costs of promoting the 24-hour challenge, printing educational materials, and providing prizes for various contests and games. Sponsorships levels are $500, $250, or $100. Gift cards of $10 to $50 and kid-friendly prize items are also welcome!
Businesses and organizations that would like to be a part of this effort in any way can contact Celeste Brooks at celeste@warrencoalition.org or 540-660-3367.
FRONT ROYAL, VA—In the midst of preparing for Celebrate Kids Day, Warren Coalition’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Celeste Brooks, received some fun news: she and the Warren Coalition had been selected to receive the Global Day of Unplugging’s “Community Award” in honor of their work on “Warren County Unplugged” this past March!
“In 2025, in Front Royal, you helped create something rare: space for people to step away from screens, look each other in the eye, and feel the power of real connection,” the letter accompanying the award reads. “That’s no small thing. This certificate isn’t just paper. It’s a testament to your part in a growing movement to reclaim our time, attention, and presence — and to the difference that simple, human moments can make.”
With over 40 businesses, agencies, and nonprofit organizations participating in some way, the Coalition’s second year of encouraging Warren County residents was considered a resounding success by Brooks and the rest of the committee. But they didn’t expect national recognition for their efforts.
“We were just focused on creating the awareness,” Brooks said. “And obviously the more organizations we have engaged, the greater the awareness.”
Heather Rollins was taking photos during the Youth Unplugged Party and caught Celeste Brooks darting around. The Youth Unplugged Party was an event geared towards kids K-12 and was part of Warren County Unplugged this past March.
This isn’t the first time that the work of Brooks and the Coalition was noticed by the Global Day of Unplugging (GDU) staff. The GDU staff were so impressed with the social media work on the first event held in 2024, called “Warren County IRL (In Real Life),” that they named Warren County an honorary “Unplugged Village.” That first event had mixed attendance at events, but signed up over 100 people to forego screens for at least a few hours during the 24-hour challenge, thanks to Brooks and Michael Whitlow of Over 50 Media. This year, the Coalition teamed up with Warren County Parks & Recreation and Warren County Public Schools to provide a stronger emphasis on youth, sending out educational materials through the schools and online, and organizing a “Youth Unplugged Party.” It is estimated that over 800 people participated in events throughout the weekend, and nearly 250 signed up to “unplug” for at least a few hours.
A blind-folded volunteer, Jason Neale, chases children with a foam sword. The children had rubber chickens strapped to their feet. The goal was to not get hit with the sword, but if the chickens didn’t give away the kids, their happy squeals and laughter did!
“If we can get folks to think about their phone use, even for just one day, it can help them recognize unhealthy dependencies,” Brooks pointed out. “In many of the post-event surveys, people say they didn’t realize how much time they spend on their phones. Those who participate enjoy the break, even if they find it challenging.”
The committee has already begun to plan for the 2026 event, which will be held March 6th-7th. If you would like to learn how your business or organization can participate, contact Celeste Brooks at celeste@warrencoalition.org or 540-660-3367.
Warren Coalition, celebrating 30 years of service to Warren County, is a nonprofit agency established in 1994 to help fill the gaps in health care and substance abuse awareness to the community. The Coalition began under the guidance of Warren Memorial Hospital as an outreach project, but it has since grown and was incorporated in 2001. The office is currently located in the Warren County Community Center. Their mission is to make Warren County a safe, healthy, and drug free community through many programs and in collaboration with 15+ member agencies.
On July 31, 2025, 26 Warren Coalition members, staff, and guests came together at the Warren County Community Center for the Coalition’s Annual Awards Luncheon. This annual event is held to honor outstanding members as well as the recipient of the 2025 Larry M. Funk Award for Outstanding Service to Children in Warren County.
Showing up is critical for success—especially when an organization depends upon volunteers–and so each year, the Coalition recognizes those who have attended 80% (or more) of the meetings. For the 2024-25 fiscal year, Perfect Attendance recognition was awarded to Treasurer Kay Schroyer, while Attendance Awards were given to Secretary Holly Goode and Michelle Smeltzer.
Executive Director Christa Shifflett presents Secretary Holly Goode with a pin, given in appreciation for Holly’s consistent presence at meetings.
Some members go above and beyond their “official” volunteer service duties by assisting the Coalition with events, fundraising, etc. These members are awarded one to four stars each month for their above-and-beyond service. (For example, the treasurer does not receive stars for performing duties related to being the treasurer.) This year, only one point separated the top two Stars, with Kay Schroyer beating out runner-up Coalition President Nick Croft.
Coalition President Nick Croft was recognized as the runner-up for the Member of the Year Award. He was beaten out by only one point by Treasurer Kay Schroyer.
Once the member recognitions were announced, attention turned to the Larry M. Funk Award honoree: Harmony Hike. Nominated by Tiffany Halliday, Harmony is the co-founder of the Hike Kidz Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which launched its first initiative in November 2024. She devotes countless hours to the goals of the foundation, reaching Warren County children in need to ensure they have an equal opportunity to thrive. She has brought the community together to provide support directly to children and families that need it most.
Harmony works tirelessly to launch community campaigns and initiatives that strengthen ties in our community by raising funds and providing for basic needs like clothes and other essentials. Hike Kidz Foundation is dedicated to providing these resources to McKinney-Vento and foster students who have unmet needs. She created a campaign that raised enough funds to provide hygiene and art enrichment items to over 130 local children. Last year, the foundation raised funds to sponsor 11 families at Christmas, providing funds, toys, and dinners.
Harmony Hike of the Hike Kidz Foundation was the recipient of this year’s Larry M. Funk Award for Outstanding Service to Children in Warren County.
According to Tiffany, the five words that describe Harmony are “devoted, passionate, reliable, driven, and leadership.” In her write-up, Tiffany said, “Harmony is driven to reach and help the local students in need to feel equal. To thrive. To feel more confident.”
Upon being presented with the award, Harmony spoke a few words of thanks to the Coalition and recalled Larry Funk, who worked in the schools while she was a student. “He was active and jolly. Smiling from the inside. Always pleasant. Always present,” she recalled. She concluded her speech with a message: “Sometimes it’s not what you need from the world, it’s what the world needs form you. This is what Mr. Funk gave us and that was a community gift we all felt. A long-lasting impact of what it means to live fully and completely, doing all that you love, with all of your heart.”
Each spring, nominations for the Larry M. Funk Award are open for about four to six weeks. Anyone in the community can nominate someone who serves the children of Warren County. Once the nomination period closes, a small committee made up of Coalition members and staff select four to five finalists, which are then given to Larry Funk’s wife Linda and their son William to make the final selection of the winner.
Harmony received an engraved award and a $500 check, and her name will be added to the list of award recipients that is kept on a plaque in the Warren Coalition offices.
Warren Coalition is a nonprofit agency established in 1994 to help fill the gaps in health care and substance abuse awareness to the community. The Coalition began under the guidance of Warren Memorial Hospital as an outreach project, but it has since grown and was incorporated in 2001. The office is currently located in the Warren County Community Center. Their mission is to make Warren County a safe, healthy, and drug free community through many programs and in collaboration with 15+ member agencies.
As it does each year, Warren Coalition is kicking off the school year with a free pool party for Warren County students entering grades sixth through eight this fall! This annual event will be held on Sunday, August 10, 2025, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Claude A. Stokes Jr. Community Pool (1000 Stadium Drive, Front Royal). The Coalition is excited to welcome Young Life back to the Pool Party for some added activities and fun.
Although admission to the pool party is free, the Coalition will accept donations of nonperishable food for those in need. This includes pasta, rice, cereal, meat or fish in pouches, and canned vegetables, meats, and fruits.
Supervision is provided; parents are welcome to stay but are not required to do so. This event is open to all Warren County residents entering grades six through eight, whether they attend public or private school, or are homeschooled. For more information, email wc@warrencoalition.org.
