Photos of youth in schools touching the human organs and research results on our signature teaching method.

1. “The Organ Ladies”
Mount Vernon, WA

2. MISSION
Our mission is to educate youth
about the consequences of their
health behaviors. We show the
benefits of choosing wisely using
real human organs and empower
audiences of all ages to make
positive health choices.

3. Kathy Ketchum, RN, CRNI
Senior Program Director and “The Real Inside
Story” Creator in 1989

4. COLLEEN WILLIAMS, RN, MS
Executive Director / Co-founder of
Choice & Consequence

6. “I am writing to tell you that
your presentations have
helped me through my life.
I have seen it 4 times now
and each time it makes me
think about my choices.
Thank you.” –Ryan 13

9. “It was very helpful for me and my
friends because we all found out
that just because you look good
on the outside, it doesn’t mean
that your body is good on the
inside when you abuse
substances. I have used drugs
before and thanks to you I won’t
use them again.” – Shelly, 17

12. “The organs were amazing. It is
one thing to see those kinds of
things on TV, but quite another
to see them in person. Keep
doing what you are doing
because I think it can help kids
understand that we aren’t
invincible.” - Jordan, 14

14. “The organs displayed on the table
and the real life stories were great.
It makes the presentation real and
more powerful. I want to thank
you organ ladies for all you do.”
Gina Wilson-King, State of
Washington, Department of
Information Services

16. “I was impressed with what the
students learned and took
with them after only one class.
I would recommend the
presentation to any school.”
Wendy Arness, Teacher at
Roosevelt High School

19. “Several of my students are trying to
quit smoking as a result of what they
saw and heard. I am ecstatic! Your
program is a much needed one and I
am proud to recommend you.”
Debbie McMenamy, Special
Education Teacher at Northwest
Regional Learning Center

23. “This program has inspired many of
our Native American children to
closely examine and understand
the dynamics of their bodies and
the importance of how they
maintain their health.”
Deborah Parker, Tulalip Tribe

28. “Engaging youth in an opportunity to
discover who they are and who they
are in the process of becoming is
what learning is all about. Knowledge
is power. Every student who is part of
our school will have the opportunity
to listen to “The Organ Lady” because
you meet the objectives of a
meaningful education.”
Melanie Shafaat, Principal, NRLC

31. “My choices now could
make all the difference in
the future. It’s not, we all
have to die some way…It’s,
how do I want to live my
life?” – Jessica, 14

33. “Kathy has such an amazing impact that we
want to include her presentation as a
part of our eighth grade curriculum.
Students remark about going home and
seriously talking with their parents about
stopping smoking or using other drugs.
The effects that her presentation has had
on our students has been astounding.”
Kathy Columbo, Inglewood Junior High
Science Department Chair

35. “When you talked about
your life story and what
you have to go through
now, I believe that affected
me the most.”
-Blake 16

38. Criteria for student letters Findings Sample Student
% of 8,500 letters sampled Testimonial
One in 5 students or 21%
reported they would never use “I was inspired to make good
Prevented students from
ATOD, would make better choices decisions and don’t have to be old
using alcohol, tobacco and in life, that their lives were saved or to die of smoking or taking drugs”.
other drugs (ATOD) they were inspired to make healthy
life choices as a direct result of the “Thank you for my life”.
TRIS presentation.
One in 9 students or 8%
“Thank you for teaching how my
Provoked students to reported using the knowledge and
grandpa will end up. Do you do
information learned from TRIS to
educate/help family private presentations so he can
educate and/or help friends or
members or friends to quit see? Call me at XXX-XXX-XXXX”.
family members to quit using
using ATOD
One in 50 students or 2% “I shared the facts with my little
Compelled students to reported using the knowledge and brother.” “I couldn’t believe I
educate their peers about information learned from TRIS to remembered all of the facts and
the perils of substance educate their peers about information shared. I told all of my
prevention or quitting. friends.”
abuse and ATOD
One in 50 students or 2% “I didn’t know marijuana is like
Influenced students to quit reported using ATOD stated that smoking 4 cigarettes. I thought it
using ATOD themselves. after seeing TRIS they would quit was less dangerous. I will never
using ATOD themselves. smoke it again.”

39. 2005 Post-test Evaluation N=706
Over half were compelled to tell
others and educate their peers
about the dangers of ATOD use as
a direct result of seeing TRIS. Of
the 115 students (or 16%) that
currently use tobacco, over 30%
said they would quit using as a
direct result of seeing TRIS.

40. Thank You for Your Support!