N urturing youth to seek out positive
O pportunities, internalize good
V alues, and to accept
A ccountability for their choices in life

As you know, I have spent my adult life either teaching kids in a public school setting, or teaching my own six children at home. I currently am in my fifth year as an Elementary School Principal. With all the negative influences impacting our children today, having a program that helps students identify and combat those influences is priceless. I have seen such great benefit from this program in my own children, and those who I have stewardship over in the school setting.

“The Ambulance Down in the Valley.”

‘ Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant,
But over its terrible edge there had slipped,
A duke and full many a peasant.

So the people said something would have to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally.
Some said, “Put a fence around the edge of the cliff,”
Some, “An ambulance down in the valley.”

But the cry for the ambulance carried the day,
For it spread through the neighboring city,
A fence may be useful or not, it is true,
But each heart became moved with pity,

For those who slipped over that dangerous cliff;
And the dwellers on highway and alley
Gave pounds and gave pence not to put up a fence,
But an ambulance down in the valley.

Then an old sage remarked, “it’s a marvel to me
That people give far more attention
To repairing the results than to stopping the cause,
When they’d much better aim at prevention.

“Let us stop at its source all this hurt,” cried he.
“Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally.
If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense
With the ambulance down in the valley.

This program is like the fence. It teaches students what is ahead and how to navigate through it. This program makes a huge difference in the lives of our children at a crucial time in their lives. Help make a difference today. It costs $25 per year to support one participant, $750 for a classroom. Our goals is to have the N.O.V.A. Principles program in every state. We need funding to make this happen and to train additional instructors to teach these principles.

Thanks for your support,

Lori Bellitti

Consider making a monthly gift.

The N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation is dedicated to providing the necessary resources and instruction to help children, youth, families, and communities to protect themselves against the harmful effects and influences of drugs, bullying, and negative media exposure, while providing guidance and direction towards positive opportunities and personal success.

5 NOVA Core Principles

1. Accountability: I own my thoughts, feelings, choices, and actions.
2. Positivity: When I choose Positivity, I experience success and happiness.
3. Knowledge: Knowledge creates opportunities.
4. Work: My path to excellence requires work.
5. Respect: I respect myself, others, and everything around me.

10 NOVA Applications

1. The NOVA Lone Wolf Application: I courageously stand against those who want me to do wrong.
2. The STS Application: Study the Situation.
3. The Cause and Effect Application: When I do or don’t do something, something happens.
4. The Paradigm Application: How I see things.
5. The True Colors Application: What’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong.
6. The Lifetime Decisions Application: Good decisions I make now and forever.
7. The Which Wolf Am I Feeding Application: Which wolf is stronger? The one I feed.
8. The Fire Application: Some say fire is good, others say it is bad, in reality fire is powerful.
9. The Harvest Application: What I put in is what I get out.
10. The Initiative Application: I see what needs to be done and do it.

First developed in 2003, NOVA Principles has impacted tens of thousands of students and their families. In 2016, NOVA Principles LC was changed to N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation. As part of this change, an application was made with the Internal Revenue Service for nonprofit status as a 501c3 organization. September 2017, the IRS granted the nonprofit status.

In most locations, NOVA Principles is offered in your school in partnership with local law enforcement. Where necessary, other officers (current or retired) provide the NOVA Principles program where local departments do not. We feel it is important for you to know this information.

How the NOVA Principles program is paid for:
• Departments pay for their officer salaries and NOVA supplies.
• PTA’s and other funders pay for schools not supported by local departments.
• Individuals, Businesses, and Foundations support us.
• NOVA materials are sold to departments and individuals.

Why does the N.O.V.A. Principles Foundation need funds?
1. Program Delivery: Ensure that students receive this program in their school with assistance from law enforcement.
2. Instructor Training: Each instructor trainee undergoes an extensive 25+ hour training. Certified instructor(s) along with Child and Family Phycologist Dr. Paul Jenkins provide an extensive hands-on to trainees. Once certified, instructors receive continuing education to maintain or renew their 3-year certification. Most of the training fees are underwritten for instructor trainees by the foundation.
3. Instructor Supplies: Each lesson taught has specific tools and supplies. Instructors are provided some of those tools and supplies from the foundation.
4. Curriculum Development: Existing curriculum is continuously reviewed, updated as necessary. Development is underway to provide previous participants with ongoing lessons. New materials are currently under development.