The Young Marines, a national youth organization, announced the 2020 “National Unit the Year” – Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) Young Marines of Harvey, Louisiana, under the command of Tammy Williams. The announcement was made at the annual Adult Leaders Conference held virtually on May 9, 2020.

The Young Marines is a national youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. It promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

“I am honored and excited to know that the work our unit puts in every day does not go unnoticed,” Williams said. “To see the excitement on the faces of our Young Marines is a reward in itself.”

The JPSO Young Marines has 74 active Young Marines and 12 Adult Volunteers. The unit meets at 1233 Westbank Expressway, C-212, Harvey, Louisiana.

“The JPSO unit has demonstrated the tremendous qualities needed to be named the 2020 National Unit of the Year," said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. "This unit embodies all that best represents our program - from community service to Red Ribbon Week; from veterans’ appreciation to living and promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. They are a large unit that performs on an even larger scale, the hours and events put in by JPSO are amazing and impactful. I would also like to thank Sheriff Joe Lopinto for his stalwart support of this program.”

In addition to Unit of the Year, the JPSO Young Marines won the Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Award from the Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday May 7, 2020. The award recognizes drug demand reduction efforts through community education and peer-to-peer role modeling.

"Congratulations to the entire Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Young Marines,” said Sheriff Joe Lopinto. “I am so proud of them and their accomplishments this year and every year. Phenomenal work by a great group of individuals that know how to work as a team."

“I am honored to be involved with the Young Marines program,” Williams said. “To be able to make a positive impact in the life of a child is so important, especially in today’s world. One of the most impactful rewards for all of us is to have a Young Marine return years later to say, ‘Thank you for everything you have done for me.’”

How it works

The Young Marines organization is divided into six divisions across the United States. Each Young Marine unit is led and guided by adult volunteers. Annually, one unit is selected from each division. From these six winners, one is named the official “National Unit of the Year.”

The division winners are:

• Division 1 – Fall River Young Marines, Fall River, Massachusetts
  
• Division 2 – New Bern Young Marines, New Bern, North Carolina
  
• Division 3 – Palm Beaches Young Marines, West Palm Beach, Florida
  
• Division 4 – Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Young Marines, Harvey, Louisiana
  
• Division 5 – Hendricks County Young Marines, Pittsboro, Indiana
  
• Division 6 – Miramar Young Marines, San Diego, California

For more information about the JPSO Young Marines contact Tammy Williams at 504-363-5694.

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501c (3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 235 units with 8,000 youth and 2,500 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.

For more information, visit the official website at: https://www.YoungMarines.com.

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Media Contact: Andy Richardson
Ginny Richardson Public Relations
arichardson@gr-pr.com or 630-789-8899