FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (EASTON-JUNE 28, 2007)
Talbot Partnership Announces 2007 Awards
The Talbot Partnership for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention hosted its Annual Dinner on June 21 at Union Baptist Church in Easton, MD. Six awards were presented to recognize both individual and organizational contributions toward raising safe and healthy youth. Award recipients for 2007 were Character Counts Mid Shore, Inc.; the Reverend Jody Ellingson Gunn, Minister of Outreach &Nurture for the Easton Church of the Brethren; Tonya Pritchett, Scott’s United Methodist Church After School Program; Celeste Industries; Project Idlewild; and Easton ROCKS After School, Inc.
Character Counts Mid Shore, Inc. promotes healthy choices for youth in Talbot County through its character coaches in the schools. All the character coaches in grades five through seven in Talbot County talk to their students about making healthy choices, including not using tobacco, alcohol and drugs, by relating these choices to the six pillars of character. Susan Luby, Executive Director, recruits and motivates adult coaches from among businesses, youth-serving organizations, and the parent community.
The Reverend Jody Ellingson Gunn, Minister of Outreach &Nurture for the Easton Church of the Brethren and founder of “First Friday Youth Night,” is passionate about making Easton a safe, healthy community for teens. Her idea for a simple, safe teen hang-out was born in February of 2006 after she attended a town meeting concerning adolescent substance abuse in Talbot County. The event has grown from a handful of students meeting at the Church of the Brethren to close to 50 students at various public venues including Easton Middle School. Reverend Gunn has coordinated the Crop Walk, organized community concerts, implemented an Alpha program, and serves as an executive on the Parent Teacher Organization for Chapel District Elementary School.
Tonya Pritchett, a member of Scott’s Methodist Church in Trappe, MD, and an employee with the Talbot County Department of Social Services, provides leadership to youth through an after school program at Scott’s Methodist Church. She has incorporated five years of tobacco prevention in her youth activities, taken youth to Annapolis to lobby for 100% Clean Indoor Air, provided education to adults through youth activities, and serves on the Talbot County Cancer Control Coalition.
In each of the past three years, Celeste Industries Corp. in Easton, MD, has provided tobacco and other health related information to its employees through the offering of a health fair and working with the Talbot County Health Department. This year, Celeste is providing interested employees with time off, free lunch and an on-site location for smoking cessation activities. Twenty employees, from a variety of jobs and departments, participated in smoking cessation counseling and many then took advantage of the Talbot County Health Department’s Tobacco Program. Dawn Quinton of the Human Resources Department at Celeste is instrumental in coordinating employee health programs and is responsible for the significant employee turnout.
Project Idlewild was organized by Megan MacLennan Cook, chairman, and Jill Judd, architect and facilitator, who realized the playground was in need of improvement or replacement. In November 2006, Megan and Jill researched playgrounds and organized their own effort, after the town of Easton was unsuccessful in getting a grant for the project. Five hundred people were involved in selecting the design for the playground and the project now has 30 members and 11 committees. Fund raising has included a $10,000 contribution from Ronald McDonald; tile, picket and bake sales; donations at the Farmers Market in Easton; donations from businesses, schools and classes; as well as fundraisers in private homes.
Easton ROCKS After School provides Easton Elementary School children with before- and after-school programs to help improve academics and physical fitness, build school and community spirit, foster friendships, and open opportunities for students to try new hobbies or indulge existing loves. The program began in September 2005 under the leadership of Amy Eutsey and Susan Langfitt and serves 450 students each year, with plans to expand to Easton Middle School. Funding has come from Talbot Family Network, Talbot County Arts Council, Talbot County Health Department, Food Lion, and in-kind support from Talbot County Public Schools. In 2006 – 2007, Easton ROCKS offered more than 20 programs including mad science, gardening, floor hockey, yoga, chess, animal care, cooking, and survivor challenges. Programs are led by teachers, parents, and members of community organizations.
