Marcia Lee Taylor Named President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

NEW YORK, June 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, a national nonprofit dedicated to reducing substance abuse among adolescents by supporting families and engaging with teens, has officially named Marcia Lee Taylor President and CEO of the organization. Taylor previously served as the Partnership's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, and recently, its interim President and CEO.

"There is no one more passionate, more enthusiastic and more qualified to lead the organization than Marcia," said Pat Russo, Chairman of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. "We are thrilled to officially have Marcia at the helm as our new president. She has the full support of the board, and countless other partners and families who have come to know and respect her talent and commitment. We are very fortunate to have her on board as the Partnership kicks off its 30^th year."

In addition to leading the Partnership's groundbreaking Medicine Abuse Project, a nationwide communications and education campaign aimed at reducing teen prescription drug and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse, Taylor has been the nonprofit's lead representative in Washington, D.C and has been with the nonprofit for nearly a decade.

Previously, Marcia served as the Senior Advisor for Drug Policy and Research for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs and the Democratic Staff Director of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, working for then-Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

"I couldn't be more excited to take on this new role at the Partnership and I am grateful to our Board of Directors for giving me this opportunity. The Partnership staff and our national network of parent partners are tremendously talented and their commitment to helping families find answers is unmatched.  I feel very fortunate to be able to work with this remarkable team," said Taylor.  "As a mom, I feel particularly passionate about our work to provide a lifeline to families struggling with a child's substance abuse, as well as our work empowering teens to live Above The Influence. I am so proud of the service that the Partnership is providing to millions of families and I look forward to expanding our reach in my new role."

About the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids is dedicated to reducing substance abuse among adolescents by supporting families and engaging with teens. We develop public education campaigns that drive awareness of teen substance abuse, and lead teen-targeted efforts that inspire young people to make positive decisions to stay healthy and avoid drugs and alcohol. On our website, drugfree.org, and through our toll-free helpline (1-855-DRUGFREE), we provide families with direct support and guidance to help them address teen substance abuse. Finally, we build healthy communities, advocating for great access to adolescent treatment and funding for youth prevention programs. As a national nonprofit, we depend on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and the public sector and are thankful to SAG-AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity. We are proud to receive a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, as well as a National Accredited Charity Seal from the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance.

SOURCE The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids