Two Volunteer Leaders Honored For Helping Improve Lives of High School Dropouts

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Guard Youth Foundation (NGYF) has honored former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Thomas J. Campbell, Founder and President of DC Capital Partners and Chairman of the Board of Michael Baker International, for their long-standing commitment to improve the lives of high school dropouts.

Landrieu was presented with the ChalleNGe Champion Lifetime Achievement Award while Campbell was presented the ChalleNGe Champion Award at the annual fundraising gala held in Washington, DC on February 24.

Over the past decade, both Landrieu and Campbell have been an integral part of NGYF, which supports the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. High school dropouts between the ages of 16-18 have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma or GED and learn essential life skills through the program which has graduated more than 130,000 at-risk youth since its founding in 1993.

"The Youth ChalleNGe Program is the most successful program of its kind for at-risk youth in need of a second chance," said Gen. Craig McKinley, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) and Chairman of National Guard Youth Foundation's Board of Directors. "Both Mary and Tom have been instrumental in ensuring that not only the program continues to thrive but that the Foundation is able to support ChalleNGe graduates who need scholarship or job training assistance. Their leadership and support have propelled us to new heights and we are tremendously thankful for their dedication."

Honorary board co-chair for 10 years, Senator Landrieu has been a staunch advocate of ChalleNGe on Capitol Hill. A RAND Corporation study found the Youth ChalleNGe Program to have a 166 percent return on investment for every dollar spent.

"We still have much work to do in the state, in the region and in the country," said Landrieu whose home state graduates 1,400 youth from program sites in Shreveport, Central Louisiana and Baton Rouge each year. "It's incumbent upon each of us, as individuals, as a community and as a unified nation to help these troubled teens, who have given up on themselves, realize their potential for success."

Mr. Campbell, who serves as treasurer for NGYF and is also a member of its Board of Directors, has worked closely with Senator Landrieu to ensure that the program has the maximum impact for the nation's most at-risk youth. Over the past decade, he has personally donated more than $1 million to the Foundation and has helped ensure it has the resources needed to serve ChalleNGe graduates.

"This year Michael Baker International celebrates its 75^th Anniversary. We are farmers not miners – we recognize the importance of giving back to society and our communities.  With the National Guard Youth Foundation, I have seen the impact public-private partnerships can have to initiate change in our nation," Campbell said. "When influential private companies leverage their resources to support organizations that are transforming the lives of our at-risk youth, our entire society benefits."

The National Guard Youth Foundation's 10th anniversary ChalleNGe Champions Gala was attended by 800 Congressional and military leaders, the business community, program alumni, graduating cadets and noted celebrities including country music star Randy Houser and NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick. Fox News Channel's Jon Scott emceed the event. The funds raised at the gala enable NGYF to support scholarship, workforce development and training programs.

About The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program
ChalleNGe is a 17-month, voluntary, second-chance program for 16- to 18-year-old struggling youth who have dropped out of school. Participants have the opportunity to enhance life skills, increase self-esteem, learn job skills, and earn a high school diploma, GED or return to high school to graduate with their peers. ChalleNGe has undergone rigorous evaluations, the results of which show it yields success for both its participants and its funders. Since the program's inception in 1993, ChalleNGe has grown to 35 programs in 27 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, and has helped more than 130,000 former dropouts make it to graduation day.

About The National Guard Youth Foundation
The National Guard Youth Foundation, a 501(c)(3), supports the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program's efforts to address the nation's high school dropout crisis by giving troubled youth a second chance, helping them graduate and continue their education or join the skilled workforce in America. NGYF awards scholarships and facilitates job opportunities for ChalleNGe graduates. To learn more about NGYF's initiatives, please visit www.ngyf.org.

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SOURCE National Guard Youth Foundation

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