KELLY HONORED FOR HIS EFFORTS IN HELPING AT-RISK CHILDREN
TOMS RIVER – Understanding that awareness and knowledge is key to helping our children stay away from a life of
crime and drugs, John Brogan, and Daniel Duddy, Co-Directors of Outta-Bounds honored Ocean County Freeholder John P.
Kelly, who serves as Director of Law and Public Safety, today for his work in helping at-risk children.
Outta-Bounds is an inventive program initiated in Ocean County to benefit both suburban and inner city youths by
helping them to develop a better understanding of one another’s culture. Teens are brought together for a series of
basketball contests and afterwards a lunch and group discussion about the reality of each other’s lives. Together they
discover a mutual understanding of the love of sports, especially basketball, the everyday temptations teenagers face,
including drugs and alcohol, and how the importance of following rules pays off in both games and in life.
“We are here today to recognize Freeholder Jack Kelly in his efforts to help at risk children in Ocean County,”
said Brogan. “The Truth About Gangs program, provided by Ocean County’s Department of Juvenile Services, is one of the
newest in reaching out to our youths. We thank Freeholder Kelly for his determination to do whatever possible to help at
risk children.”
Presenting Kelly with Outta-Bounds’ Gold Medal Award was Otis Davis, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and
Outta-Bounds spokesman.
“It is an honor to be given this award. The program and services available through the Department of Juvenile Services
are here to help the at-risk youth of Ocean County develop into more secure individuals, to promote positive changes in
their personal development and remain productive and socially adjusted members of the community,” Kelly said. “Providing,
not only the children of Ocean County, but also their parents and professionals working with children, information on
the truth about gangs through the TAG program is just one of the ways we try to reach out to the youths here.”
The objective of TAG is to prevent gang membership by educating youths on the myths of the gang lifestyle. Gang
violence is on the rise and many gangs are using schools as recruiting grounds. The TAG program is presented in
predominantly elementary schools reaching fourth through sixth graders. Speakers lecture on the gangs in our region,
discuss local trends, the “draw” of the gang lifestyle, and present strategies, options and alternatives to gang
membership.
“It’s important to reach out to all students in the county through the TAG program,” said Freeholder Director
Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as liaison to the Superintendent of Schools. “Providing an education on the dangers of gangs
can only help them to make the decision not to join.”
According to Arthur Midgley, Assistant Superintendent of Volunteer Services, Juvenile Services, the lessons
learned through the TAG presentations could be the deciding factor in a student’s decision to become a foot soldier in a
gang or to choose a more productive path.
“We want to drive home the message that gang membership is ‘not cool’ and can only lead to drugs, violence, jail and in
some cases even death,” Midgley said.
“Freeholder Kelly is a true advocate for providing services and programs to at-risk children in the county,
providing them with opportunities to succeed in life,” said Robert Coughlin, Director of the Ocean County Department of
Juvenile Services.
For additional information on the TAG Program or to request a presentation contact Arthur Midgley at 732-288-7726.
to the Ocean County News Page