Col. Wesley Fox Young Marines Hosts Hoop Shoot

A Hoop Shoot event, hosted by the Col. Wesley Fox Young Marines, will take place from 2 – 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Rd., Sterling, VA.

The free Hoop Shoot is open to children of all ages. Every youth who participates, regardless of skill level or the ability to shoot baskets, will have the chance to win prizes.

The event is in recognition of Red Ribbon Week, a national anti-drug campaign founded and run by the National Family Partnership (NFP). Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world.

In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America. In 1988, NFP sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Child Welfare Foundation, the Young Marines youth organization took it’s advocacy of a drug-free lifestyle to the next level with a new national campaign called, “Closing the Gate on Drugs.” The word “Gate” links to what’s called “gateway drugs” which are tobacco, marijuana, prescription medication, inhalants and alcohol. The campaign enables each youth member of the Young Marines to teach others in an effective peer-to-peer method.

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 300 units with 10,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Germany, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries.

There will be baked goods and snacks available for purchase. For information about the Young Marines visit http://www.YoungMarines.com or to pre-register for the free event, email cwfyoungmarines@gmail.com.