They make a difference

BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

CHRISTINE VARNO Tonya Badillo (center) with members of Team Jump Off who were recognized for community service by the Long Branch Concordance. LONG BRANCH - Members of Team Jump Off were recognized for their contributions to the community at last week's Long Branch Concordance (LBC) meeting.

Six Long Branch teens received Community Partnership for Healthy Adolescents Youth Hall of Fame awards.

The awards are presented by the nonprofit Prevention First to youths in Long Branch and Asbury Park who go above and beyond in the areas of community service, leadership, academic performance and personal courage, according to Liza DeJesus-Guthridge, education specialist with Prevention First.

At the Nov. 8 meeting, which focused on highlighting recreational resources for children and teens, a ceremony was held to recognize the members of Team Jump Off for making a difference in Long Branch.

"It is all about the youth and their voices," said DeJesus-Guthridge at the meeting held at Brookdale Community College Learning Center on Broadway.

"It is about what they do in the community," she said. "We recognize youth that go out of their way."

Carlos Garcia, Jason Garcia, Tajh Miller, Danielle Robinson, Clarence Spinks and Tyree Spinks are the Team Jump Off members cited.

Team Jump Off was started in April 2003 when Long Branch resident Tonya Badillo saw that one of her four sons was hanging out with a "tough crowd."

Badillo decided to turn her home into a safe haven for city's youth and created Team Jump Off.

Badillo's home is open to teens 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to hang out, play basketball and learn life and literary skills, according to Badillo.

To qualify for the award, youths must reside in Long Branch or Asbury Park, attend any public, private or parochial school, and be between the ages of 12 and 18.

According to DeJesus-Guthridge, Prevention First looks for youth who are making a difference for themselves and the community.

Prevention First, Ocean Township, is a nonprofit agency dedicated to strengthening the foundations of children and families.