First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and Governor Glenn Youngkin Announce Second of Six 2024 Spirit of Virginia Award Recipients

~ The Governor and First Lady presented the Spirit of Virginia Award to Youth For Tomorrow on May 16, 2024 ~

First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and Governor Glenn Youngkin present Spirit of Virginia Award to Coach Joe Gibbs and Dr. Gary L. Jones on May 16, 2024. Official photo by Shealah Craighead.

TYSONS, VA - Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin yesterday presented a Spirit of Virginia Award to Coach Gibbs’ Youth For Tomorrow (YFT) nonprofit at the annual Burgundy and Gold Banquet. Alongside past and present Washington Commander players and other dignitaries, the First Lady and Governor bestowed the honor in front of Coach Gibbs' friends, family and supporting guests. YFT offers residential, outpatient, medical and educational services to children and families in need throughout Virginia. Since its founding in 1986, YFT has served thousands of children and families.

“Youth For Tomorrow is a God-inspired organization that has truly impacted thousands of kids throughout our Commonwealth,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Led by a passionate group of individuals answering the call to serve others, Youth For Tomorrow provides every young person who feels lost and without hope a safe place to feel loved and supported.”

“Ensuring all men, women and especially children feel supported and get the help they need when they need it is critically important,” said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. “Youth For Tomorrow does just that, sowing the seeds for a more prosperous and positive Virginia.”

“Youth For Tomorrow was a dream and a calling the Lord had placed on my heart. My vision was to establish a Christian home for troubled teenage boys. Almost 40 years later, that dream is a reality, and is more than I ever could have imagined,” said Founder and Chairman of Youth For Tomorrow, Coach Joe Gibbs. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Gary Jones, I am deeply honored to receive this distinguished award, Spirit of Virginia, from the First Lady, Suzanne Youngkin and the Governor.”

“It is a distinct honor for Youth For Tomorrow to be the recipient the “Spirit of Virginia” award from First Lady Suzanne Youngkin and the Governor,” said Dr. Gary L. Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Youth For Tomorrow. “It is with our sincerest gratitude, accepting this award which recognizes the countless lives we have impacted over our 38-year history. It is with God’s grace that YFT has touched the lives of almost 40,000 children whose lives were in despair when they arrived on the doorsteps to our homes on campus and behavioral health regional offices.”

Youth For Tomorrow has been serving at-risk and vulnerable children and families in Virginia for nearly 40 years. Since 1986 Youth For Tomorrow has served 6,752 teenage boys and girls, putting in thousands of hours of committed to their care and support.

Through their residential treatment programs, Youth For Tomorrow offers children and families a place of respite at their campus in Bristow, Virginia. Here, more than 150 residential, therapeutic and education staff provide professional services to the 100+ children in their care. Together, staff and residents work towards healing and exceling in residential treatment, case management, clinical, nursing and psychiatric services, as well as engaging in mentoring and educational opportunities.

Originally established to serve at-risk teenage boys, YFT opened its doors to serve teenage girls in 2003, specifically offering a Mommy & Me Program for pregnant teens and girls with infants. Recognizing the devastating reality of human trafficking in the United States as well, YFT now offers residential treatment for exploited and sexually trafficked domestic teenage girls.

To further support community members in crisis situations, YFT provides behavioral health services through six Regional Offices to offer mental health assessments & evaluation, individual therapy, marriage and couples counseling, and substance abuse counseling. As of 2020, YFT annually serves almost 800 children in residential services and provides over 28,000 counseling sessions to boys, girls and their families in crisis through its behavioral health services programs. To further empower children with the personal life skills they need to make positive life decisions, YFT provides Therapeutic Day Treatment to selected elementary and middle schools in the public-school districts of Prince William, Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

The Spirit of Virginia Award recognizes unique qualities and standout achievements across the Commonwealth and salutes Virginians for their uncommon contributions in private industries, education, culture, the arts, and philanthropy.

The Governor and Mrs. Youngkin will present four more Spirit of Virginia Awards in 2024. 

Follow the First Lady on Facebook and Instagram as she celebrates Virginians all across the Commonwealth.

First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and Governor Glenn Youngkin at the Youth For Tomorrow Burgundy and Gold Banquet on May 16, 2024. Official photo by Shealah Craighead.	First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin and Governor Glenn Youngkin with Coach Joe Gibbs and Peyton Manning on May 16, 2024. Official photo by Shealah Craighead.
Fife and drums at Youth For Tomorrow Burgundy and Gold Banquet on May 16, 2024. Official photo by Shealah Craighead.	Governor Glenn Youngkin and Coach Joe Gibbs at the Youth For Tomorrow Burgundy and Gold Banquet on May 16, 2024. Official photo by Shealah Craighead.

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