WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, at The Corps Network’s 2017 awards breakfast in Washington, D.C., Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) presented the Legacy Achievement Award to Carolyn Thompson-Wallace, co-founder of the International Youth Organization in Newark. IYO is the parent organization of New Jersey Youth Corps of Newark and Essex County.

“There is no one more deserving of the Legacy Achievement Award than Mrs. Carolyn Thompson-Wallace,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10).

“Mrs. Wallace has dedicated her entire life to improving the lives of young people. Our community is better off thanks to Mrs. Wallace’s work and her belief that every person can make it. Thousands of International Youth Organization alumni—who have become firefighters, entrepreneurs, and community leaders themselves—are better off thanks to Mrs. Wallace’s work.”

Carolyn Thompson-Wallace co-founded the International Youth Organization, a Newark community group, 47 years ago to provide young people with a safe place to go after school. Since its founding, the International Youth Organization has helped an estimated 40,000 individuals excel and become productive citizens.

After serving as the organization’s Executive Director, fundraiser, chief planner, bookkeeper, and public relations manager, Mrs. Wallace retired in 2010 after 40 years.

Her commitment to the International Youth Organization is so deep that she came out of retirement in 2014, at the age of 79, to help save the organization from financial troubles.

The Corps Network leads and supports over 130 of America’s Service and Conservation Corps, as they provide comprehensive youth development programs that address community and conservation needs.

The Legacy Achievement Award is awarded to individuals with approximately 20 or more years of significant contribution to the Corps Movement.