The DEA Educational Foundation’s ‘Our Youth Our Future’ Gala Raises Over $77K For Their After-School Engagement Programs

Renowned country artist and Broadway star Gary Morris and award-winning radio broadcaster Devon O’Day kicked off Red Ribbon Week by hitting the stage in Nashville, Tenn. on Tuesday, October 20 to host the 2020 DEA Educational Foundation’s Our Youth Our Future Gala. The virtual gala, which raises funds for their after-school programs in over 50 cities across the U.S., featured performances and appearances by the following:

Jay Allen
Mandy Barnett
Bellamy Brothers
John Berry
Allie Colleen
Noah Galloway
Kathy Mattea
Gary Morris
Dean Norris of AMC’s Breaking Bad
The Oak Ridge Boys
Juan Pablo Raba of Netflix’s Narcos
Tim Rushlow
Jeannie Seely
Chevel Shepherd
Michael W. Smith

The DEAEF’s Chairman of the Board William F. Alden, DEA’s Chief Community Outreach Section Office of Congressional and Public Affair’s Sean Fearns and award-winning children’s author Ashley Mills Monaghan also made special remarks. By the close of the ceremony, $77,245 had been donated to the organization. Fortunately, for those that missed the broadcast, you can still view the program and donate to the DEAEF by visiting http://gala2020.deaeducationalfoundation.org/. Even those that don’t have time to view the program can donate today by texting drugfree to 91999.

“We are extremely honored by the tremendous support received from the community and look forward to future collaborations to continue our drug free messaging,” says DEAEF’s Chairman of the Board William F. Alden.

“This was our first virtual gala for the DEA Educational Foundation and I was honored to be involved in their fund raising efforts,” says Gary Morris. “We didn’t know what to expect, but I couldn’t be more pleased. Thank you to the DEA, DEAEF, PLA team, media friends who helped us publicize the event, all the celebrities who gave their talent and everyone who donated. These efforts will help to inspire a lot of kids across the country.”