LONDON – Wayne County’s Rick Kempton has been named a recipient of Operation UNITE’s “Rising Above” Award for inspiring leadership, purpose and passion in the region.
The award was presented by Gil Kerlikowske, White House Director for Drug Policy, and Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers during a celebration dinner at the London Community Center Wednesday, February 23.
As a deputy jailer for the Wayne County Detention Center, Rick Kempton sees hundreds of individuals whose lives have been impacted because of substance abuse.
“Determined to help break the vicious toll being exacted upon his community, Rick became involved with the Defensive Action Against Drugs UNITE Coalition in Wayne County early on,” said Karen Kelly, director of UNITE. “He uses his leadership skills to promote UNITE Clubs in the school system, and for the past four years has spear-headed the highly successful Hooked On Fishing-Not On Drugs program that averages 275 youth.”