Jolly Boys to fund new drug court program
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Marlette

Now in its 11th year of operation, the Amherst Drug Court is looking for new ways to reach out and help members of the community who are struggling with addiction.

Their newest idea is an after care program, which would allow graduates of the the drug court the guidance to remain clean and sober and to help those individuals make the right choices for their new lives, said Guy Marlette, president of the Amherst Drug Court Foundation.

"We want to provide them (the graduates) with the skills they need, so when they are faced with a situation that could lead down a path of repeated behavior, they will choose the right way," Marlette said.

But new programs cost money. Luckily, Marlette has found a solution.

In speaking with Jolly Boys chairman Jim Percival and golf chairman Dermot Dineen, the idea that the Jolly Boys could donate funds for the after-care program was raised.

"Dermot said that the group would like to help, and that was just at the beginning of my searching for funds for the program," Marlette said.

While the Jolly Boys' mission is to support the youth of Amherst, the drug court will help them achieve that goal in the long run, Percival said.

"We recirculate funds for youth programs," he said. "This is not totally a youth program, but it does affect youth."

"If we can touch one person, an adult with the drug court aftercare program, then maybe that will affect that individual's kids - that's three or four more people we've touched," Marlette explained. "It's a winning situation because that person becomes a better parent, a better employee and a better member of the community."

The donation, which will total $5,000, come from funds the Jolly Boys raised at their annual golf tournament.

This year, the tournament raised over $11,000 from 138 golfers, Dineen said.

"It's probably one of the best-attended, most fun fundraisers out there," Marlette said.

In previous years, the money from the golf tournament went to fund the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. But ever since the Amherst Police disbanded the program, the Jolly Boys have been looking for another organization to donate to.

"The Drug Court Foundation's philosophy is not only to serve the youth, young adult or adults," Marlette said. "The drug and alcohol problem is community-wide and its ramifications effect the entire community."

With the funding from the Jolly Boys, Marlette hopes that the aftercare program, which should be up and running by early next year, will bring the drug court and its foundation one step closer to their goal.

"We want to eradicate all drug and alcohol addiction in Amherst and Western New York," he said. "Every person we help is one less person who's in trouble, so we're willing to nip it away one person at a time."