Marines

Organization honors base for enabling disabled

27 Jun 2003 | Sgt. Joshua S. Higgins Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

The National Industry for the Severely Handicapped organization honored the base with the 2002 NISH South Region Government Award for Local Installation in a presentation June 18.

The nonprofit organization's mission is to create employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities. It selects federal installations for the annual award based on nomination letters from companies who participate in the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program.

The JWOD Program provides jobs for more than 36,000 Americans by orchestrating Government purchases of products and services provided by nonprofit agencies employing such individuals throughout the country.

Coastal Enterprises Inc. submitted the award nomination letter recognizing the base for its outstanding support of the JWOD Program, according to John Glover, president of the company. In the letter, the company noted the base's efforts to help it employ more than 175 disabled job seekers.

Base officials and personnel at Installations and Environment have been working with NISH and Coastal Enterprises Inc. for the past 12 years. Currently, three out of five grounds maintenance contracts are awarded to the companies, along with a custodial contract at the base Naval hospital. Sylvia Norris, specifications writer, Facilities Support Contracts, said officials are also working toward a basewide custodial contract.

The National Industries for the Severely Handicapped organization also honored the base during the NISH National Convention held in Denver April 9.