The Founder And The Director

    James Wallace, IYO’s founder,
    employed the premise that “energies
    exerted by the youth could be
    channeled constructively through
    non-traditional recreation, vocational,
    cultural and academic activities, all of
    which should emphasize self-
    discipline, obedience and fair play.”  
    These goals have continued to
    manifest themselves through the
    range of program activities which the
    agency has continued to offer and
    which are enumerated, in brief,
    below.
James Wallace has been a motivator and mentor for hundreds of
boys and girls of all races, denominations and ages who have
come from all over the greater Newark metropolitan area.  His
wife, Carolyn B. Thompson-Wallace has supported the cause
since the early days with a missionary’s zeal.  Audiences viewing
her on television or in person have been moved by the sincerity of
her down-to-earth values and folksy wit.  James and Carolyn
Wallace have received national and local recognition for their
unrelenting efforts on behalf of Newark youth and their families.  
Mr. Wallace is 1 of 3 recipients of the prestigious “OTHERS” from
the Salvation Army.  He shares this distinction with comedian
Bob Hope and President Ronald Regan.  
The Madeline Worth Williams Youth Advocate Award, the highest recognition for community
service within the State of New Jersey, was presented to Mrs. Wallace by Governor Jim Florio in
1994.  A few of the other prestigious recognitions and awards received are: WCBS’s
FULFILLING THE DREAM, Lewis Hines Award—YOUTH LEADERSHIP, United to Serve America
Award, YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT; the United Way of Essex & West Hudson,
William H. Ashby Award, Community Development, North New Jersey Tuskegee Award, YOUTH
SERVICES, Newark Do Something Award, YOUTH SERVICES and The New Jersey Governor’s
Pride Award, YOUTH SERVICES.  IYO has been featured in several documentaries addressing
“the family” and “urban youth.”  The Wallaces and IYO youth have given public testimony at the
local, state and national level.  IYO’s accomplishments have been mentioned on numerous
occasions in the local newspapers.
International Youth Organization
Newark, New Jersey