FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 9, 2024
Contacts: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org
 

Barnegat High School's Jordan Ford Wins Top Prize in Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs Competition

**to arrange interviews or for photos, please contact Lisa Batitto at news@drugfreenj.org**

BARNEGAT, NJ—Jordan Ford, a senior at Barnegat High School, clinched first place in the 20th Annual Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs competition, sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. Ford's winning entry, "Fading," captures the struggles of drug misuse through a deeply personal narrative, earning him a $5,000 music contract.

"I had no clue what to do for days. I was on the verge of giving up," Jordan said. His perseverance paid off when he tapped into the profound emotional toll of drug misuse, linking it to his personal experiences with loss. "I channeled the emotions I felt losing relatives to cancer and violence and turned it into a story of a family grappling with addiction.”

In “Fading,” Jordan emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and awareness, encouraging his audience to think twice about how their decisions can impact their loved ones.

The competition was supported by the New Jersey Broadcasters Association (NJBA) and 95.9 WRAT. The 22 finalists’ songs were broadcast on 95.9 during a virtual concert on May 8, featuring the Creative Services Director of WRAT, Jimmy Steal. The winners were selected by an esteemed panel of judges and announced live at the concert's conclusion.

"This win helped silence the doubts in my mind, affirming that I am talented and that people appreciate my music," Jordan said.

“Jordan has showcased incredible talent and championed the cause of a drug-free lifestyle through his heartfelt music," said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ.

As part of his music contract, Jordan will share his music and message at events throughout New Jersey and, in the process, inspire others with his story of resilience and hope. Inspired by his role model, contemporary artist SZA, Jordan aims to connect deeply with his audience. "I want to reach people the way her music reaches me," he said.

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Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $200 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 226 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.