Business Leaders Show Their Support For Evidence-Based Drug Prevention at CADCA’S Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner
Washington, DC (PRWEB) October 08, 2014 -- Nearly 400 business leaders from the Washington, D.C. area and across the country will participate in Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)’s 16th annual Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Drug-Free Kids Campaign recognizes leaders who support CADCA’s effective substance abuse prevention model. Funds raised through the campaign help support CADCA’s efforts to build and strengthen local community coalitions and transform youth into civic leaders to reduce substance abuse around the country.
During the event, CADCA will honor Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson. Gorsky will receive CADCA’s Humanitarian of the Year award for his personal commitment to help prevent teen drug use and support of CADCA’s mission to build safe, healthy and drug-free communities.
CADCA will also honor Neil Austrian with a Lifetime Distinguished Service Award for his 15 years of service to CADCA’s Board of Directors. Austrian, who is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Office Depot, was instrumental in helping CADCA succeed and has brought several new partners to CADCA—from DirecTV and the NFL to Office Depot.
Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), a major champion for drug prevention, will participate in the event and provide remarks. CNN Washington Correspondent Joe Johns will serve as the evening’s MC.
“For over two decades, CADCA’s evidence-based community problem solving model has trained community coalitions around the country to develop comprehensive solutions to their local substance abuse problems,” said CADCA Chairman and CEO Gen. Arthur T. Dean. “However, addressing our nation’s substance abuse challenges requires collaboration from all sectors and we couldn’t do this work without the support of national leaders like Alex Gorsky and Neil Austrian. They are true champions for our mission –protecting kids from drugs and building safe and healthy communities.”
“It’s an honor to be associated with CADCA, an organization that does so much good for so many. The work that CADCA does with young people is not only helping shape their lives but also the future of our country and our world. I am particularly proud of the over-the-counter (OTC) literacy program embraced by CADCA. OTC Literacy is an important educational program that teaches teens and their parents about responsible medicine use and storage,” said Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky. “I am truly humbled by this honor and accept it on behalf of my colleagues at Johnson & Johnson.”
A portion of the Drug-Free Kids Campaign benefits CADCA’s National Youth leadership Initiative (NYLI), an evidence-based youth development training that helps young people and their adult advisors strategically address their local alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems. CADCA trains over 1,400 youth and adults each year through the NYLI. Youth trainers from the NYLI program Joseph Yusuf and Melanie Piskai, will also provide remarks at Wednesday’s event about the impact of CADCA on their communities.
Visit http://drugfreekids.cadca.org for more details about the campaign and the Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner.
CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America), is the national member-based organization representing coalitions working to make America’s communities safe, healthy and drug-free. CADCA's mission is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally. To learn more about CADCA, visit http://www.cadca.org. For more on the campaign, visit http://drugfreekids.cadca.org.
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Natalia Martinez Duncan, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), http://www.cadca.org, +1 202-344-5464, [email protected]
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