Transitions, Inc. is honoring members of the Greater Cincinnati Community who have been nominated by the community to receive special recognition for their work in providing hope to those individuals, families and the community affected by heroin use.
Award Winners will be honored at an Awards Gala and WEBN Fireworks Viewing Party on Sunday, September 4 held at the Metropolitan Club in Covington.
For 47 years, Transitions has served the Northern Kentucky community by providing men and women a holistic continuum of recovery services. The mission of Transitions is to help individuals transition from the pain of addiction to the gratitude of recovery by providing long term treatment and comprehensive support services.
A Call for Nominations began on July 1, 2016 and ran through July 22, 2016, seeking Nominations in the following Five Award Categories and an Eight Panel Selection Committee chose the following WINNERS:
*Elected Official – Individuals working to solve issues related to the heroin epidemic such as: Legislators who drafted or worked to pass and enact heroin legislation and funding; Judges, Jailers, Sheriffs, or any other elected official who is looking for creative ways to help people who use/used heroin and their families.
WINNER – Judge Robert Peeler, Warren County Ohio Common Pleas Court
*Professional – Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Health Department Officials, Social Workers, Chemical Dependency Counselors, Police Officers, Attorneys, Educators, Journalists or any other professionals who are working on the front lines with people who use/used heroin and their families.
WINNER – Mina “Mike” Kalfas, MD, FAAFP – The Christ Hospital Health Network
*Volunteer – Those who are providing education, access to treatment, acting as advocates, volunteers, service providers and those who are in recovery creating help & hope for people who use/used heroin and their families searching for resources.
WINNER – Tony & Tina Garera – Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL)
*Nonprofit – Organizations (including churches) that provide funding, education, awareness, harm reduction, advocacy services and support in relation to providing solutions for the heroin epidemic.
WINNER – St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Garren Colvin, President & CEO
*Corporate / Business – Entities that: support individuals in recovery by providing internships, apprenticeships, and jobs – especially to those with felonies who find it extremely difficult to find a job; help to raise awareness about the heroin epidemic and community resources, including harm reduction; shine a light on projects that provide help & hope to people who use/used heroin and their families.
WINNER – Advance PierreTM Foods, John N. Simons, Jr., President & CEO
Northern Kentucky Tribune Managing Editor Mark Hansel was honored to be part of the selection committee again this year.
“The Heroes Against Heroin Humanitarian Awards recognize those in our region that are committed to win the battle against addiction,” Hansel said. “The number of nominations received really demonstrates the level of that commitment in our communities and there were several nominees with impressive credentials that are also deserving of recognition. The Northern Kentucky Tribune is proud to be part of a community that cares so much about all of its residents.”
The Heroes Against Heroin Selection Committee received anonymous nominations in each category and assigned a point value to the top 5 nominations in each Award Category. The nomination receiving the highest score in each Award Category was declared the Winner. The eight-member Selection Committee included the following participants:
Trey Grayson, President & CEO, NKY Chamber of Commerce
Perilou Goddard, PH.D., Professor, Northern Kentucky University
Kimberly Moser, Executive Director, NKY Office of Drug Control Policy
Jean Mize, R.C. Durr Foundation
Mark Hansel, Managing Editor, NKY Tribune
Kimberly Wright, Recovery Advocate, 2015 Volunteer Hero Against Heroin
Holly Specht, NKY HatesHeroin.Com, 2015 Hero Against Heroin & Recovery Advocate
Peter Bhatia, Executive Editor and VP of Content, The Enquirer and Cincinnati.com, part of the USATODAY Network
The 2016 Heroes Against Heroin Humanitarian Awards Gala and WEBN Fireworks Viewing Party to Benefit Transitions will be held on Sunday, September 4 at the Metropolitan Club, 50 E. Rivercenter Blvd., Suite 1900, in Covington. The Awards Gala will begin at 5 PM.
The event features a gala dinner buffet with unique food stations, video and award presentations, live auction, silent auction, raffles, live music and concludes with a spectacular view of the WEBN Fireworks.
Proceeds support Transitions’ recovery services and public health programs. For more information please go to www.transitionsky.org/heroes2016/ or call Transitions’ Main Office at (859) 491-4435.
Transitions Inc.