Business Leaders Show Their Support For Evidence-Based Drug Prevention At CADCA's Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 500 business leaders from the Washington, D.C. area and across the country will participate in Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) 15^th annual Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 24th at 6 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton 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.

Honorees include philanthropist Stacie Mathewson, who will receive CADCA's Humanitarian of the Year award. Mathewson, Founder and Executive Director of the Stacie Mathewson Foundation, is receiving this award for her personal commitment to raising awareness of substance abuse and addiction and the need for prevention, treatment and recovery services for young people. In addition, local business leader Jack Sammis, Chief Executive Officer of IMN Solutions, Inc., will receive the Champion for Drug-Free Kids award for helping CADCA realize its mission of creating safe, healthy and drug-free communities.

Featured speakers include tennis legend Andre Agassi, who will present Mathewson with her award, and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). Mary Bono, former Member of Congress and Senior Vice President of FaegreBD Consulting, will serve as the evening's emcee. 

"For 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, solving our nation's substance use and abuse problems takes collaboration from all sectors and we couldn't do this work without the support of national leaders like Stacie Mathewson and Jack Sammis. They both exemplify what CADCA's Drug-Free Kids Campaign is about."

"I am extremely grateful to be considered for such a tremendous honor," Mathewson said. "I accept this honor in commemoration of my son Timothy Joshua Montoya, who recently lost his battle to addiction and is the inspiration for the work I do."

Sammis said: "We have been pleased to support CADCA throughout the years as we believe in their core mission and the accomplishments CADCA has achieved with both our youth and in our communities.  I will be privileged to receive The Champion for Drug-Free Kids award on Tuesday. The entire INM Solutions team is committed to support CADCA's efforts and we look forward to our long-term partnership."

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 1,000 youth and adults each year through the NYLI. Youth trainers from the NYLI program, Carlos Martinez and Sheri Jones, will also provide remarks at Tuesday's event about the impact of the NYLI 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 www.cadca.org. For more on the campaign, visit http://drugfreekids.cadca.org. 

Media Contact: Natalia Martinez Duncan
703-706-0560, Ext. 256

Related Links:
CADCA's Drug-Free Kids Campaign Website
CADCA's website

Video with caption: "Office Depot's Neil Austrian discusses why he supports CADCA evidence-based drug prevention model." Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZouqgpdBIA&feature=c4-overview&list=UUFUQvLYjM2Pxm6JN-1mSXNg

Image with caption: "CADCA's Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner will feature several national speakers." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130923/MM84698

SOURCE Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)