Elizabeth Vargas of ABC News' "20/20" Elected to CASAColumbia Board

NEW YORK, May 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CASAColumbia® is pleased to announce the election of a new member to its board of directors: Elizabeth Vargas, co-anchor of ABC News' "20/20." Vargas is an award-winning television news anchor and correspondent. She has traveled the world covering breaking news, reporting in-depth investigations and conducting newsmaker interviews.

"We are thrilled to welcome Elizabeth to the board," said Jeffrey B. Lane, Chairman of CASAColumbia. "Elizabeth is a vocal champion for the highly stigmatized disease of addiction. And her background in journalism can further amplify awareness of both addiction and substance use—two issues which touch so many families across the nation."

For the past two years, Vargas served as master of ceremonies for CASAColumbia's Anniversary Awards Dinner, a fundraising event where select individuals are honored for their commitment to supporting the fight against addiction and substance use.

"I am honored to be elected to CASAColumbia's board," Vargas said. "This organization fights every day against a disease that is very close to my heart. I cannot wait to join in the fight and truly make a difference."

Vargas reported extensively from Baghdad for "World News Tonight," during the historic Iraqi elections in December 2005, on both civilian life in Iraq and American military involvement there. She has also interviewed leaders from around the world including President Bush from the Oval Office in the White House. In 2000, Vargas won an Emmy for Outstanding Instant Coverage of a News Story for anchoring live coverage of the Elian Gonzalez case.

Vargas graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., where she began her broadcasting career as a reporter and anchor for KOMU-TV. She has been at ABC News since 1996.

For a complete list of CASAColumbia board members, please visit http://www.CASAColumbia.org/about/board-of-directors.

About CASAColumbia
CASAColumbia is a national non-profit research and policy organization focused on improving the understanding, prevention, and treatment of substance use and addiction. Founded in 1992 by former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Joseph A. Califano, Jr., our interdisciplinary experts collaborate with others to promote effective policies and practices. We conduct and synthesize research, inform and guide the public, evaluate and improve healthcare, and analyze and recommend policies on substance use and addiction. For more information, visit www.CASAColumbia.org.

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SOURCE CASAColumbia