Robert Crown Center for Health Education Announces Major Gift and Community Heroin Prevention Initiative

HINSDALE, Ill., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Robert Crown Center for Health Education (RCC), in partnership with the Reed Hruby Foundation and the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy, is developing one of the nation's first heroin education and prevention projects.  The goal of the program is to stop the growing trend of heroin use and death.

The Reed Hruby Heroin Prevention Project is made possible by a $340,000 gift from the Hruby family of Burr Ridge.  This donation was made in memory of Reed Hruby who died as a result of a heroin overdose in 2008 at the age of 24.  

"Chicago ranks among the worst in the nation for heroin use," said Kathleen M. Burke, Chief Executive Officer of the Robert Crown Center.  She continued, "Roger and Nadeane Hruby expressed their determination to create an initiative emphasizing education and prevention, two areas the family felt were missing when they struggled with their own grandson's problem.  This project is unique because the research we are conducting on the use and abuse of heroin will help us identify what factors influence young people to try heroin in order to prevent their inevitable addiction and death."

As a result of the donation, RCC formed a partnership with the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy, a research institute housed at Roosevelt University's Institute for Metropolitan Affairs. The Consortium's co-founder and director, Kathie Kane-Willis, worked with RCC educators on a three-year strategy to develop and implement a heroin use prevention program.  The first year of the initiative is devoted to research, the second to content development and the third year educators will launch the education strategy, evaluate its effectiveness and submit it for peer review.  

"Reed's death changed our lives," said Brenda Giesel, Reed's aunt.  She continued, "Heroin addiction doesn't just affect the addict.  It rips the fabric of the entire family.  We are willing to share our tragedy in order to prevent just one child from using heroin."  

Families who've suffered through a heroin addiction or similar tragedy are encouraged to contact the Robert Crown Center, or share their stories via the email [email protected] to assist in the project's research effort.   Interested members of the community are also encouraged to visit the RCC website or email [email protected] to volunteer, serve on Heroin Prevention Project advisory boards or donate.  

Contact:  Joan Drummond Olson
Communications Coordinator
630-325-1900 Ext. 10
[email protected]

SOURCE Robert Crown Center for Health Education

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED