Award Winners

Dr. Holly Geyer, a renowned expert in addiction medicine at the Mayo Clinic, was
recognized for her significant contributions to the treatment of substance use
disorders and her compassionate patient care. She successfully brought key
stakeholders together to ensure Narcan is available in schools, saving lives.

Matthew Hendry plays a crucial role at the Phoenix Rescue Mission, where he oversees programs that provide comprehensive treatment and support for individuals struggling with substance use disorders. His work includes developing recovery programs that address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of clients, helping them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.

Kim Humphrey, Executive Director of PAL (Parents of Addicted Loved Ones), has expanded the organization from an Arizona nonprofit in 2015 to a nationwide network in 38 states, providing hope, education, and support to parents of addicted loved ones. Kim and his wife actively facilitate weekly meetings, using his 32 years of police experience to offer practical support to struggling families.

Rachel Mitchell, Maricopa County Attorney, was recognized for her leadership in addressing the fentanyl crisis, having organized and hosted Community Fentanyl Forums that educated nearly 1,000 community members over the past two years. These forums have played a crucial role in raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid causing numerous overdose deaths in Arizona.

Stephanie Siete, the Public Information Officer for Community Bridges, is renowned for her dynamic presentations on substance misuse prevention. She has extensively educated schools, parents, and community organizations about drug dangers and emerging threats, spreading awareness and providing valuable resources to prevent substance misuse.

Teresa Fuller of Pinal County was recognized for her work with the innovative Adult Diversion Program of the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, helping individuals address mental health and substance abuse issues to avoid criminal charges. Her personal touch and commitment to providing wrap-around services have been key to the program’s success in promoting health and sobriety.

Vicky Solomon, the Executive Director of the Nexus Coalition in Navajo County, has led the way for numerous community successes such as workshops, parenting classes, and the distribution of educational resources and Naloxone. Under her leadership, Nexus has continued to fulfill its mission to create a substance-free environment for youth, making a significant positive impact on the community.

In 2020, Tara opened Hushabye Nursery, an Arizona non-profit providing specialized care for opiate-exposed newborns and their mothers, offering wrap-around services such as counseling and case management. Since its inception, Hushabye Nursery has cared for hundreds of infants and served more than a thousand families, helping to halt the spread of generational trauma.

Dr. Gary Kirkilas has dedicated his career to serving homeless youth and families through a mobile medical unit, providing care in homeless shelters and group homes. His work has made him a strong advocate for substance abuse prevention and treatment among youth.

Eden Neville, Dante SanMiguel and Tabitha Sears were honored with the Keeping Hope Alive Award for their participation on the Youth Panel for the 2022 Arizona Drug Summit, and for their actions and passion to create a healthy generation of young adults.

Erin Ortega was recognized for her work as the Managed Care Coordinator for Complete Care Partners, which facilitated the successful graduation of over 100 individuals in the Yavapai County Attorney’s Diversion Program. The program’s success is largely due to Erin’s personal touch and innovative approach in providing wrap-around services that promote health and sobriety.

Honorable Emilio Valazquez has revolutionized judicial oversight in Santa Cruz County by establishing the Behavioral Empowerment Court to address mental health and substance abuse needs. His dedication to fair and compassionate justice has empowered defendants and their families through treatment services, community programming, and fair supervision.

The Yuma County Juvenile Probation Department, located on the Arizona border, witnesses the devastating effects of a large influx of pills on their community. By incorporating resources from the fentanyl toolkit, including information on naloxone and the good Samaritan law, they have achieved positive results and are now training other county probation departments to implement similar programs.

Jessica Bennet, a Bradshaw Mountain Middle School principal, and Candice Stump, the past principal of Coyote Springs Elementary in Prescott Valley’s Humboldt School District, prioritized substance use prevention for students by incorporating drug prevention education for their entire student bodies. Through their efforts and partnership with MATFORCE health educators, 6,500 middle school and elementary students have been reached.

Thanks to AHCCCS funding, a media campaign was launched to coincide with the fentanyl and counterfeit pill toolkit, sharing stories from brave parents who lost children to fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, leading to increased awareness and action in communities. For their tireless efforts in creating and sharing media, and for the support from incredible families, the Keeping Hope Alive Award was given to Shari, Marissa, Mike, Summer, and Krista Witherow.

Ronny Jones has played an essential role in Mohave County supporting individuals with substance use disorders. A graduate of the Quality-of-Life Court Program, he has shown exceptional dedication through his peer support roles, creating group sessions during COVID, and contributing to the development of reentry programs and expansion of the Quality-of-Life Court.

Sgt. Adam Reeves of the Winslow Police Department has played a critical role in addressing an alarming number of opioid overdoses over the past 18 months in his town. Through his quick action and use of Naloxone, he has reversed six overdoses, leading to remarkable recoveries, including individuals returning to teaching, obtaining steady jobs, resuming education, and entering treatment programs.

The Arizona National Guard Counter Drug Task Force was honored for their dedication, strength, and resolve in serving both their country and communities. This exceptional group of individuals demonstrate outstanding efforts in drug prevention, proving themselves vital to prevention efforts in Arizona.