Drug Free Heros Awards Gala

drug free heroes awards gala

Every June, the Foundation for a Drug Free World New York Chapter, holds its annual Drug Free Heroes Awards Gala. Held in honor of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime International Day Against Drug Abuse, the New York Chapter honors local officials and community leaders who have largely contributed to drug education and awareness.

Past Drug Free Hero Awardees include:

2008 - The Ability School Drug Free Marshal Students
2009 - Scot Anthony Robinson, "The Vision Warrior"
2009 - Sergeant John Crowley of the NYPD's Midtown North Precinct
2009 - Latoya Hall, Service & Learning Center Adviser, and the Students of Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center
2010 - NY State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz
2010 - NYPD Police Officer Iris Mercado
2010 - Sandra Marquez of Volunteers of America
2010 - Sherry Thomas of Veritas, Inc.
2010 - NYPD Retired Narcotics Detective Michael Zotto, and Founder of Strategic Protection Group
2010 - Rachel Murphy, NY State Office on Alcoholism on Substance Abuse (OASAS) "Your Story Matters" Campaign Director Rachel's "Your Story Matters" Campaign web site: http://www.iamrecovery.com/ from OASAS (New York State Office on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse)
2010 - Abukarriem Shabazz of Phase Piggy Back, Inc.
2011 - Rachel Cook, Youth Empowerment Director Madison Square Boys & Girls Club’s Thomas S. Murphy Clubhouse
2012 - Mayra Gonzalez, Westhab’s Elm Street Resource Community Center
2012 - Lance & Todd Feurtado, King of Kings Foundation
2012 - Erica Ford, Life Camp, Inc.
2012 - Jermaine Perry, New York Youth at Risk
2012 - Latoya White, Alcoholism Council of NY
2013 - Paul Gammarano, Professor, Kingsborough College
2013 - Jarlene Jacome, Flushing YMCA
2013 - Helson Santiago, Bronx Substance Abuse Counselor & Educator
2013 - Monifah Bittings, Countee Cullen Community Center, a Program of the Harlem Children's Zone
2013 - Sergeant James Clarke, New York City Police Department, Community Affairs Bureau
2013 - Raymond Reid, Elm Street Youth Center, Yonkers
2013 - Michael Spinelli, Strategic Protection Group
2013 - Sharon Riley, Center for Family Guidance
2013 - Dr. Bernard Fialkoff, Founder, Queens Chapter, Foundation for a Drug Free World
2013 - Altagracia Medina, Hackensack High School, Health Education Teacher
2013 - Tanaya Bruce, Hackensack High School, Health Education Teacher & RN
2013 - Lisa Barrett, Genesee Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse - Lisa's music video "Everyday Hero" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK5--CFn51Q
2014 - Matty Prawicka, Addiction Intervention Recovery (A.I.R.)
2014 - Sergeant Liza Aviles, NYPD Community Affairs Bureau
2014 - Katarzyna Selwesiuk Swietochowski, North Brooklyn Development Corp, After School Program at PS 110
2014 - Tameek "Teemonee" Williams, Musical Artist & Creator of the Anti-Drug Theme Song "Purpose"
2014 - Stanley Romulus, Good Shepherds
2014 - Tiffany Williams, YMCA Y Roads Center
2014 - Madonna Donaldson, Police Athletic League
2014 - Detective Patrick Blanc, NYPD Community Affairs Bureau & Embrace Ya Kidz "EYK"
2014 - Officer Luis Hermenegildo, NYPD Community Affairs Bureau
2014 - David G. Evans, Drug Free Schools Coalition & Special Advisor to the Drug Free America Foundation and Save our Society from Drugs
2014 - Honorary Hosts - ASA College Criminal Justice Students
2014 - Honorary Host - Monifah Bittings of Wonderfully Created Works
2014 - Honorary Host - Carlos Manuel Perez Gonzalez of Parroquia Cristo Rey and Consejo Nacional de Drogas, Dominican Republic
2014 - David Tidman, Queens Chapter Lead Presenter of Foundation for a Drug Free World, honored with special award "Drug Free Leader"
2014 - Washington DC Drug Free Heroes Awards Gala - Honorary Host "Parenthood" Actress Erika Christensen
2015 - Matt Carney, Cove PREP
2015 - Dr. Gesner Noel, D. Min., Eglise Baptiste, Nouvelle Naissance
2015 - Detective Tanya Duhaney, NYPD Community Affairs
2015 - Bishop Dr. Lubin Moise, Sr., Mt. Sinai Worship Center Inc.
2015 - Frank L. Greenagel, Jr., College Recovery, 1st Lt. - Pennsylvania Army National Guard
2015 - Lic. Carlos M. Perez Gonzalez, National Council of Drugs, Dominican Republic
2015 - Level 3 Vernon J. House, Jr., NYPD School Safety Division
2015 - Karen Lundgard Turbe, Girl Scouts of Greater New York
2015 - Troy Hassan Dixon, NYC Housing Authority
2015 - Charles McKenley, The Children's Village
2015 - Ruben Mojica, Bronx Regional High School
2015 - Kristin Lauren Wagner, Directions for Our Youth
2015 - Nacumba Moore, ASA College Externship Department
2015 - Level 1 Glenda M. Cintron, NYPD/SSD Bronx West, Training Unit
2015 - Dr. Marcelo Rodriguez Garo, National Council of Drugs, Dominican Republic
2015 - Amanda Mason, Founder, Middle School Movement, Miss New York 2013, honored with special award "Drug Free Ambassador"
2015 - Meghan Fialkoff, Executive Director, Foundation for a Drug Free World of The Americas, honored with special award by Foundation for a Drug Free World and the National Council of Drugs of the Dominican Republic, "Drug Free Vanguard"
2015 - Puerto Rico Dental Association, Sponsorship Award
2015 - John Carey & Carol Klugman, Sponsorship Award
2016 - Gillian Charles, Foundation for a Drug Free World, Brooklyn Chapter Co-Director
2016 - Lauren Crosby, Foundation for a Drug Free World, Brooklyn Chapter Co-Director
2016 - Jenny A. Dorsey, Salvation Army
2016 - Sean Benjamin, Pennsylvania State Constable / Police
2016 - Al Amoros, NYC and NYS Retired Officer
2016 - Joseph J. Gawalis III, Cliffside Productions
2016 - Tamara Chalvire, Police Athletic League, Inc.
2016 - Level 3 Marilyn J. Winn, NYPD School Safety Division
2016 - Stachee Matthew, East Side House Settlement
2016 - Level 3 Kangela Moore, New York Police Department
2016 - Aida Maldonado, NYC Mission Society
2016 - Dorothy Kardash, Bronx YMCA
2016 - Lt. Gaby Celiba, NYPD School Safety Division
2016 - Olubusola Ogundola, Safe Space Program
2016 - Level 3 Jeanyne Blackwell, NYPD School Safety Division
2016 - Jamie Lynn Macchia, Miss New York 2015
2016 - Level 3 Shawn Carter, NYPD School Safety Division
2016 - Level 2 Mia Bounsell, NYPD School Safety Division
2016 - Sergeant Manuel Rodriguez, Pennsylvania State Constable Police
2016 - Constable Michael McCormack, Northeast Pennsylvania Heroin Prevention
2016 - Sgt. Dwayne Palmer, NYPD
2016 - Sgt. Carolyn McMillan, NYPD
2016 - Peterson Napoleon, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
2016 - Marie Nata Camiton, Foundation for a Drug Free World, Haiti Chapter Assistant Director
2016 - Jose Nunez, Rockland County Sheriff's Office
2016 - Amara Paige Davila, Sports & Arts in School Foundation
2016 - PO Luis Rodriguez, NYPD
2016 - PO John Wallace, NYPD
2016 - Tameek Williams, Drug Free Excalibur Award
2016 - David Tidman, Drug Free Excalibur Award
2016 - Charlton D'Souza, Drug Free Excalibur Award
2016 - Benny Abudrakhmanov, Drug Free Excalibur Award
2016 - Rabbi Levy Abdurakhamnov, Drug Free Excalibur Award
2016 - John Carey & Carol Klugman, Drug Free Excalibur Award
2016 - Pam Vilinsky, Drug Free Excalibur Award
2016 - Maria Lozada Fialkoff, Drug Free Excalibur Award
2017 - New York State Senator Andrew J. Lanza
2017 - Robert Barnes, Bronx District Attorney’s Darcel D. Clark Office
2017 - Frank J Spotorno, Former Congressional Candidate, 14th. District; Queens and The Bronx
2017 - Antonio Hendrickson, Lead by Example / Reverse The Trend
2017 - Michael Reagan DeLeon, Steered Straight, Inc.
2017 - Ambassador Carlos Garcia, Secretary General, United Nations Association of El Salvador
2017 - Cultural Ambassador and Past Miss Africa USA Noella Nsamwa, President of KARIBU- Global Initiatives
2017 - Hon. Foday Mansaray, IHRC- Special Diplomatic Adviser
2017 - L. Kelly Johnson, School Safety Division, Community Affairs Bureau, NYPD
2017 - Detective Melissa Jones, Chief of Transportation Bureau, New York City Police Department
2017 - Police Officer Kimberleigh A. Radigan, Southampton Village Police
2017 - Police Officer Charles Sadler, NYPD Community Affairs, 104 Precinct
2017 - Police Officer Tatiana S. Espinal, NYPD Neighborhood Coordination
2017 - Police Officer Andres F. Gomez, NYPD Neighborhood Coordination
2017 - Mohammad Akram, Platoon Commander, NYPD Queens Tow Pound
2017 - Camille Sims, Miss New York 2016
2017 - Ted McGrath, Chief Transformation Officer, Ted McGrath Brands
2017 - Ricky Byrd, 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Recovery Troubadour
2017 - Colonel Hugo Angulo Rogel, El Salvador
2017 - Licda. Ana Mercedes Acosta, Centro de Formacion y Superacion Humana, Inc.
2017 - Lic. Ramón Gross, M.A., Centro de Formacion y Superacion Humana, Inc.
2017 - Lic. Franklin Valois Reyes, Centro de Formacion y Superacion Humana, Inc.
2017 - Mariela Valois, Centro de Formacion y Superacion Humana, Inc.
2017 - General Edwin Najera, Guatemala
2017 - Darren Tessitore, Drug Free World Massachusetts
2017 - Maria Roosevelt, Drug Free World Vermont
2017 - Angela M. Marion, Drug Free World Aspen
2017 - Diane Baggs, Drug Free World Colorado
2017 - Koko Tabibzadeh, Drug Free World Los Angeles
2017 - Brittney Willis, Volunteer of the Year
2017 - Austin Donohue, Volunteer of the Year
2017 - Alex Covington, Volunteer of the Year
2017 - Alexandra Kowal, Volunteer of the Year
2017 - Obo-erhoro Emofovwah, Volunteer of the Year
2017 - Detective Tanya Duhaney, NYPD, Honorary Host
2017 - PA State Constable Mike McCormack, Honorary Host
2017 - Joe Gawalis, Film Director, Honorary Host
2017 - Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, Juntos Podemos, “Together We Can”, Special Recognition Award
2017 - General Rafael Guerrero Peralta, Presidente, Consejo Nacional de Drogas, Special Recognition Award
2018 - Gabrielle Walter, Miss New York 2017
2018 - Deputy Inspector Mark Wachter, NYPD
2018 - Rosaly Santana, UCSNY Athletic League
2018 - Officer Victor Matos, NYPD
2018 - Detective Fred Washington, NYPD
2018 - Officer Jose Caba-Grillo, NYPD
2018 - Rappn Tate Da Great
2018 - Sergeant Dennis Rodriguez, NYPD
2018 - Officer Milton Davis, NYPD
2018 - Tony Morel, National Latino Officers Association of America (NLOA)
2018 - Officer Charles Harper, NYPD
2018 - Officer Don Bridges, President of the National Association of School Resource Officers
2018 - Sergeant Angel Ramos, National Latino Officers Association of America (NLOA)
2018 - JG "Gabriel" De Jesus, President of the 40th Precinct Community Council
2018 - Gladys Delgado, Founder of B2B and the Bronx Substance Abuse Walk
2018 - Carmen N. Amador-Rosales, Principal of IS 303
2018 - Lucina Clarke, Executive Director and Founder of My Time, Inc.
2018 - Trooper Craig Vedder, New York State Police
2019 - Alexis Johnson, Professional Model & Bodybuilder, Drug Prevention Speaker and Advocate
2019 - Arnold Pinnix, Award Winning Playwright, Aka: Arnold The Drug Free Recruiter and ARNOLD'S ARMY AGAINST DRUGS
2019 - Detective Carl H. Achille, New York City Police Department
2019 - Assistant Chief Christopher McCormack, Commanding Officer, Criminal Enterprise Division, New York City Police Department
2019 - Darryl Rodgers, Youth Motivational Speaker and Author
2019 - School Safety Agent Level III Ezra John Tuiza, NYPD Police Academy
2019 - Felecia Pullen, S.A.F.E., Harlem, Founder, The PILLARS, Founder
2019 - Detective Specialist Frank Gonzalez, Neighborhood Coordinating Officer, NYPD
2019 - Goodwill Ambassador Hugues Sanon, United Nations
2019 - Katherine Khatari, Community Advocate
2019 - Keilanna Brown, Miss Delaware USA Ambassador
2019 - Jade Eilers, Miss Teen Ohio International 2019
2019 - Joshua A. Lafazan, Nassau County Legislator
2019 - Luis Eladio Torres, Principal, New York City Department of Education
2019 - Michael T. Logan, Fortune Society Educator, New York City Department of Education
2019 - Charles Rizzuto, Educator & Director of “SAVE”
“SAVE” Students:
Erica Duke, Maggie Ford, Jason Hom, Marc Iacono, Jessica Layne, Kathryn Moore, Eve Pace, Karina Paone, Carly Scognamiglio, Stephanie Vojvodich and Gregory Wulffen
2019 - Nazeema Baboolall, New Directions School Counselor
2019 - Nicholas J. Palmeri, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
2019 - Officer Danaya Greene, Domestic Violence Officer, New York City Police Department
2019 - René P. Fiechter, Nassau County Assistant District Attorney, Director, Community Affairs, Chair, Heroin Prevention Task Force
2019 - Ritchie Lapinski Jr., Executive Outreach Director
2019 - Robert Romeo, M.Ed, Health & Physical Education Teacher
2019 - Sherneice Gatewood, Founder & CEO, We Are Phenomenal Women, Inc.
2019 - Sister Wildanie Cupidon
2019 - Sydney White, Senior Civil Investigator, DEA Explorers Coordinator
2019 - Antonio Laucer Vizcaino, National Council of Drugs, Dominican Republic
2019 - Johnny Ramirez Pichardo, National Council of Drugs, Dominican Republic
2019 - Leonardo Pineda, Foundation for a Drug Free World of Honduras
2019 - Reverend Dr. Yoreel C. Fraser Trumpet, Community Coordinator, Center for Health Equity, Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
2021 - Matthew Martinez- Educator, The Chapel School
2021 - Megan Poser- Girls Scout Gold Award Recipient
2021 - Renee Mendonca - Co-Founder, Wings of Hope
2021 - Rhea Mendonca - Co-Founder, Wings of Hope
2021 - Rafael Rodriguez- Supervisory Special Agent, NYDETF
2021 - Raymond Donovan- Special Agent In Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration
2021 - Stacy Hale- Substance Awareness Coordinator, Franklin High School
2021 - Henry Opperman - Educator, Uniondale High School
2021 - Avi Israel - President, Save the Michaels of the World
2021 - Alize Utteryn - Ambassador, The Outre Mer Network for the French Caribbean and Director of Drug Free World French Guiana Chapter
2021 - Dr. Hong, Tao-Tz - Founder, Federation of World Peace and Love
2021 - Nancy Sanders- School Counselor, Manasquan Elementary School
2021 - Todd C. Riley- Supervisory Special Agent, Drug Enforcement Association
2021 - Francine Cutler- Educator, BMS Family Health and Wellness Centers
2021 - Heather DiBlasi- Program Director, Crossroads Treatment Center
2021 - Jodi Bard- Educator, Richfield Springs Central School District
2021 - Lee Kassler- Founder, The Garrett Kassler Memorial Fund
2021 - Tamika Williams-Moore, NYC Community Leader, member of various committees including the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), community advisory committee with the Federal Monitor-ship and the Queens College Advisory Board

To nominate a community leader for an upcoming Drug Free Heroes Awards Gala, please email your nomination to: [email protected] Interested in sponsoring next year's gala? Email us at [email protected]