For Immediate Release

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

P.A.A.R.I Recieves National Excellence in AmeriCorps Award

BOSTON — Executive Director Allie Hunter McDade is pleased to announce that P.A.A.R.I was honored with a national Excellence in AmeriCorps Award today.

P.A.A.R.I was honored with the 2018 AmeriCorps Best New Program award for the success it has had placing recovery coaches and program coordinators on the front lines of the fight against the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts.

The groundbreaking program positioned AmeriCorps members as resources for police departments supporting recovery initiatives in their communities. Through hands-on engagement with members of the communities they serve, the first class of AmeriCorps members connected with more than 4,000 individuals who have been directly impacted by the disease of addiction.

“This is such a humbling honor for us to receive, and I’m so proud of the personal commitment of so many who made the success of this program possible,” said Hunter McDade, who is a former AmeriCorps member. “I want to thank the Massachusetts Service Alliance for supporting this program from the start, as well as all of the police partners who have been committed to innovative approaches to overcoming the opioid crisis in their communities.”

Burlington Police Capt. Gregory Skehan, who was recognized along with his colleagues for going above and beyond in implementing the P.A.A.R.I AmeriCorps program in his community, accompanied Hunter McDade to the award ceremony.

P.A.A.R.I was nominated for the award by the Massachusetts Service Alliance, which provided the grant to fund the program that launched in October 2017.

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