About
Our Awards
Appointed Award:
The Excellence in Recovery Journalism Award aligns closely with the mission of Faces & Voices of Recovery to illuminate the journey from addiction and substance use, once hidden in the shadows of anonymity. By recognizing journalists whose work makes a positive impact on communities at local, national, or global levels, this award promotes advocacy efforts to reduce stigma surrounding recovery. Through factual and educational reporting, the awardee's published work(s) directly contribute to changing public perceptions of recovery, encouraging open dialogue and understanding. By amplifying recovery stories, this award aims to accelerate support initiatives and policy reforms, addressing critical issues like the opioid epidemic and overdose deaths. As Dr. Melissa Anderson aptly put it, "When we recover loudly, we keep others from dying quietly," underscoring the transformative power of journalism in advancing recovery narratives and societal change.
The Congressional Champion Award recognizes lawmakers who have had a significant role in advancing legislation that has a positive impact on families experiencing substance use and mental health challenges.
Many agencies across the Federal government have an incredibly important role in leading public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families. Addiction crosses to many agencies to mention. The Federal Champion Award recognizes individuals within the Federal government who have demonstrated outstanding, transformational leadership.
Accepting Nominations:
The Advocate of the Year Awards recognize outstanding advocacy leadership demonstrated by individuals, family members and youth/young adults. These awards are presented in honor of the legacies of Lisa Mojer-Torres and Joel Hernandez, who stood up for the dignity and rights of all people impacted by substance use disorders.
Lisa Mojer-Torres was instrumental in the founding of Faces & Voices of Recovery as the first board chair. Her inquiring and challenging mind offered new insights, and, by example, she encouraged us to stand up and speak out on behalf of all pathways to recovery, including the use of medications. Her leadership contributed to a significant shift in understanding addiction recovery and the need to end discriminatory policies and practices.
Joel Hernandez was a champion whose protest in the face of discrimination in the Hernandez v Raytheon legal case inspired us all. This historic case has had a profound impact on employment laws for people with substance use disorder histories.
3 Awards:
- Individual
- Family Member
- Youth/Young Adult
The Recovery Organization of the Year Award recognizes the exemplary achievements of one local, state, regional, or national nonprofit grassroots recovery organization for its advocacy and mobilizing of the recovery community to increase the prevalence and quality of long-term recovery from substance use disorder.
The Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award, in honor of William L. White, renowned recovery historian and author, recognizes significant contributions made to the recovery movement through outstanding advocacy, research, or policy reform. William L. White’s sustained contributions to the field since 1969 have inspired countless individuals to learn from our history while mobilizing advocates and advancing the New Recovery Advocacy Movement (NRAM) with integrity, authenticity, and servant leadership.
The Excellence in Equity and Justice Award, in honor of Dr. Calvin Trent Jr., recognizes transformational leadership in creating authentic, diverse, equitable, just, and inclusive recovery communities. Dr. Calvin Trent of Detroit, Michigan, was a nationally recognized expert widely lauded for his fierce advocacy for the recovery community and a strong proponent of Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) transformation. Dr. Trent’s work helped to modernize how black, indigenous, people of color suffering from the disease of addiction are viewed and treated by health care providers.
The Innovations in Recovery Award honors achievements in the recovery community that promote excellence through extraordinary innovation. Contributions can take many forms and may include a significant role in the implementation and effective delivery of a highly innovative idea, program, or product. The extraordinary innovation must directly or indirectly impact the advancement of the recovery community and/or recovery support services.
Criteria:
- Leadership: Did this individual’s accomplishment demonstrate innovative leadership? Did this individual’s leadership set the stage for further innovative work?
- Out-of-the-box-thinking: Does this innovation represent out-of-the-box or cutting-edge thinking?
- Enthusiasm: Has this innovation led to a new product, service or approach to amplify the benefits of recovery?
- Impact: Will the innovation bring fundamental change and/or move the recovery community forward in fighting stigma?
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February 15
Nominee Submissions Open
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April 1
Nomination Submissions Closes
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February 15
Nominee Submissions Opens
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April 1
Nomination Submissions Closes
Submit Your
Nomination(s)
Congratulate past
Awardees
2022 Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award, In Memorium, Past Awardees
Tom Hedrick
Tom Hedrick, 2016 recipient of the White House Champions of Change for Advancing Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Award, was a founder of the Partnership for…
Past Awardees
Ashley Gardner
Ashley Gardner has been in the field of recovery services since 2021. Ashley is a woman in long-term recovery. Thanks to her lived experience, Ashley…
2022 Recovery Organization of the Year, Past Awardees
Missouri Coalition of Recovery Support Providers (MCRSP)
2022 Advocate of the Year Award, Past Awardees
Gretchen Bergman
Gretchen Burns Bergman is Executive Director and Co-Founder of A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing), a non-profit organization that works to reduce…
2022 Advocate of the Year Award, Past Awardees
John Donovan
Maj. John G. Donovan, M.Ed., C.P.R.S., U.S. Army, Ret. Maj. John G. Donovan is a person in long-term recovery with over 44 years of recovery…
2022 Excellence in Equity and Justice Award, Past Awardees
Dr. Vincent “Peter” Hayden
Peter Hayden is the principal and president of Turning Point, Inc., a Minneapolis-based nonprofit agency devoted to integrated holistic health services programs. Under his leadership,…
2022 Innovations in Recovery Award, Past Awardees
CLEAN Cause Foundation | Clean Cause
Clean Cause Foundation FOUNDING PURPOSE: CLEAN Cause Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization formed with the founding purpose to act as a trustee for giveback funds…
2022 Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award, Past Awardees
Dr. H. Westley Clark
H. Westley Clark retired in August 2022 as the dean’s executive professor in the Department of Public Health at Santa Clara University in California. He…