Kenton County's top elected official and the CEO of Northern Kentucky's largest hospital will be among those honored as Heroes Against Heroin at a special event in September.
Recovery center Transitions, Inc. is honoring people who have been nominated by the community to receive special recognition for their work in providing hope to those affected by heroin use. The award winners will be honored at a gala and WEBN Fireworks viewing party on Sunday, Sept. 3 at the Metropolitan Club in Covington.
Nominations were sought in five award categories, and a selection committee chose the following winners:
Elected official: Kenton County Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann and the Kenton County Fiscal Court, the governing body of that county. This award honors people who drafted or worked to pass and enact heroin legislation and funding and any elected official looking for creative ways to help people with substance use disorders and their families.
Professional: James Liebetrau, a pharmacist and president of the Veteran Apothecaries Association of Cincinnati. this award honors doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health officials and others working on the front lines with people who use heroin and their families.
Volunteer: Charlotte Wethington, a recovery advocate, who was instrumental in passing Casey's Law, which permits adult's children to be admitted to treatment in urgent cases without their consent. This award honors those who are provide education, access to treatment, act as advocates, volunteers, service providers and those who are in recovery creating help and hope for those with substance use disorders.
Nonprofit: Northern Kentucky Health Department. Department officials have taken leadership in urging Northern Kentucky communities to permit syringe exchanges and other initiatives to reduce the harm associated with drug abuse.
Corporate / Business: Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. Frisch's supports people in recovery by providing jobs to those with felonies who find it extremely difficult to find a job.
The Heroes Against Heroin Selection Committee received anonymous nominations in each category and assigned a point value to the top five nominations in each award category. The nomination receiving the highest score in each category was declared the Winner.
The Selection Committee included the following participants: Garren Colvin, president and CEO, St. Elizabeth Healthcare; Trey Grayson, former president and CEO, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; Perilou Goddard, professor, Northern Kentucky University; Peter Bhatia, executive editor and vice president, The Cincinnati Enquirer; Jean Mize, R.C. Durr Foundation; Mark Hansel, managing editor, NKY Tribune; Amanda Peters, Heroin Impact Response Taskforce Coordinator, Northern Kentucky; Kelly Firesheets, senior program director, Interact for Health; David Holthaus, managing editor, opinion and engagement, WCPO.
The proceeds from the Sept. 3 event support Transitions’ recovery services and public health programs. Click herefor more information or call Transitions’ main office at (859) 491-4435.
