On August 26th, 2022, Prevention Action Alliance (PAA) hosted its first fundraiser – Your Role in Prevention Breakfast and Silent Auction. The function was held at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Africa Event Center in a nod to the inaugural Stick Your Neck Out For Prevention award given to Dr. Amy Acton during the event.
Approximately 130 guests attended the breakfast in support of PAA’s mission of preventing substance misuse and promoting mental health wellness.
A special shout-out to event sponsors Mills James, Origo Branding, and Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.
During the event, attendees heard from keynote speaker, Beth Macy, author of Dopesick and Executive producer of the Hulu Series of the same name. Macy spoke on her new book, Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of the Opioid Epidemic (released August 16, 2022). Her presentation highlighted the overdose crisis – sharing eye-opening statistics (one-third of American families being affected by opioid use disorder (OUD)), real-life stories of those experiencing OUD, and the importance of providing resources and advocacy.
Attendees received a copy of Beth Macy’s new book and took pictures with the Columbus Zoo giraffes who, in a serendipitous moment, appeared for the keynote presentation and the presentation of the inaugural Stick Your Neck Out For Prevention award.
