University of Vermont Alumni House
61 Summit Street, Burlington, VT 05401
Now in its fourth year, the event recognizes an individual or organization whose contributions personify Howard Center’s mission. Howard Center is pleased to announce that it will present the 2019 Help is Here Award to Senator Patrick Leahy at its annual Help is Here Award Celebration on October 11.
Online registration has now closed for our Help is Here Award Celebration. Onsite registration will be available the evening of the event.
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Thank you, Senator Leahy!
The award honors an individual whose contributions personify Howard Center’s mission and demonstrate a passion for those served by the organization. As a distinguished statesman, Senator Leahy’s over forty years of service in the U.S. Senate has always focused on improving the lives of Vermonters, the cornerstone of Howard Center’s mission. Senator Leahy said: “This recognition from Howard Center is an honor, and it’s personally so meaningful to me. Like all Vermonters, I’m grateful for their commitment to helping thousands of Vermonters who are affected by mental health conditions, substance use, and developmental disabilities. Howard Center has long been a leader in meeting the needs of our communities, and those needs are far more diverse and challenging today than they were even a decade ago. The team at Howard Center shows us how it can be done, and I am proud to support their vital work.”
Senator Leahy was elected in 1974 and is currently the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, the senior-most member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He is also the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State Department, Foreign Operations and Related Programs and ranks first in seniority in the Senate.
Senator Leahy has made it a priority to deliver significant funding to Vermont—and the nation—to address substance use disorder and to support those who are providing critical substance use and mental health services. At a recent hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Leahy, who has worked tirelessly with his Senate colleagues said, “It is no coincidence that Vermont has a higher number of residents in treatment programs, per capita, than any other state, and that those seeking treatment in the hub and spoke system have lower rates of incarceration, hospitalizations and emergency department use. It (was done) through years of work to reduce the stigma surrounding treatment, educate health care providers, make federal investments in Medicaid, and develop a treatment and recovery infrastructure that works for rural communities across the state.”
“We are honored to present Senator Leahy with the Help is Here award and thank him for his extraordinary contributions to Vermonters and the nation,” says Bob Bick, Chief Executive Officer at Howard Center. “He’s been a long-time supporter of Howard Center and its work. Last year Senator Leahy was instrumental in supporting federal funding which allowed Howard Center to implement low barrier access for opiate use treatment, another critical program to help curb the Vermont epidemic and save lives.”
The award will be presented at the fourth annual Help is Here Award celebration on Friday, October 11 at the University of Vermont Alumni House. For more information on Senator Patrick Leahy, please click on the link.
Previous Help is Here award honorees:
2016: Lisa Steele
2017: Whit Smith
2018: Gretchen Morse
Thank you for joining with us to honor Senator Patrick Leahy and his support of Howard Center and our community. Click here to register for this can’t miss event! If you’re interested in sponsorship, please check out our online sponsorship packet.
Thank you to our 2019 Help is Here Sponsors:
