The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has acknowledged exemplary efforts of several local organizations that planned and coordinated events for Recovery Month in 2011.

The winners for the 2011 Community Event Awards included two NCADD Affiliates: The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and PRO-ACT, and NCADD Richmond: The McShin Foundation. Here is some additional information about our Affiliates and their respective events and awards:

• The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and PRO-ACT: Winner--Rally and Walk/Run Events

The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has named PRO-ACT's Recovery Walks! as a winner of the administration's Recovery Month Annual Event Award Program, recognizingPamela S. Hyde. Administrator at SAMHSA and Noni West at The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and PRO-ACT the event as exceeding expectations and acknowledging PRO-ACT's contributions to expand the breadth and reach of National Recovery Month. PRO-ACT is a program of The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania.

PRO-ACT's Recovery Walks! won in the 2011 Rally and Walk/Run Events category. Last year, the event drew 15,000 people to Penn's Landing—it was the largest Walk ever assembled in support of addiction recovery. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness that drug and alcohol addiction is a public concern, to provide hope that people do recover and to honor those who have not survived the disease. The event is a fundraiser to support PRO-ACT's prevention, advocacy and recovery support services.

Noni West from PRO-ACT accepted the award at the 2012 Recovery Month luncheon on Thursday, September 6, in Washington, DC.

• NCADD Richmond/ The McShin Foundation: Winner--Special Celebrations

SAMHSA also presented NCADD Richmond/The McShin Foundation with an award for its 2011 Recovery Fest & BBQ Cook-Off. McShin was also the award recipient of the 2011 Recovery Month Flickr Challenge.

The McShin Foundation hosted its annual Recovery Fest on September 17th as part of National Recovery Month. The event was co-hosted with Restore and co-sponsored with the A&E Network and was attended by over 3,000 individuals. It featured live music, speakers, voter registration, fun kid's activities, EZ Grill children BBQ competition, Richmond area restaurants who participated in the barbecue cook-off, dozens of addiction service providers, and much more.

The cook-off was a nationally sanctioned event by Kansas City Barbecue Society. Richmond Behavioral Health Authority was presented with an award acknowledging their many years of supporting the mission of McShin Pamela S. Hyde. Administrator at SAMHSA and John M. Shinholser, President/Founder of McShin Foundationand the recovery community.

The honored guest at the 2011 event was Director Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). ONDCP Chief of the Recovery Branch, Peter Gaumond, and Attorney Shannon Taylor were in attendance and addressed the crowd as well.

John Shinholser from NCADD Richmond/McShin Foundation accepted the award at the 2011 Recovery Month luncheon on Thursday, September 6, in Washington, DC.