FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 27 2025

Contacts: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org

PDFNJ Honors PSE&G and PSEG Foundation for Leadership in Public Health and Prevention at Angel of Hope Gala

MILLBURN, NJ - In a celebration of community impact and prevention advocacy, PSE&G and the PSEG Foundation were honored with the prestigious Angel of Hope Award at the 31^st  Annual Angel of Hope Gala hosted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ). The event took place at the Liberty House in Jersey City on May 14, with an evening that highlighted the power of collaboration in tackling the state’s opioid crisis.

“PSE&G and the PSEG Foundation exemplify what it means to be community leaders,” said Elaine Pozycki, event co-chair and member of PDFNJ’s Board of Trustees. “Their work reflects a deep commitment to education, prevention, and the well-being of New Jersey families.”

“Our commitment to providing support across our communities is deeply embedded in our company culture. A prime example of this commitment is our long-standing partnership with the Partnership for Drug Free New Jersey, which demonstrates the positive change that the organization brings to communities by promoting healthy choices, empowering youth and fostering environments free from substance abuse,” said Maria Spina, Manager Corporate Social Responsibility and PSEG Foundation. “We take great pride in bringing communities together and working alongside PDFNJ as it promotes the 3^rd Grade for Life Program. Together, we aim for a world where every individual can thrive in a healthy supportive and substance free environment”.

The award recognizes PSE&G and the PSEG Foundation’s unwavering commitment to supporting communities and advancing public health through impactful partnerships. Their long-standing collaboration with PDFNJ includes the Third Grade Healthy Life Healthy Decisions Coloring and Activity Book. This vital resource reached 35,000 third-grade students statewide this year. The initiative helps instill messages of healthy living and substance use prevention at a formative age, laying the groundwork for informed and resilient future generations.

The evening also honored former NFL quarterback Ray Lucas, a central figure in PDFNJ and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative, with the Joseph (J.P.) Miele Lifetime Achievement Award. Lucas, whose personal story of recovery has resonated with thousands of high school students across New Jersey, continues to play a pivotal role in shifting the conversation around opioid use and prevention.

For more information about the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and its community initiatives, visit www.drugfreenj.org/gala or call 973-275-7985.

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Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication.  To date, more than $200 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 230 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations