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2016 Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year
2016 Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year
Established in 1989 the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA) has provided communities throughout the State of New Jersey with funds to provide alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse prevention programs through the Municipal Alliance program. The success of the Municipal Alliance program is dependent upon the tireless commitment and efforts of the volunteers who represent each Municipal Alliance. Each year one volunteer from among the 11 Municipal Alliances is recognized for their outstanding achievements on behalf of their individual Alliance.
The Volunteer of the Year in the County of Sussex for 2016 is Ms. Elaine Tizzano of the Franklin/Hardyston Municipal Alliance Committee. On October 26, 2016 Ms. Tizzano was presented with a proclamation from the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders in recognition of her selection as the Sussex County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year. The Board recognized the importance of her dedication and contributions to the community.
Nick Loizzi, Sussex County Municipal Alliance Coordinator, Elaine Tizzano, Sussex County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year, Carrine Piccolo-Kaufer, Franklin/Hardyston Municipal Alliance Coordinator
Elaine is a Franklin Borough resident who has been a member of the Franklin/Hardyston Municipal Alliance for 12 years. She is married and the mother of 3 sons who all attended Franklin School and Wallkill Valley High School. She was a member of the Franklin Borough Recreation Committee for many years and has actively been involved in community sports and events. She is employed as a gym/health teacher in the Franklin Elementary School and she coaches cheerleading.
Elaine was chosen because of her work in organizing the Changing the Face of Addiction Walk held in Franklin Borough in honor of her son George and another Hardyston/Franklin resident, Eric Burns who lost their lives as result of heroin addiction. The walk, which is in its 2nd year, is the direct result of Elaine and Hardyston Township resident, Mary Burns, working with the Center for Prevention and Counseling of Newton to create a community walk to raise awareness of addiction. The purpose of this walk is to change how addiction and individuals who struggle with substance use disorders are perceived. There were over 300 attendees at this year's walk in August. The walk raised over $20,000 and one hundred percent of the money raised goes directly to The Center for Prevention to help those in need of services to aid them in their struggle with addiction.
GCADA Acting Chairman Neil Van Ess, Sussex County Municipal Alliance Coordinator Nick Loizzi, Sussex County Volunteer of the Year Elaine Tizzano, GCADA Acting Executive Director Celina Levy
Elaine has also been a fixture of the Franklin/Hardyston Municipal Alliance for more than a decade. A Franklin Borough resident and teacher at the Franklin Elementary School, she has dedicated countless hours to the Alliance and the youth in the community. The Municipal Alliance's mission is especially important to Elaine due to the impact addiction has had on her own family. Elaine is deserving of the Volunteer of the Year award not only for her work in organizing the Changing the Face of Addiction Walk but for her tireless dedication to the Alliance and the community. Elaine is co-chair of the Franklin/Hardyston Municipal Alliance. She attends all of the quarterly meetings and worked diligently with the coordinator and the Alliance during the changes to the GCADA grant program including the early changes in 2008/2009 and the more recent changes including the new needs assessment. In addition, Elaine oversees the Franklin Red Ribbon Program and the Franklin Healthy Choices After-School Program which are funded by the Alliance. Elaine is an active community member and throughout the years has been involved in numerous youth based activities that support the mission of the Municipal Alliance including being a cheerleading coach and the Wallkill Valley High School Project Graduation.
There are 11 Municipal Alliance Committees which represent 21 of the 24 communities in Sussex County. They are:
- Action Municipal Alliance serving Andover Borough, Andover Township, Green and Newton;
- Central Municipal Alliance serving Branchville, Frankford, and Lafayette;
- Hardyston/Franklin Municipal Alliance;
- Hopatcong Municipal Alliance;
- Lenape Valley Municipal Alliance serving Byram and Stanhope;
- Ogdensburg Municipal Alliance;
- Sandyston/Montague/Walpack Municipal Alliance;
- Sparta Municipal Alliance Resource Team (SMART);
- Stillwater Municipal Alliance;
- Sussex/Wantage Municipal Alliance;
- Vernon Municipal Alliance.
Each Municipal Alliance consists of members from the community it serves. They are volunteer-driven committees dedicated to providing substance abuse prevention programs and activities within their communities. If you would like more information about the Municipal Alliance in your community or to volunteer for your Municipal Alliance Committee or one of the county committees that oversee the program, contact Nick Loizzi, the Sussex County Municipal Alliance Coordinator at (973) 940-5200 ext. 1383.