The Evan Foundation Announces Board of Directors

The Evan Foundation (http://evangfoundation.org/), which through its unique and comprehensive ‘No First Time’ program, educates young people and the community at large on the dangers of experimenting with drugs, today announced the appointment of its 2017-18 Board of Directors. Effective immediately the Board includes Stephanie Greene, John Greene, John M. Fanning, Diane Govey, Amy McMannis-Freeland, and Kelli Spadea-Greene.

“We have worked to lay the groundwork for the foundation named for our 19 year-old son who died from a drug overdose in 2014,”said Evan Foundation co-founder Stephanie Greene. “We are pleased that we now have a full complement on our Board, each of whom has demonstrated a commitment to our philosophy and mission. We welcome them and look forward to their leadership and ideas.” In the past year, ‘No First Time’ has made presentations at some 30 schools reaching nearly 5,000 people of all ages in eastern Massachusetts. The Board consists of:

Co-founders Stephanie and John Greene launched The Evan Foundation in 2014 to tell their story and prevent others from having to suffer the loss of a child to the drug epidemic. Stephanie has been a professional hairdresser for 25 years and John owns a high-tech security and surveillance equipment business. They devote nearly all their non-work time to the foundation and to their daughter.

John Fanning, a co-founder, is a Marine Corps veteran and has been a police officer since 2002. Following 3 years with the Stoughton Police Dept., John joined the Mass. State Police, becoming a Drug Recognition Expert. He earned an M.A. from UMass Lowell and is a member of the Veteran’s Honor Society and the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Since 2012, he has served with the Norfolk County DA’s office as a Homicide/Criminal investigator, and has guest lectured at Boston College’s School of Nursing. He is a panel member for BC Law School’s Homicide Forum.

Diane Govey holds an Associate Degree from Bristol Community College and is a registered dental hygienist. She developed and incorporated into the Easton Public Schools prevention and educational public health

programs and participated in community health programs. For the last decade, Diane has educated, researched and volunteered for drug prevention programs, including Learn2Cope, The Cushing House, and Gosnold. She has been volunteering for No First Time for the last two years.

Amy MacMannis- Freeland has an M.Ed. and C.A.G.S . and has worked in higher education as a Professional Advisor at Bridgewater State University. She has daily contact with students whom she helps to navigate in the transition to college and to create a plan toward degree completion. Her own family has been directly impacted by addiction and have seen firsthand the impact opiates and other substances have on individuals and those around them

Kelli Spadea-Greene is a nanny five days a week for four children ages 2 to 16. She and husband Robert were personally affected by the opioid crisis four years ago when their nephew Evan died of a heroin overdose. She is deeply involved with The Evan Foundation and The No First Time campaign and has pledged to do everything possible to help young people in the fight against substance abuse.

For more information and/or to make a tax-deductible (501 C 3 charity) donation, visit http://evangfoundation.org/. To schedule a presentation for your school, organization, or community program, please contact us at nofirsttime@gmail.com .

- By Stanley Hurwitz / stanhurwitz@gmail.com

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About The Evan Foundation and ‘No First Time’

The Mission of The Evan Foundation is to ensure that no one's kid has any reason to try any drug for the First Time.

‘NO FIRST TIME’ is an Educational Awareness Program to Prevent Drug Abuse. Statistics show that children are trying drugs as young as age 13. The consequences can be devastating because the teen brain isn’t fully developed until reaching age 20+. The effect is especially detrimental in opioid addiction. Our team believes in educating youth to make the right decision: Do not pick up, ever! Because… There is NO FIRST TIME!

In the past year, ‘No First Time’ has presented programs at some 30 schools and other venues, reaching nearly 5,000 people of all ages.

For more information, visit http://evangfoundation.org/ . Email: nofirsttime@gmail.com .