Andover Cares Music Festival 2016
July 26, 2016
The Rotary Club of Andover’s Andover Cares Festival returns for a second year Saturday, September 17, 2016, 3:00pm to 9:00pm, at the Doherty Fields and Cormier Youth Center, Whittier Court, Andover. Entertainment includes local musical talent Rust Never Sleeps (Neil Young cover band), Carissa Johnson, young musicians from the Real School of Music, and a variety of other acts. The Festival will also feature talks and discussion forums by experts in the opiate addiction field. Plus there will be lots of entertainment for the kids and plenty of food and beverages to make the festival a day for the entire family. One way Andover Cares raises funds is through donations of $20 toward an Andover Cares button. Kids under the age of 18 can contribute $10 for a button. By purchasing a button and wearing it throughout the year, supporters will spread the word about Andover Cares. Buttons can be purchased in advance at AndoverCaresFestival.EventBrite.com.
The Andover Cares Music Festival raises awareness about the opioid addiction crisis facing our communities, while raising funds to support the Andover Cares Fund. The Andover Cares Fund supports opioid addiction education efforts and services.
Andover Cares Music Festival sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Andover Rotarian Amy Salant at
amysalant@fitnesstogether.com for more information on becoming a community leader in the fight against substance abuse addiction.
Andover Rotary launched the Andover Cares movement in 2015 as a response to the record-breaking number of heroin-related deaths and incidents that hit the Andover community in 2014 and 2015. Andover Cares was inspired by several members of the Rotary Club of Andover who have been touched by the heroin epidemic. Andover Cares leaders understand that the issue is complex and that there is no single answer that will solve the problem. The Rotary Club of Andover is committed to those who work on the front lines – our educators, law enforcement, and health professionals – which is why the club created the Andover Cares Fund. The Fund awards money to organizations that can make a difference in the fight against substance abuse and addiction.
Andover Cares grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis for any amount $500 to $10,000. Applications can be downloaded on the Rotary Club of Andover website,
www.RotaryAndover.org, or the soon to be released
www.AndoverCares.org. In the first year, Andover Rotary and Andover Cares raised $60,000. The goal this year is to raise $75,000 to support opiate and addiction education and resources. Donations can be made on the EventBrite website, or by sending a check payable to Andover Cares Fund to The Rotary Club of Andover, PO Box 1152, Andover, MA 01810.
A New Way to Show Support for Andover Cares
March 25, 2016
The Rotary Club of Andover's Andover Cares event and movement that started in the fall of 2015 inspired local resident and jewelery designer Aileen Peters to create an Andover Cares bracelet. Proceeds from bracelet sales support the Andover Cares Fund, which supports educational efforts to address the opioid epidemic facing our community. Each bracelet sells for $25 and $10 of every sale goes to the Andover Cares Fund. Bracelets can be purchased at
Helen Thomas Simply Smashing! at 90 Main Street. Bracelets come in both polished and matte finish. Each has a small muslin bag and a card, which includes information about Andover Cares, the meaning of the bracelet design, and a list of community resources for substance abuse support.
Bracelets feature the Morse Code symbols for S.O.K. for Save Our Kids. “A bit of artistic license was used in creating these bracelets,” wrote Aileen on the card that accompanies each bracelet, “Traditional Morse Code is in two planes: dashes up ad dots down. In this representation of S.O.K., the letters are started on the same plane. The 'K' now shows a long dot, lingering below. This interpretation symbolizes our communities' need to support those on the outskirts, isolated, left behind, or needing help. It symbolizes our goal as a village to care for every member, to have the courage to tell someone is a friend is in need (be your 'brother's keeper') or to ask for help yourself. It also symbolized how easy it is to be on the right path, and suddenly drop off, to make a misstep.”
Aileen Peters was honored at the 2013 Andover Rotary Citizen Who Cares event for her volunteer work in the Andover-Lawrence community. Her Andover Cares bracelet is another way give back to the community. Her work can be found on her Facebook page, Aileen Peters Handcrafted Jewelry.
Andover Cares and the Andover Cares Fund were established in fall 2015, inspired by several members of the Rotary Club of Andover who lives have been touched by the heroin epidemic plaguing our community, our state, and our nation. "We have club members whose families have been personally impacted," said Rotary Club President Don Gottfried, "As we polled the community, it was remarkable how many stories we heard of loved ones who had been overcome by addiction."
The Andover Cares Fund was established to provide money, in the form of grants, to individuals or organizations. Grants may be used for any purpose which will help address the opiate addiction epidemic, including education, prevention, and treatment. Grant requests are considered on a rolling basis. For information and grant application visit rotaryandover.org and the Andover Cares page.
State Police warn about unusually deadly brand of heroin
By Nicole Fleming Globe Correspondent January 02, 2016
The Massachusetts State Police have issued a warning about an especially lethal batch of heroin being sold under the name “Hollywood,” that is believed to have caused eight fatal overdoses in the last week in Chicopee and Holyoke.
“For reasons still to be determined, the heroin being sold under that stamp has proven exceptionally deadly in recent days,” David Procopio, a state police spokesman, said in a statement released early Saturday evening.
Three of the eight victims died on New Year’s Day, he said.
State Police detectives assigned to the Hampden County District Attorney’s office, and local police in Chicopee and Holyoke, are investigating the source of the drug, according to the statement.
State Police are compiling data on the overdoses to help other law enforcement agencies. “We urge anyone using heroin or any illicit drug to seek medical help/counseling,” Procopio said in the statement.
The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline, staffed 7 days a week, provides free confidential support for alcohol and other drug abuse problems. The toll-free number is 1-800-327-5050. For those using the TTY device for hearing assistance, call 1-888-448-8321. For more information, visit
www.helpline-online.com.
Karma Restaurant event to support Andover Cares
Thanks so much to
Karma Restaurant for their generous $9,100 donation to the "Andover Cares" Fund!
Iverson Guo, Karma Restaurant, came to the Andover Board of Selectmen to present the Rotary Club of Andover with this generous donation to support the fight against opiate addiction in our town. Karma Restaurant, in Shawsheen Plaza, hosted a sold out fundraiser featuring New England Patriot’s players Rob Ninkovich, Nate Ebner, Ryan Allen and Doinique Easley. The fundraiser featured a silent auction, food, and fan photos with the players.
This is a shining example of the town along with a service club, a local business and hundreds of our citizens coming together for a very worthy cause. The Andover Cares fund will be used to support ongoing education and prevention efforts by community groups in the fight against Opiate addiction.
Photo left to right: Paul Salafia, Andover Selectman and Rotarian, Iverson Guo, owner Karma Restaurant and Don Gottfried, President of Andover Rotary.
Lawrence Eagle Tribune article, December 1, 2015
Patriots Help Combat Herion Crisis
On the field, the New England Patriots spend the majority of their time pushing back against the opposing team. Off the field, some players are pushing back against the growing heroin epidemic that has plagued communities across the state.
Velvet ropes surrounded the red carpet outside Karma Restaurant in Andover Monday evening as community members gathered to support a local cause and meet members of the Patriots team.
Four Patriots players joined nearly 100 community members for a fundraising event at Karma Restaurant on North Main Street in Andover Monday night. All of the proceeds from "An Evening with the New England Patriots" will benefit the Rotary Club of Andover's Andover Cares initiative, which works to combat the heroin crisis.
Defensive linemen Dominique Easley and Rob Ninkovich, safety Nate Ebner and punter Ryan Allen were excited not only for the sushi they'd heard so much about, but also for the impact the event would have on the community.
"We were kind of surprised at how much energy there is and how electric the whole event has been so far," Ebner said. "It's pretty awesome to come and support this event. I'm excited to do anything I can to help and to have some good sushi while we're at it."
Ninkovich seconded Ebner's enthusiasm about helping the community, as well as the opportunity to try Karma's food.
"I'm just happy to be here for the community and show my face and just do what I can," Ninkovich said. "I think this is an awesome event, and I'm excited to eat here. I've heard they've got some awesome stuff."
Iverson Guo, owner of Karma, was especially grateful to the community and the Patriots for coming together to support the initiative's efforts to fight the heroin epidemic that has hit not just Andover, but the entire state.
"Helping solve the ongoing heroin crisis that is sweeping this community is extremely important," Guo said. "I am especially thankful to all of our town leaders for bringing Karma into this great Andover community and allowing us to give back to the community, which is something we hope to continue to do through events like this."
Although the initial excitement for the event was garnered by the football players' appearances, the event's purpose is what resonated most with town leaders and the players themselves.
"I really appreciate the community effort to address this problem in Andover," Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said. "There are so many components to how we as a town can combat this issue and fundraising is definitely an important step toward our goals."
Guo and the Patriots have a relationship that Guo said goes back further than just Monday's event. Before he founded Karma, Guo was a sushi chef at a restaurant in Franklin where Patriots players often ate. When he decided to follow his dream of owning his own restaurant, Guo said the team helped him get started in more ways than one.
"Very few realize that there is an amazing connection that Karma has with the Patriots team," Guo said. "It was the Patriots that helped me choose the name 'Karma,' and over the years, I worked many events for various Patriots players. This event, however, is closest to my heart."
Tickets to the event sold for $100 each and included a full dinner buffet, drinks, a gift bag and meet-and-greets with the players. Signed Patriots memorabilia was up for silent auction throughout the event and included helmets, footballs, jerseys and photographs.
The Andover Cares Fund will award grants to programs that support Andover’s three-tiered solution to opiate addiction — education, treatment and enforcement. Guo said that proceeds from Monday's event will also go toward a scholarship fund for Andover students.
While the players were focused on supporting the Andover community off the field, Ninkovich said he and the team will be working toward another winning season back on the field.
"We're coming back from a tough loss," Ninkovich said. "So we've just got to watch the tape, learn our lesson, move on, and continue to push on through the season and look forward."
ANDOVER, MA – The Rotary Club of Andover is taking a leadership role to address the opioid crisis plaguing our community by raising awareness and funds. The first of many fundraising efforts will be the Andover Cares Festival in the Park, Saturday, October 17, 2015, 3:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. The Andover Cares Festival in the Park is open to the public and features live music, family activities and an addiction resource area. Reserved seating can be purchased for $100 online at www.andovercaresfestival.eventbrite.com.
Andover Cares was inspired by several Andover Rotarian members who have been touched by the heroin epidemic. “We have club members whose families have been personally impacted. As we polled the community, it was remarkable how many stories we heard of loved ones who had been overcome by addiction,” said Rotary Club President Don Gottfried. “Parents of school-aged children express fear and anxiety over how to protect their own children. I was both shocked and scared when a worker told my wife about all the drug paraphernalia they’ve been finding in the park, right next to a middle school. As Rotary members, we decided to be part of the solution rather than on the sidelines of a very challenging problem. We are eager to tackle this head on.”
Festival sponsorship opportunities are available. To date, nearly $20,000 has been raised from Andover businesses and individuals at a variety of sponsor levels and benefits. Sponsorship packets are available at Century Bank, 15 Elm Street in Andover. All profits go the Andover Cares Fund, which will support intervention and education initiatives within Andover's three-tiered approach to the addiction crisis: education, intervention and enforcement.