Each year the Council recognizes Volunteers of the Year for exemplary service to the State's Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Program. The grassroots network of Alliances and its volunteers are more critical than ever in helping to communicate and execute the systems necessary to evoke environmental change in communities across New Jersey.
Their voice, energy, and commitment are powerful and necessary as we undertake the critical work of the Council and continue to demonstrate that "It Doesn't Get More Local", as reflected in our statewide Municipal Alliance logo.
It was an honor to recognize these volunteers at our 2022 Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony at the December 13th GCADA meeting. It was a beautiful and inspiring virtual event that celebrated the extraordinary passion and dedication of the 2022 honorees.
W. Cary Edwards State Volunteer Award
2022 W. Cary Edwards Statewide Volunteer of the Year
Detective Lieutenant Michael Padilla
Nutley Township Municipal Alliance
Essex County
Nutley Police Detective Lieutenant Padilla has been a member of the Nutley Municipal Alliance for fourteen years while also volunteering with the Essex County Regional Alcohol and Drug Prevention Team (ADAPT), the Partnership for Children of Essex and the Nutley Family Services Bureau as Board President. He developed the Nutley Junior Police Academy and the Police at Lunch with Students Program (PALS). Det. Lt. Padilla introduced and directs the LEAD school-based prevention program in the Nutley school system and was named the LEAD Administrator of the Year in 2017 by the NJ Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD) program. He is one of 30 LEAD trainers who assist other municipal police administrators to implement LEAD programs across NJ. Det. Lt. Padilla works to prevent opioid abuse by student athletes through his role as the Assistant Football Coach at Nutley High School. Coordinating with the Nutley Municipal Alliance and the Nutley High School Athletic Department, he has organized student participation in the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) Knock Out Opioid Day program. Det. Lt. Padilla’s unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of the Nutley community makes him a deserving recipient of the 2022 W. Cary Edwards Statewide Volunteer of the Year Award Award.
Alliance 
County Alliance Coordinators
