Nancy Horowitz

Nancy Horowitz was the Chairperson of the Marlboro Alliance for 30 years and a founding member of the Alliance.  Nancy passed away in August, 2021.  Nancy’s goal was for the Marlboro Municipal Alliance to be a catalyst to raise public awareness about substance use and to provide high quality prevention interventions for the community.  Through Nancy’s leadership, the Marlboro Alliance developed and implemented prevention programs and services that educate and empower all residents with the knowledge needed to safeguard and promote wellness in their community. Her leadership and dedication to the Marlboro Alliance made a significant difference in the lives of so many.  Nancy’s commitment to the health and resilience of the Marlboro community make her a deserving recipient of the W. Cary Edwards Statewide Volunteer of the Year Award.

Patty Nazzaro has been the Saddle River Municipal Alliance Chairperson for the last 14 years and an Alliance member for over 25 years.   She has served her county as a member of the County Alliance Steering Subcommittee (CASS) since 2011 and as the CASS Chairperson for the past 5 years.  In 2008, Patty and the Alliance were instrumental in supporting the development of the Saddle River Youth Leadership Program for 5^th grade students.  Patty states that the Youth Leadership Program has laid the groundwork for a better and a more knowledgeable Saddle River generation year after year.  Her commitment to the success of the Saddle River Municipal Alliance makes Patty a deserving recipient of the Bergen County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year Award.

Deborah Johnson is the daughter of a founding member of the Willingboro Municipal Alliance and a member of the Evesham Municipal Alliance.  Deborah worked with four Municipal Alliances – Evesham, Cinnaminson, Mount Laurel and RCASA - to provide Xglosive Tennis which is a glow in the dark tennis program set to music. In August, 2021, four evenings of Xglosive Tennis were held with prevention education materials provided at staffed information tables and fun, drug-free nights of glow in the dark tennis were enjoyed.  Deborah is credited with building cooperation between the four Alliances, successfully recruiting volunteers and being the driving force to bring this program to fruition.   Deborah’s commitment to providing prevention programming to the youth of Burlington County makes Deborah a deserving recipient of the Burlington County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year Award.

Amy Holmes is a life-long, 4^th generation resident of Cape May County.    Amy has been a Municipal Alliance volunteer for over 27 years.   After the loss of a young person, the community banded together to create the Ocean City High School After Prom program.   Amy and Jennifer Bowman became co-chairs of this program in 2014.   Amy has expanded the After Prom event to include multiple educational events for parents throughout the school year which have included Hidden in Plain Sight, If They Had Known and other presentations.   The program also includes an 8^th grade dance and a youth drop-in center which operates once a month.   Amy’s commitment to the youth and families of her community make her a deserving recipient of the Cape May County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year Award.

Carlo DiLizia has served as the volunteer Roseland Municipal Alliance Coordinator for the past 18 years.  He is also an active member of the Essex County Regional Coalition - the Alcohol and Drug Prevention Team (ADAPT).   Carlo’s most satisfying work with the Roseland Municipal Alliance has been to break the silence about alcohol and drug addiction and enhance the community’s understanding of prevention and recovery.  Carlo’s commitment to the Roseland community makes him a deserving recipient of the Essex County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year Award.

Gina Mattera has been the Chairperson of the Hoboken Municipal Alliance for 10 years.  She is the Student Assistance Coordinator in the Hoboken Public Schools.   Gina created the Youth Task Force where students provide hands-on prevention activities for Hoboken Public School students.  When Gina was asked what her greatest accomplishment has been, she stated that working closely with parents, students and community members to provide prevention programs that help students emotionally, academically and give them the courage to face their challenges and believe in themselves was her greatest reward.  Gina’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of Hoboken’s youth and community make her a deserving recipient of the Hudson County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year Award.

Peter F. Clark is a well-respected and valued, 15 year member of the North Brunswick Municipal Alliance.   Lou Ann Benson, the North Brunswick Alliance Coordinator stated Peter “always puts the needs of others first and is willing to go above and beyond to accomplish all missions related to the North Brunswick Municipal Alliance.   He is an IDEA person, very creative and dedicated.”   For his commitment to the wellbeing of the residents of North Brunswick, Peter is a deserving recipient of the Middlesex County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year.

Thomas Chemris has been a member of the Plumsted Municipal Alliance for 2 years.   He is the Student Assistance Counselor at the New Egypt High School.  He facilitates the Peer Leadership program and the Heroes and Cool Kids program which links high school Peer Leaders with middle school students where the students learn conflict resolution, sportsmanship and positive lifestyle choices.  Thomas brings prevention messaging and programming to the entire school community, and his dedication and commitment to the community make Thomas a deserving recipient of the Ocean County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year.

Dorothy Adlon has been a member of the Clifton Against Substance Abuse (CASA) Municipal Alliance for 3 years.  After losing a loved one to substance use disorder, Dorothy’s loss has fueled her work to provide prevention education to her community.  She led the creation of Clifton’s first annual Overdose Awareness Candlelight Vigil which encompasses the theme “Hope for the Future”.  Dorothy has a special interest in assisting grandparents as they provide support and education to their grandchildren through an Alliance program titled, Grandparent Awareness.  Dorothy has used social media to connect the community to the work of the CASA Municipal Alliance, and her dedication to the residents of Clifton make her a deserving recipient of the Passaic County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year Award.

Jim has been the Alloway Municipal Alliance Chairperson for the past 9 years and a member of the Alliance for 26 years.  He is the Co-Chairperson of both the County Interagency Coordinating Council (CIACC) and the Youth Services Commission (YSC).  He also sits on the Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) Advisory Board.   Jim believes that educating parents and community members is just as critical as reaching young people with prevention education and programming because prevention conversations start at home.   He is proud that the Alloway Municipal Alliance is making a difference in their community, and his commitment to the wellbeing of his community and county make Jim a deserving recipient of the Salem County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year Award.

Dr. Jane Esposito has been a member of the Sparta Municipal Alliance for 2 years.  She has been a school psychologist at Sparta High School for the past 15 years.  She sits on the Sparta High School Leadership Committee, the School Climate Committee and the National Honor Society Committee.   Dr. Esposito has faced the challenges of the pandemic with strength and a can-do attitude helping the school system to pivot to online learning and addressing the social isolation of students as they learned remotely.  Dr. Esposito is a champion for the Sparta student population and her commitment to the health and wellbeing of the Sparta community makes Dr. Esposito a deserving recipient of the Sussex County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year.

Jim Madden has been a member of the New Providence Municipal Alliance for 8 years.   Jim was an elected Borough Councilman for 6 years.   As a New Providence Municipal Alliance Committee member, he led a fund-raising campaign to provide additional school-based and community prevention programs in New Providence, and he is an active participant in all Alliance activities.  Jim’s passion and commitment to the wellbeing of the New Providence community make him a deserving recipient of the Union County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year.

Victor DeSousa has been the Hackettstown Municipal Alliance Chairperson for the past 2 years and a member of the Alliance for over 3 years.  Victor is an active volunteer serving his community as the founder and Chair of the Hackettstown Stigma-Free Taskforce and as a volunteer with the Warren County Stigma-Free Initiative.  In 2019, Victor conceived and organized a Teen Summit to educate youth throughout Warren County.   It was very successful and approximately 320 students participated.  Victor’s commitment and vision for a healthy Hackettstown and Warren County make him a deserving recipient of the Warren County Municipal Alliance Volunteer of the Year Award.

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