RIZE Massachusetts Awards $85,000 In ‘Frontline’ Grants To Organizations Tackling Overdose Crisis

October 27, 2022

RIZE Massachusetts Provides Grants to 17 Nonprofits on ‘Frontline’ of Opioid Epidemic 

Funding Increases Access to Recovery Services at Community-Based Organizations 

BOSTON (October 27, 2022) – The Gloucester Police Department’s Community Impact Unit and One Life at a Time in Braintree are two of 17 nonprofits that have been awarded Frontline Funds by RIZE Massachusetts, an independent nonprofit foundation working to end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts.  The nearly $85,000 in total funding will support organizations who are helping people meet their recovery goals by eliminating barriers to care, no matter what type of treatment they seek, or how they define treatment.  Recovery from opioid use disorder is not a one-size-fits all approach and these organizations play an important role in the substance use disorder care continuum. 

“RIZE invests in promising concepts that broaden the chances of success for individuals with substance use disorder as we work toward our goal of zero stigma and zero deaths,” said RIZE President & CEO Julie Burns.  “The Community Impact Unit and One Life at a Time, along with all of the grant recipients, are on the frontline of the opioid epidemic, and have developed innovative models to support people on their path to recovery.” 

The Gloucester Police Department’s Community Impact Unit follows the tenets of the peer-to-peer movement by meeting individuals struggling with substance use disorder, homelessness, or both.  The unit has been awarded $5,000 to support its partnerships with two local fitness centers, Gloucester YMCA and Fitness Zone, to provide three-month gym memberships as incentives for clients who reach important milestones in their recovery journey. 

One Life at a Time provides career services, placement and financial assistance to individuals in active recovery from substance use disorder.  The $5,000 RIZE grant will help One Life at a Time support participants during their recovery journey by covering a portion of rent, transportation and meal expenses.  This tangible support gives people in recovery the financial flexibility to fully engage in the career training and placement program. 

Also receiving Frontline Grants are: 

  • Addiction Referral Center (Marlborough) 
  • Black Behavioral Health Network (Springfield) 
  • Community Program for Addiction Recovery (Worcester area) 
  • Fathers’ UpLift (Dorchester) 
  • Gilly’s House (Wrentham) 
  • Lowell House (Lowell) 
  • MOAR/Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (Boston) 
  • Montachusett Recovery Center (Leominster) 
  • NamaStay Sober (Boston) 
  • Northampton Recovery Center (Northampton) 
  • Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction (New Bedford) 
  • Recovery Without Walls (Falmouth) 
  • Resources for Recovery (Boston) 
  • Restoration Recovery Center (Fitchburg) 
  • River to Recovery (Fall River) 

Applicants were able to request up to $5,000.  This is the second round of Frontline Funds made by RIZE in 2022, bringing the total awards made this year to approximately $160,000 for 34 recipients.  In January, the organization awarded more than $75,000 to 17 nonprofits to help offset the costs of harm reduction supplies and address frontline worker wellness. 

 

About RIZE Massachusetts 

RIZE Massachusetts is an independent nonprofit foundation committed to achieving zero stigma and zero deaths related to opioid use disorder by investing in meaningful solutions and employing broad perspectives that will save lives, reduce harm and end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts.  For more information, visit www.rizema.org. 

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