WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 4, 2026 – Angela Kennecke, founder and CEO of Sioux Falls–based nonprofit Emily’s Hope, has received the Judge Michael J. Kramer Memorial Advocate of the Year Award from Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). The award was presented during CADCA’s National Leadership Forum, February 4, 2026, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
The Judge Michael J. Kramer Memorial Advocate of the Year Award recognizes substance use prevention leaders who demonstrate exceptional advocacy, forge strong relationships with elected officials, and work year-round to educate policymakers on the importance of prevention and community coalitions.
In announcing this year’s awards, CADCA President and CEO Gen. Barrye L. Price, Ph.D., said the honorees “exemplify what it means to lead with purpose and conviction,” adding that their leadership has “strengthened our collective efforts to prevent substance use and build safer, healthier communities across the nation.”
Kennecke was recognized for her national leadership in substance-use prevention through Emily’s Hope, including youth engagement, education initiatives, and advocacy efforts.
Kennecke is an award-winning investigative journalist and nationally recognized advocate for substance use disorder prevention, awareness, and recovery. Following the tragic loss of her 21-year-old daughter, Emily, to fentanyl poisoning in 2018, Kennecke founded Emily’s Hope with a focus on reducing stigma, empowering youth through education, increasing access to treatment, and saving lives. She has helped elevate prevention as a national priority while providing tangible support to families impacted by substance use.
Through her advocacy, Kennecke has played a key role in shaping prevention policy at the federal level. Her engagement with lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, proved instrumental in preserving the Drug-Free Communities program and protecting other critical federal prevention funding that supports community coalitions across the country.
“I am incredibly honored by this recognition,” Kennecke said. “Prevention works when communities, advocates, and policymakers come together with a shared commitment to protecting lives. I am grateful to CADCA and to the leaders who continue to listen, learn, and invest in prevention efforts that make a real difference.”
Since its founding in 2019, Emily’s Hope has become a trusted voice in prevention, pairing policy advocacy with programs that save lives and strengthen communities nationwide.
About Emily’s Hope
Emily’s Hope is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and to save lives through evidence-informed education, compassionate support, and financial assistance for recovery. Founded by award-winning journalist Angela Kennecke after the tragic overdose death of her daughter Emily, the organization has become a national voice for prevention and hope. Emily’s Hope offers a K–12 substance use prevention curriculum used across the country, the Grieving Out Loud podcast, and on-the-ground initiatives such as naloxone distribution, a Post-Overdose Response Team, and a Youth Prevention Coalition in South Dakota. The organization also provides treatment scholarships to help individuals access care. Learn more about Emily’s Hope at emilyshope.charity.
For additional media information, please visit emilyshope.charity/media.