Sioux Falls, S.D. — Emily’s Hope has been awarded a $100,000 Beyond Idea Grant from the South Dakota Community Foundation to launch a new statewide awareness campaign called Facing Fentanyl: Empowering South Dakota Families Through Awareness.
The campaign will educate South Dakota students and parents about the dangers of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and provide families with practical tools to help prevent overdose deaths. The project will reach an estimated 50,000 or more students, parents, and educators across the state.
South Dakota was one of only two states to see an increase in overdose deaths in 2024, with fentanyl responsible for the majority of those deaths. Many young people encounter drugs without realizing how lethal fentanyl is, especially when it is hidden in counterfeit pills that look like prescription medications.
“Too many families still don’t realize how common and deadly fake pills are,” said Angela Kennecke, founder and CEO of Emily’s Hope. “This grant allows us to reach families before tragedy strikes, with clear, honest information that can truly save lives.”
The Facing Fentanyl campaign will include:
- Production of six new public service announcements and short-form videos for youth and parents
- Creation and statewide distribution of Fentanyl Awareness Toolkits in print and digital formats
- Targeted social media and digital education campaigns
- Presentations at schools and community events across South Dakota
- Expansion of Emily’s Hope’s online educational hub to be more mobile-friendly and regularly updated
- Evaluation tools to measure impact and improve messaging
The campaign will focus on both urban and rural communities, addressing gaps in prevention resources and education where overdose risk is growing.
“This is about empowering parents to have hard but life-saving conversations and giving young people the truth before they ever encounter risk,” Kennecke said. “Education is prevention, and prevention saves lives.”
Emily’s Hope was founded in 2019 in memory of Kennecke’s daughter, Emily, who died after unknowingly taking fentanyl. The organization works to remove stigma around substance use disorder through education, awareness, and prevention, while also helping people access treatment and recovery support.
The South Dakota Community Foundation’s Beyond Idea Grant program supports innovative projects that address pressing community challenges. The Facing Fentanyl campaign will also share lessons learned and effective strategies with other prevention organizations to multiply its impact.
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.