Best and Brightest Converge on Greenbrier Resort for First Annual Golf Classic and Prevention Education Luncheon
The Greenbrier Resort was the site of the first annual Game Changer Golf Classic and Prevention Education Luncheon, a gathering of West Virginia and national leaders from business and education who met on May 26 and 27 to address the opioid and substance misuse epidemic faced by the state and nation.
The event kicked off with a dinner on Wednesday evening attended by more than 400 individuals and included addresses by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, United States Senator Joe Manchin, Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation CEO Dr. Joe Lee, former NFL Quarterback and member of the recovery community Ryan Leaf and Game Changer Executive Director Joe Boczek.
The following morning, a golf tournament to raise money to benefit prevention education in West Virginia schools was held on the Old White course and included Governor Justice, Coach Saban, WVU Head Football Coach Neal Brown, Marshall Head Football Charles Huff, Ryan Leaf, former WVU and NFL players Anthony Becht, Marc Bulger and Darryl Talley, former NFL player and current ESPN Analyst Joey Galloway, Marshall Soccer Coach Chris Grassie and former WVU Women’s Basketball Player Meg Bulger, along with legendary coaches Don Nehlen, Bob Pruett and WVU Athletic Director Shane Lyons.
At noon, the Game Changer Prevention Education Luncheon convened with a welcome from First Lady Cathy Justice and featured comments from Dr. Rahul Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical and Health Officer at the March of Dimes Bill Crouch, Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Christina Mullins, Commissioner for DHHR’s Bureau for Behavioral Health, and Dr. Susan Bissett, West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute President.
Game Changer is working to provide cutting edge prevention education in all West Virginia schools from elementary through high school by attracting some of the best and brightest stars in prevention from around the nation to address the growing opioid and substance misuse epidemic.
West Virginia Game Changer Executive Director Joe Boczek said there are plenty of seats at the table for everyone.
“It’s a big and complex problem that is going to require the best plan possible. The table has many seats for many talented people, and we welcome everyone,” noted Boczek. “This must be a unified approach with everyone working in the same direction. We must stop this dreaded epidemic and we must stop it now.”
Game Changer is working to be a cooperative effort between the Governor’s Office, the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission, the West Virginia Department of Education, DHHR, the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy, the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute, the state’s six Prevention Lead Organizations and local, state, and federal law enforcement.
West Virginia Game Changer’s goal is to take a comprehensive and collaborative approach to support and encourage young people throughout West Virginia to build healthy, addiction-free lives.