MEDIA CONTACT

Sarah Gonet

Vice President of Development, BAMSI

508-944-6096/sarahgonet@bamsi.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BAMSI Receives $5,000 Grant from RIZE Massachusetts Foundation in Support of BAMSI’s COPE

Brockton, MA [January 18, 2024] – RIZE Massachusetts Foundation, the only public-private partnership solely dedicated to funding solutions to end the overdose crisis, has donated $4,975 to BAMSI in support of its Community Outreach, Prevention, and Education (COPE) Center based in Brockton. This grant will be used to provide basic needs and winter essentials to the program’s participants.

Each year, RIZE awards several grants to community partners through their Rapid Response grant program. RIZE’s goal is to “ensure that people suffering from substance use disorder have access to care” and bring greater awareness to the impact of the overdose crisis. Their program responds to issues that threaten an organization’s ability to respond to challenges that cannot wait.

“The RIZE grant that we’ve received will make a huge impact in the lives of our participants, many of whom are unhoused and stay outside for the duration of the winter in the harsh elements. The cold weather brings a lot of health and safety risks to our participants so winter essentials like hand warmers, sleeping bags, blankets, and additional clothing are lifesaving. We are so grateful for the support of RIZE and the grant which is making this all possible,” said BAMSI Director, Mary Corlin.

With this generous contribution from RIZE, participants who attend BAMSI’s COPE in Brockton will have access to basic needs and winter essentials such as hygiene products, coats, hats, sweatshirts, tissues, etc. The funding allows people suffering from substance use disorder to access care and necessities that attribute to a better quality of life and overall health.

BAMSI’s COPE Centers – located in both Plymouth and Brockton – provide life-saving services for populations who are at increased risk of premature death by exchanging used needles for clean ones to prevent the spread of HIV or Hepatitis, distributing Narcan to counteract an overdose, and providing warm clothes to stop someone from freezing to death on the street.

About BAMSI:

BAMSI is a private 501c3 nonprofit human service organization that helps people live more independent and healthful lives by providing a comprehensive network of services addressing developmental and intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and substance use, and the social determinants of health such as housing and nutrition. This past year, over 50,000 individuals and families across five Massachusetts counties received personalized care from one of BAMSI’s nearly 1,600 dedicated and compassionate employees.

###