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Colin Dwyer
Founder at the Overdose Crisis Response Fund
Colin Dwyer is a dedicated individual who has been actively involved in the opioid crisis response through the Opioid Crisis Response Fund (OCRF). The mission of OCRF is to save as many lives as possible from overdose, and the fund has successfully prevented 1,734 overdose fatalities at a remarkable average cost per life saved.
Under Colin's leadership, OCRF has made significant impact by funding the distribution of over 75,000 doses of naloxone to various regions and communities across the United States, including tribal lands, urban areas, and nationwide distribution efforts focused on states like West Virginia.
Apart from supporting naloxone distribution, OCRF has also backed the initiation of mobile outreach harm reduction and overdose prevention services in specific cities like New Orleans and Greenville, as well as the expansion of harm reduction supplies through mail-order distribution in states like Oklahoma.
Colin's expertise in social impact and healthcare is evident from his educational background, having studied for an MBA at Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a B.A. at Georgetown University. His professional experience includes founding the Overdose Crisis Response Fund, serving as a Social Entrepreneur In-Residence at Stanford University, and working in strategic advisory roles for organizations like Faces & Voices of Recovery.
With a robust career path that includes roles as a FUSE Executive Fellow, a Practice Manager, and a Consultant in the nonprofit, social enterprise, and healthcare sectors, Colin has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing complex societal challenges such as the opioid crisis with data-driven and impactful solutions.
Colin Dwyer's work has been supported by various funders including the Open Society Foundations, Yagan Family Foundation, and Kaiser Family Foundation. Through his leadership at OCRF and collaborations with organizations like the Harm Reduction Coalition, Colin has shown a deep understanding of the importance of deploying resources effectively to combat overdose fatalities and promote harm reduction strategies nationwide.
Highlights
Feeling like the word "heroes" has gotten over-used? Well, the women in the 1st cohort of the newly launched Overdose Crisis Response Fund Accelerator Program are the genuine article.
Michelle, Jessie, and Talia were all personally-impacted by the overdose crisis, either as parents or as a person in recovery. All of them then founded programs that are the ONLY access point for CDC/HHS-recommended, life-saving overdose prevention services in their communities. Then, in the absence of any state or county funding to support their work, all of them PAID FOR THEIR PROGRAMS OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS...in Talia's case, with 62.5% of her minimum-wage income.
Overdose Crisis Response Fund is the 1st source of institutional funding for Michelle, Jessie, and Talia. Through the Accelerator Program, they are receiving both unrestricted funding, and professional coaching and services. The goal of the Accelerator Program is to bridge them from self-funded programs operating at a fraction of their capacity, to appropriately-funded and sustainable organizations that are fully-scaled.
Foundations, donors, corporations, even celebrities...PLEASE HELP. Michelle, Jessie, and Talia will need more funding to make it to self-sufficiency. And, OCRF has a pipeline of more self-funded founders who are in the same position as Michelle, Jessie, and Talia...but who we don't have the money to fund yet.
Read Michell, Jessie, and Talia's incredible stories here: https://lnkd.in/g_ZtCRkY
Support the Overdose Crisis Response Fund's Accelerator Program here: https://lnkd.in/eQAWj_T
#overdose #opioidcrisis #harmreduction #publichealth #philanthropy #socialimpact #socialinnovation
