Save the Michaels of the World, Inc. was established in June of 2011 as a small kitchen roundtable action group, to bring attention and awareness of the devastating effects of opioid medications after the death by suicide of 20 year old Michael David Israel.

Avi and Julie Israel decided they didn’t want to see other families suffer the loss of a loved one. The journey started with an interview with a Buffalo News reporter who told Michael’s story. That story got more attention from TV stations. Doctors, patients, parents and the population as a whole are not aware of the danger of opiate addiction. We wanted to find a way to address the overprescribing of pain medications such as hydrocodone and others.
 

She grew up in Lockport NY and went to school originally for cosmetology. She grew up riding horses before having a fall that caused four shoulder surgeries and struggling with an addiction to opiates. She is celebrating three, almost four years of sobriety. She came to Save the Michaels starting as a Secretary in our Niagara County office, before moving up rapidly, and becoming a part of the transportation team. Jessica spends her time horseback riding, with her dog or reading. She is in school full time for her CASAC-T and plans to move on to a degree in social work. She assists in every department but is primarily focused on reporting, transportation, and graphic design.

Jessica has been with save the Michaels two years in June and is proud of the difference her team makes every day. She is grateful to be a part of a team who is fighting to change the structure around addiction and homelessness. Jessica looks forward to seeing the changes and growth of the system as STM moves forward.
 

Join us on July 29th, 2023 at 10:30 am for the "Run/Walk to Remember Tim" event and honor the memory of Tim while getting active and having fun. We are so grateful to come together year after year, to celebrate Tim, to raise funds to help the amazing non-profit "Save the Michaels", and to share a day in the (hopefully!) sun.

Please visit our EventBrite link for information and registration:

After that, those that wish to run or walk the trail will line up and head out for 3.1 miles or 1 mile respectively.
When you return to the tent, you'll find refreshments and a picnic lunch! We can't wait to see you all there.
Save the Michaels of The World works to raise awareness of prescription and other drug addictions. Abuse and misuse of these controlled substances leads to serious illness, depression, deaths from overdose and suicide, and the devastation of caregivers and loved ones. Save the Michaels House of Hope and Community Resources supports families during their loved one’s journey through addiction and into remission. They provide a nurturing and supportive environment to parents, grandparents and spouses of addicted individuals while practicing compassion and promoting education, self-help and wrap-around care before, during, and after treatment. As in previous years, if you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation, please donate directly to Save the Michaels on their website in Honor of Tim.

www.savethemichaels.org

Thank you!