PSE&G and the PSEG Foundation were recently honored with the Angel of Hope Award at the 31st Annual Angel of Hope Gala hosted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ). The event took place at the Liberty House in Jersey City. The evening highlighted the power of collaboration in tackling the state’s opioid crisis.
“PSE&G and the PSEG Foundation exemplify what it means to be community leaders,” said Elaine Pozycki, event co-chair and member of PDFNJ’s Board of Trustees. “Their work reflects a deep commitment to education, prevention, and the well-being of New Jersey families.”
Maria Spina, manager corporate social responsibility and PSEG Foundation, said an example of the foundation’s commitment “is our long-standing partnership with the Partnership for Drug Free New Jersey, which demonstrates the positive change that the organization brings to communities by promoting healthy choices, empowering youth and fostering environments free from substance abuse.”
Drug overdoses, fueled by the opioid crisis, are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In 2022, the most recent year for state data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 31.6 deaths per 100,000 people, or 2,985 fatalities. Nationally, new CDC data show overdose deaths involving opioids decreased from an estimated 83,140 in 2023 to 54,743 in 2024.
The award recognizes PSE&G and the PSEG Foundation’s commitment to supporting communities and advancing public health through impactful partnerships. Their long-standing collaboration with PDFNJ includes the Third Grade Healthy Life Healthy Decisions Coloring and Activity Book, which reached 35,000 third-grade students statewide this year. The initiative helps instill messages of healthy living and substance use prevention at a formative age.
The evening also honored former NFL and Rutgers University quarterback Ray Lucas, a central figure in PDFNJ and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s Knock Out Opioid Abuse initiative, with the Joseph (J.P.) Miele Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lucas, whose personal story of recovery has resonated with thousands of high school students across New Jersey, continues to play a pivotal role in shifting the conversation around opioid use and prevention. Lucas developed an addiction to opioids while recovering from football-related injuries.
