STAR Awards

SAMHSA hosted the inaugural SAMHSA Trailblazers in Advancing Recovery (STAR) Awards on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, honoring recovery champions from across the nation, including leaders with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use conditions, young adults, family members, and allies. The STAR Awards also recognized organizations that have demonstrated commitment to promoting equitable and inclusive access to wellness and recovery supports for people with mental health and/or substance use conditions.

Honorees

SAMHSA awarded a special posthumous recognition of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Co-Founder of The Carter Center, to commemorate her invaluable leadership and enduring legacy in mental health advocacy. The award was accepted by Eve Byrd, Director of Mental Health Programs at The Carter Center.

Congratulations to the honorees:

• Equity Champion of the Year: Helen 'Skip' Skipper, CPS, B.S., M.A. (May 2025), Executive Director, The NYC Justice Peer Initiative
• Young Adult Leader of the Year: Charlotte Rosario, Founder, SearchMentalHealth
• Peer Support Worker of the Year: Parker LaCombe, Peer Support Workforce Development Specialist, City and County of Denver
• Advocate of the Year: Johanna Kandel, Founder/CEO, National Alliance for Eating Disorders
• Family Leader of the Year: Justin K. Phillips, M.A., CEO and Founder, Overdose Lifeline
• Wellness Champion of the Year: Serena Gunn, Founder and Executive Director, Recovery Reiki^® Teacher, PSS, HEAL Holistic Journey Inc
• Innovator of the Year: Philip Cooper, Executive Director, Operation Gateway Inc.
• Ally of the Year: Rosalynn Carter (1927-2023), Former First Lady of the United States and Co-Founder of The Carter Center

No monetary awards were distributed. Learn more about the honorees. 

STAR Awards Ceremony

During the ceremony, SAMHSA’s 2024 Gallery of Hope showcased a virtual exhibition featuring talented artists who have living experience with mental health and/or substance use conditions, family members, and allies. View artistic expressions of recovery from across the nation.

Watch a recording of the STAR Awards Ceremony (1 hour, 53 minutes).

Questions? Call SPARK at 781-247-1724 or email us.