Truth Pharm would like to recognize one of our amazing Rainmakers, Dana Kassin. She has been volunteering with Truth Pharm for over a year beginning shortly after losing her brother Michael to an overdose. She is now among the most highly involved and her passion clearly shows through the work that she does.
Dana Kassin is a Broome Overdose Prevention Specialists (BOPS) member, and is a volunteer event coordinator for the New York State Trail of Truth. She dedicates a lot of time and takes on big tasks, like coordinating volunteers, soliciting organizations to table, soliciting donations, and more. Dana singlehandedly organized the Live Like Mike Variety Show, a fundraiser in support of Truth Pharm and EPAC in honor of her brother who was part of the Binghamton theatre community.
The loss of Michael inspires Dana to help her community grow. Dana says “I wanted to keep his memory and his legacy alive in a positive way, so his passing could potentially save other people’s lives. I don’t want his passing to be in vain.” She wants to support and educate people so that they don’t have to grieve alone. She works hard to make sure that if there is someone out there going through that terrible loss that they will never be alone while dealing with it.
Her brother’s kindness and generosity was a quality in him that she wants to carry into the world to help it heal. “My brother was that person who, even at his lowest point, would give you his last 5 dollars. He was so kind and he was such a big hugger, all these things I feel like I’m not.” She goes on to explain how she wants to carry that with her and hope that her brother in spirit can help heal the world around her.
One of Dana’s wishes is to see the younger generation get involved. “I want them to know there is help and there are people that will answer their questions without judgment.” She believes that with more engaging education in schools and around the community, that it could lessen the impact of the opioid epidemic.
When Dana spoke at the 2024 New York State Trail of Truth, that’s when she realized she wanted to be a bigger part of this movement. She took on the large role of helping manage people, logistical event support, and even using her own social media as a tool to bring the community together. Dana says, “This is healing something in me that I don’t think could be healed any other way.”