Kelly Cares Announces 2018 Playmaker of the Year

The Kelly Cares Foundation is proud to announce its 2018 Playmakers of the Year: Becky and Michael Savage, co-founders of the 525 Foundation. The Kelly Cares Foundation awards the Savage Family in recognition of their inspiring example of spirit and strength and their commitment to raising awareness about the dangers of alcohol and prescription drug misuse and abuse.

The Playmaker of the Year Award, presented by the Kelly Cares Foundation and its co-founders Brian and Paqui Kelly, honors that individual or group that serves as a catalyst for immediate, positive change in the Greater South Bend community. This Playmaker exemplifies leadership, resilience, and drive. While celebrated during breast cancer awareness month at the Power of Pink Cocktail Party, this Playmaker can have an impact in a variety of fields in the Greater South Bend community. Dr. Michael Rotkis, Medical Director of the Paqui and Brian Kelly Comprehensive Breast Center at St. Joseph Health System, was honored in 2017 for his leadership and his unwavering commitment to his patients.

The Power of Pink Cocktail Party is an evening dedicated to raising money for breast cancer research. The Cocktail Party is part of Paqui's Playbook, a series of events each October with an emphasis on breast cancer awareness and healthy initiatives, presented by United Federal Credit Union. Tickets to the Cocktail Party may be purchased here.

About The 525 Foundation

Their story is one of unimaginable loss, grief, and resolve.  Becky and Mike Savage's two teenage sons, Nick and Jack, accidentally overdosed on a deadly cocktail of alcohol and prescription drugs on the same night in June 2015.  Knowing they had to do something, the couple turned their devastation into a powerful message: educating students, parents, lawmakers, and anyone else who would listen about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and abuse. The Savages created the 525 Foundation (the boys' hockey numbers were 5 and 25) with the goal of preventing another family from experiencing their daily, everlasting pain.

To date, Becky and Mike have bravely shared their story with thousands of high school students and have presented at numerous conferences throughout the country.  The 525 Foundation has testified in front of the U.S Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and has participated in countless interviews for podcasts and international news media such as Dr. Drew and Megyn Kelly Today.  The 525 Foundation is working with the Indiana's Governor's office and Indiana University on their Grand Challenge initiatives to implement state-wide programs and resources. The 525 Foundation, through partnerships with other local coalitions and community fire and police departments, has collected and disposed of thousands of pounds of prescription pills through local pill drop events.  Recently, the Foundation established a permanent pill drop program with Martin's Supermarkets called Drop 2 Stop. Becky, a Registered Nurse, and Mike, an RV salesman, live in Granger with their two sons Justin (19) and Matthew (14).

About the Kelly Cares Foundation

In 2018, the Kelly Cares Foundation celebrates its 10th Anniversary. Over the past decade, Kelly Cares has established itself as a "Playbook for Hope," strengthening communities and inspiring hope by investing resources to improve health and education. To date, the Kelly Cares Foundation has contributed over $4.6 million to support causes locally, nationally, and globally.