The Tom Hedrick Memorial Fund
Tom Hedrick helped found the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (which has evolved to become the Partnership to End Addiction) in 1986 and was instrumental in the organization producing the nation’s largest single issue public service campaign. He was also the driving force behind the decision to begin serving families directly and the creation of the Partnership’s Family Services Program. Millions of Americans have learned that there is hope and help for substance use because of Tom’s work.
When it comes to the issue of substance misuse and addiction, Tom was a singular combination of head and heart: believing that research and effective communications can help parents understand substance use disorders, while feeling deeply that empathy and support are essential to enlisting them as activists in their own families and as advocates for positive change in drug policy and in the culture. In the early years of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, inspired by the leadership of Chairman James E. Burke, Tom reached out to leading researchers in the field of adolescent substance use. He converted them, one by one, into champions of the Partnership's work at the same time that he inspired a generation of colleagues and allies.
Tom always strove to lift parents’ voices and keep their needs at the center of our work. His question on any project, large or small, was: “how will this help parents?” Tom believed that parents and other caregivers are the key to preventing substance use and helping a loved one get healthy.
He also championed the belief that parents, grandparents and other caregivers who have lived experience of loving a person affected by substance use are uniquely positioned to help and support their peers. In 2013 Tom engaged the Center for Motivation and Change to collaborate with the Partnership to launch a Parent Coaching program. Through Tom’s efforts, these organizations have trained hundreds of peer parent coaches who have in turn supported hundreds more parents. His legacy is a program where a parent who feels alone, and often afraid for their child’s life, can connect with and find comfort from another parent who has lived through a similar experience.
Simply put, Tom was a hero to our parent coaches. He convinced them that they were worthy and capable of helping other families, he gave them the courage to speak out without shame and was their unabashed champion. Tom was loved by scores of parents whose burdens he intuitively understood and strove tirelessly to lighten.
In 2016, Tom was recognized as a “White House Champion of Change for Advancing Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery,” an award which honors individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. It was a fitting tribute to Tom’s leadership and tireless efforts on behalf of families.
Tom Hedrick was a colleague, friend and mentor, a man of great strength and tenderness, of humor and generosity of spirit.
We will miss him terribly and our hearts are breaking for Maryanne, Tod, Sarah, Isla and the entire Hedrick family.
When it comes to the issue of substance misuse and addiction, Tom was a singular combination of head and heart: believing that research and effective communications can help parents understand substance use disorders, while feeling deeply that empathy and support are essential to enlisting them as activists in their own families and as advocates for positive change in drug policy and in the culture. In the early years of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, inspired by the leadership of Chairman James E. Burke, Tom reached out to leading researchers in the field of adolescent substance use. He converted them, one by one, into champions of the Partnership's work at the same time that he inspired a generation of colleagues and allies.
Tom always strove to lift parents’ voices and keep their needs at the center of our work. His question on any project, large or small, was: “how will this help parents?” Tom believed that parents and other caregivers are the key to preventing substance use and helping a loved one get healthy.
He also championed the belief that parents, grandparents and other caregivers who have lived experience of loving a person affected by substance use are uniquely positioned to help and support their peers. In 2013 Tom engaged the Center for Motivation and Change to collaborate with the Partnership to launch a Parent Coaching program. Through Tom’s efforts, these organizations have trained hundreds of peer parent coaches who have in turn supported hundreds more parents. His legacy is a program where a parent who feels alone, and often afraid for their child’s life, can connect with and find comfort from another parent who has lived through a similar experience.
Simply put, Tom was a hero to our parent coaches. He convinced them that they were worthy and capable of helping other families, he gave them the courage to speak out without shame and was their unabashed champion. Tom was loved by scores of parents whose burdens he intuitively understood and strove tirelessly to lighten.
In 2016, Tom was recognized as a “White House Champion of Change for Advancing Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery,” an award which honors individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. It was a fitting tribute to Tom’s leadership and tireless efforts on behalf of families.
Tom Hedrick was a colleague, friend and mentor, a man of great strength and tenderness, of humor and generosity of spirit.
We will miss him terribly and our hearts are breaking for Maryanne, Tod, Sarah, Isla and the entire Hedrick family.
