Palm Desert Friend-Raiser

About the Event
This reception brings together leaders, advocates, and community members committed to advancing prevention, strengthening awareness, and addressing the substance use and opioid crisis.
MAPDA is proud to honor the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee Brett Guthrie, and the Chairman of the Financial Services Committee French Hill, and Purple Strategies co-founder Alex Castellanos for their leadership and contributions to efforts that combat the drug abuse epidemic and protect families.

About our Honorees
Chairman Brett Guthrie
Congressman Brett Guthrie represents Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District and serves as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, overseeing healthcare, public health, and consumer safety policy. A West Point graduate and former Army officer, he has served in Congress since 2009. His leadership places him at the center of national conversations impacting prevention and public health.

Chairman French Hill
Congressman French Hill represents Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District and serves as the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He has been engaged in advancing economic and public policy initiatives, including efforts that address the opioid crisis and strengthen community resilience.

Alex Castellanos
Alex Castellanos is the co-founder of Purple Strategies, a bipartisan strategic communications firm that helps organizations drive meaningful change. Alex is a nationally recognized political strategist and commentator with decades of experience in media and public affairs. He has helped shape national dialogue on policy and public health, using his platform to elevate issues impacting families and communities.

Why This Event Matters
Every single congressional district in America has been severely impacted by the drug use epidemic with fentanyl driving the majority of deaths. Increasingly, substances like cocaine and methamphetamine are mixed with fentanyl, placing even those who do not use opioids at risk. Prevention, awareness, and policy action are critical to addressing this evolving crisis and protecting lives. Each of our honorees have stepped up in a big way to be a part of the solution.

About MAPDA
Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse was co-founded in 2011 by former Congresswoman Mary Bono. The organization began with a focus on the opioid epidemic and prescription drug abuse and expanded to address the broader substance use crisis as it evolved.

MAPDA recognized the need to bring greater awareness and prevention to this space as new and emerging threats continued to impact families and communities.

Today, MAPDA’s work is impactful at both the grassroots and policy levels through education, prevention initiatives, and national advocacy efforts that advance legislation and strengthen accountability.