2018 -- H 7989

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LC005089

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING DENISE PANICHAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE

SAMARITANS OF RHODE ISLAND, FOR RECEIVING THE JOHN KIFFNEY PUBLIC

SERVICE AWARD FROM THE PROVIDENCE NEWSPAPER GUILD FOLLIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Lancia, Nardolillo, and Solomon

     Date Introduced: March 22, 2018

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The John Kiffney Public Service Award is given annually in honor and

memory of the reporter and Follies producer who died in 1987. Ms. Denise Panichas, Executive

Director of the Samaritans of Rhode Island, is the 2018 recipient of this prestigious award; and

     WHEREAS, The Samaritans of Rhode Island was established in Providence, Rhode

Island, in 1977. Its mission is to reduce the number of suicides by offering an array of programs

and services to help those in need, from having dedicated volunteers available at all times to

listen nonjudgmentally, either in person or on their 24 hour crisis hotline, to the concerns

expressed by those contemplating suicide. The Samaritans of Rhode Island also works tirelessly

to eliminate the stigma of talking about suicide, offers access to information and services to

people affected by suicide, including families and friends of those who contemplated suicide or

committed suicide, and to increase awareness and to educate the public about issues related to

suicide and mental illness; and

     WHEREAS, In 2001, Ms. Denise Panichas, after a distinguished career in government

and consulting, accepted a position to direct the Samaritans of Rhode Island. A position that was

supposed to be temporary and last only six weeks has, to the good fortune of the Rhode Island

citizenry, became permanent and since then, Ms. Panichas has used her extraordinary talents

along with a tireless work ethic, exemplary leadership, and abiding integrity to lead the

Samaritans of Rhode Island to new heights of public service. She skillfully led the Samaritans of

Rhode Island through the deep recession of 2008, and found innovative ways to attain corporate

charitable support, despite their fears of being “associated with and stigmatized by” any

attachments with the subject of suicide; and

     WHEREAS, The Samaritans of Rhode Island had 225 volunteers in 2017 and has had

more than 1,380 volunteers since its inception. Altogether, their volunteers have donated more

than 276,000 hours of time assisting those struggling with the issue of suicide. The Samaritans of

Rhode Island received more than 140,000 visitors annually to their website and, since 1977, have

received more than 500,000 calls to its hotline, averaging 5,392 hotline calls per day; and

     WHEREAS, The need for the Samaritans of Rhode Island and the dedicated services

provided by people like Ms. Panichas and its many volunteers, has never been greater. According

to the Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s Office, approximately 1,856 Rhode Islanders have died

from suicide since 2000, averaging 103 persons per year; and

     WHEREAS, Thanks to the efforts of Ms. Panichas and her dedicated staff, many Rhode

Island lives have been saved by the Samaritans of Rhode Island. Our state has been quite

fortunate to have Denise Panichas at the helm of the Samaritans of Rhode Island since 2001 and

we look forward to having her continue her exemplary and life-saving service for many years to

come; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Ms. Denise Panichas, Executive Director of the

Samaritans of Rhode Island, for receiving the 2018 John Kiffney Public Service Award from the

Providence Newspaper Guild Follies and thanks her for her life-saving work and leadership on

mental health and suicide prevention issues; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Denise Panichas, Executive Director of the

Samaritans of Rhode Island.

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LC005089

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