Essex Media Group's Persons Of The Year 2019
On January 14, 2020, the day following just the 2-year anniversary of Michael Dalton's death, parents Carmela and Richard were honored as 2019 Persons Of The Year by Essex Media Group for Think Of Michael's positive community impact.
January 10, 2020 - 2nd Annual Trivia Night
Michael's alma mater asked the Dalton family to participate in an annual tradition where they have a schoolwide alternative educational day focusing on a current topic they vote on as a school. This year, the focus was substance use. They asked us to provide the keynote speaker so Dick Dalton spoke to more than 400 students, faculty and staff. He shared his experience as a parent and told them Michael's story and also spoke about what the family has done and is doing with regards to The Think Of Michael Foundation they established to honor Michael's life while helping others struggling with Substance Use Disorders. It was an important and unique day of valuable learning for the students and staff. They followed that by breaking up to small discussion groups led by older students with a summary discussion guide. They also watched a movie about a local teen who died from mixing alcohol and Xanax at a summer party in Winchester in between his freshman and sophomore year of college, died at 19 years old. It always makes more of an impact when they can relate. They know Michael sat in the same church at their age as a smart, happy, standout athlete going to Colby College after graduation to play both football and hockey in college. It was good seeing some great people we haven't seen in years as a few of Michael's favorites are still teaching and coaching there. We thank the St. Sebastian's administration for asking our family to be a part of their 2019 Unity Day.
The Think Of Michael Foundation and A Healthy Lynnfield co-hosted the first annual Night Of Hope in Lynnfield on September 22, 2019. It was a great night for our community. Over 600 people of all ages came together to show support, raise awareness, remember loved ones lost to this epidemic and also mark Lynnfield's first ever event recognizing National Recovery Month. Thank you to our Committee of Volunteers and the entire Lynnfield community for making it such a memorable night.
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May 2019 - Michael V. Dalton Memorial Scholarships
Think Of Michael President Carmela Dalton awarded scholarships to 3 LHS '19 graduates
Think Of Michael President Carmela Dalton awarded scholarships to 3 LHS '19 graduates
Think Of Michael President Carmela Dalton awarded scholarships to 3 LHS '19 graduates
Think Of Michael President Carmela Dalton awarded scholarships to 3 LHS '19 graduates
Think Of Michael President Carmela Dalton awarded scholarships to 3 LHS '19 graduates
Awarded to students who demonstrate to the selection committee strength and perseverance through any form of adversity; to overcome it and personally grow from it. Scholarships were awarded in the amount of $500 to each recipient to assist them with higher educational learning expenses.
January 17, 2019 - Inaugural Event - Trivia Night
WE RAISED OVER $85,000 WITH OUR FIRST THINK OF MICHAEL EVENT!
OUR FIRST EVENT WAS BOTH SPECIAL AND EMOTIONAL AS AN OVERWHELMING OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT WAS SHOWN BY A SOLD-OUT CROWD OF MORE THAN 450 OF OUR CLOSEST FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO CAME FROM ALL OVER TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT. IT MEANT SO MUCH TO OUR FAMILY SEEING SO MANY GREAT LIFELONG FRIENDS, MAKING A TRULY MEMORABLE NIGHT AS WELL AS A REMARKABLE SUCCESS!
The Dalton family would like to thank ALL who helped in many ways to make the night successful. The initial money raised allowed us to begin doing what we set out to do - to change and save as many lives as we possibly can. We wasted no time in doing so by sending our very first scholarship recipient to a sober house located in Falmouth, MA only 6 days after this fundraiser. Since then we maintained a steady pace of 3-4 sober house scholarships per month with the intention to grow that number by continuously expanding our network, our outreach and our sources of qualified referrals. Our early success would not be possible without everyone who has continued to provide us support and strength helping us get through the most difficult time in our lives as we continue adjusting and moving forward on our emotional journey helping other people and families affected by this insidious disease in honor of Michael. There are far too many deserving people to thank individually, but please know that our family is extremely thankful and grateful for each and every person who has shown us tremendous love and support. Our family has read each and every heartfelt card, note, email and text sent to us and we greatly appreciate every single one. All your kind words of support, encouragement and love sparked some tears, but also provides each of us with the extra strength needed to continue on this family mission, The Think Of Michael Foundation. We can never thank each of you enough. We're extremely grateful, fortunate and blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people during this time.
We do have to extend one very special thank you to our unbelievable Event Committee!
This group of our closest friends and family all generously volunteered and sacrificed ENDLESS amounts of their own time to do whatever was needed, whenever it was needed. They consistently went above and beyond to help us throughout this entire first year and together made our inaugural Think Of Michael event a great success! We would NEVER have been able to accomplish even a portion of it without all their tireless help, support, dedication, long hours and most importantly, their love and friendship. They each define the true meaning of family and friendship and we're forever grateful and lucky to have each of you as part of our team and part of our family. We love you and truly appreciate everything you all do more than you'll ever know. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your hard work and sacrifices.
This first event was a special way to honor Michael's life and keep his legacy alive helping others, which was always something he was passionate about. We know Michael is with us in every step of this journey as we continue to grow and evolve to do all we can to help as many people as possible. We're fighting a deadly and devastating global epidemic that requires help, compassion and action from all of us to create effective change, save lives, change lives and eliminate stigma.
