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SAVE THE MICHAELS OF THE WORLD INC
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 461191636 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE F21 · Mental Health & Crisis Intervention · Medium ($1M-$10M) · savethemichaels.org
revenue
$4.0M
expenses
$4.3M
net assets
$1.1M
employees
87
volunteers
4
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF PRESCRIPTION AND OTHER DRUG ADDICTIONS. ABUSE AND MISUSE OF THESE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES LEADS TO SERIOUS ILLNESS, DEPRESSION, DEATHS FROM OVERDOSE AND SUICIDE, AND THE DEVASATION OF CAREGIVERS AND LOVED ONES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Save The Michaels of the World Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 in Buffalo, NY, following the suicide of Michael David Israel due to prescription drug addiction. The organization raises awareness about the dangers of opioid and prescription drug misuse, advocates for policy change, and provides peer-led recovery and support programs. It serves individuals affected by substance use and mental health challenges, as well as their families, through education, advocacy, and community-based services.

named programs · 15 · from sources

What they call their work

Breaking Free: Bible Study
Bible-based recovery support group using the New King James Version, led by community members in Lockport.
Celebrate Women in Recovery
Women’s recovery support group meeting biweekly in Buffalo, NY.
EPIC FIT Parenting Class
10-week evidence-based parenting program with court-approved certification, offered in Lockport.
Harm Reduction
Group focused on educating participants about harm reduction strategies regardless of substance use history.
Healing Together
Support group for family members and loved ones of people struggling with substance use or mental health issues.
Living Well
7-week life-skills group facilitated by community volunteers in Lockport.
Mental Health Support Group
Peer-facilitated group for open discussion and mutual support around mental health challenges.
Narcan Training
Educational sessions teaching how to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses.
Narcotics Anonymous/Alcoholics Anonymous/Cocaine Anonymous
Open mutual support meetings for substance use recovery.
Parent Grief Support Group
Support group for parents who have lost children to substance use, meeting biweekly in Buffalo.
Recovery Now!
Peer-led support group for individuals in recovery, particularly those involved with the legal system, offered in Lockport, NY.
SMART Recovery
Evidence-based recovery group emphasizing accountability and healthy habit formation.
Serenity Circle
Peer-led discussion group on recovery topics chosen by members.
The Comfort Circle
Grief and loss support group led by individuals with lived experience.
Women’s Group
Recovery and education support group for women, led by a recovery coach.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver evidence-based educational and certification programs
      Offers a 10-week, court-approved parenting class in partnership with EPIC and a 7-week life-skills development program in collaboration with Lockport CARES volunteers, both designed to support personal growth and recovery.
  • Regular Religious Worship Services 1 activity
    • Facilitate faith-based and community discussion groups
      Hosts a Bible study group based on the New King James Version and participant-driven discussion groups, fostering community engagement and spiritual support.
  • 12-Step Recovery Support Services 1 activity
    • Facilitate peer-led recovery and support groups
      Operates a range of peer-led support groups including SMART Recovery, mental health support, grief and loss, women’s recovery, parenting, life skills, and mutual support meetings for Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous, many led by recovery coaches or individuals with lived experience.
  • Opioid Harm Reduction Services 1 activity
    • Provide overdose prevention training
      Conducts Narcan training sessions to educate community members on recognizing and responding to opioid overdoses.
  • Substance Use Policy Advocacy & Public Education 1 activity
    • Raise public awareness about prescription and drug addiction
      Conducts public education campaigns on the consequences of prescription drug abuse and misuse, including overdose, suicide, depression, and caregiver impact, and maintains a Facebook community of over 2,100 members to share personal stories of addiction and recovery.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Advocacy for prescription drug regulation and policy reform
      Advocated for the passage of New York State's I-Stop Bill, which established a tracking system for controlled substances, and testified before federal committees to support reclassification of hydrocodone analgesics from Schedule 3 to Schedule 2 due to addiction risks.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.01M
Contributions & grants$3.29M82%
Program service revenue$707K18%
Investment income$15K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$4.31M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$2.53M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.53M
Cash$192K
Investments$0
Liabilities$3.45M
Net assets$1.09M
Liquid reserves0.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -3.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
AVI ISRAEL DIRECTOR/CEO 40 $131K
JULIE A ISRAEL DIRECTOR 40 $87K
board members · 8
  • ANDREW RUSSO — DIRECTOR
  • DENNIS GALLUZZO — DIRECTOR
  • DR RICHARD BLONDELL — DIRECTOR
  • GEORGE D MAZIARZ — PRESIDENT
  • JACKIE THOMPSON — DIRECTOR
  • JOSEPH PERESAN — DIRECTOR/TREASURER
  • KEITH C BERNARD — DIRECTOR
  • MADONNA VERRASTRO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 6

Who they work with

  • EPIC Partner — Collaborates with EPIC to deliver the EPIC FIT Parenting Class, an evidence-based, court-approved program.
  • Lockport CARES Partner — Partners with Lockport CARES volunteers to facilitate the 7-week Living Well life-skills group.
  • New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman Government — Worked with the NYS Attorney General to advance goals related to prescription drug monitoring and regulation.
  • Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo Government — Collaborated with the Governor of New York to support legislative efforts to combat overprescribing of opioids.
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Government — Engaged with the FDA and its Safety Advisory Committee to advocate for the rescheduling of hydrocodone analgesics.
  • U.S. Senate Committee chaired by Senator Diane Feinstein Government — Provided testimony to a U.S. Senate committee on the risks of hydrocodone and the need for stricter regulation.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Evidence-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Recovery Programming
    methodology: evidence-based recovery
    By applying evidence-based cognitive-behavioral techniques through SMART Recovery, we build self-management and resilience in individuals in recovery, because structured, clinically validated methods improve long-term recovery outcomes.
  • Peer-Led Support to Foster Healing
    methodology: peer-led_support
    By facilitating peer-led support groups, we promote emotional healing and sustained engagement among family members affected by substance use, because shared lived experience builds trust, reduces isolation, and strengthens recovery resilience.
  • Story-Based Advocacy for Policy Change
    methodology: story-based advocacy
    By amplifying personal stories and mobilizing families affected by substance use, we drive policy reform because lived experience creates authentic, compelling pressure on legislators to adopt more compassionate and effective policies.