Congrats! Commissioner Enrique Zuniga Receives 2016 Advocacy Award from the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling

zuniga250x250The Massachusetts Gaming Commission wishes to extend its congratulations to Commissioner Enrique Zuniga as the 2016 recipient of the Kathleen M. Scanlan Advocacy Award! The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling presented Commissioner Zuniga with this award which honors advocacy in the area of problem gambling during the 2016 Massachusetts Conference on Gambling Problems: Creating Empowered Families, Engaged Providers, and Enriched Communities on April 14, 2016 in Norwood, Massachusetts.

MCCG Executive Director Marlene Warner said, “Since day one Commissioner Zuniga has been an amazing advocate for people at high risk of gambling problems and for those currently struggling with the disorder.  Whether it be through helping to design the right research questions, stressing the importance of interventions onsite at the casinos, or removing hurdles to public health strategies, he addresses the issue with a steadfast and serious approach that is impressive and remarkable.  He is an advocate in every sense of the word.”

This award was developed in honor of Kathleen M. Scanlan, former Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, who retired after 24 years of service.

Under Kathy’s leadership, the organization achieved many milestones in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Harvard Medical School and other agencies. Kathy also strengthened the Council’s infrastructure through the development of policies and procedures, and advocated for and secured state funding for problem gambling services in Massachusetts through the legislative budget.  Kathy tirelessly advocated at the state level to ensure that problem gambling services was a recognized disorder in our public health system and also was integral in ensuring that the current legislation that expanded gambling in the Commonwealth included robust measures to mediate risks associated with gambling and ensured robust services to people struggling with gambling disorders.

Previous recipients of the award included: Massachusetts Speaker of the House, Bob DeLeo and Massachusetts Representative Liz Malia.

The recipient of the Advocacy Award shows compassion through action for people experiencing problems with gambling and their loved ones. The individual is active in policy making or in changing policy to positively impact the lives of the state’s most vulnerable citizens by advocating on the local, state or federal levels.

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