To Whom It May Concern:

I'm writing to support the fantastic work that A Song for Charlie is doing and has accomplished in such a short amount of time. This letter is on behalf of Community Living Above (CLA), a substance use prevention organization, and myself, Pam Pearce, executive director of CLA and co-founder of Oregon’s first recovery high school.

I have been working in the substance use prevention landscape for roughly seven years, and the resources, education, and services for substance use concerns are dire in Oregon. Because of my work in youth substance use prevention and recovery, it has become evident that the fake pill issue is severe and on the rise in our state.

I field calls every week from individuals, family members, city, county, state agencies trying to identify how best to stay safe and where to find resources, support, data specifically focused on the fake pill concerns. This is where A Song for Charlie comes in – they, without question, are leading the charge in bringing awareness, education, and tools to the fentanyl/fake pill concerns in our state and the country at large.

Their commitment to providing accurate information, tools, and support is without comparison. They have found ways to share this information with people young and old in a language that spans all age groups.

In the heart of my work to make sure young people and communities have the information they need to make informed decisions and to protect themselves and their loved ones, it’s imperative to have data and resources that are reliable and accessible, so my go-to about fake pills/fentanyl is always A Song for Charlie.

Their work is incredibly beneficial when sharing information, especially with students. They have created presentations for schools, social media campaigns, videos of “real-talk,” a fentanyl fact web page, and toolkits for middle and high school, which are incredibly helpful.

I share A Song for Charlie’s information almost daily. I am grateful for the thorough and incredibly valuable work to bring awareness, education, tools, resources, and support to youth, families, communities, and the country.

Sincerely,

Pam Pearce

Certified Recovery Mentor

Youth Prevention and Recovery Education and Support

March 4, 2022

It is my pleasure to write this letter of endorsement and support for Song for Charlie. During a time when overdoses are at an all-time high, drug use and overdose prevention is critical. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA supports the work that Song for Charlie is doing in our communities and beyond to educate on the risks associated with fentanyl, with the goal of reducing overdose and saving lives.

With new drug threats emerging and overdoses increasing, we need organizations like Song for Charlie to raise awareness of this deadly drug and provide resources and strategies to assist those affected by this epidemic. The Song for Charlie website is an excellent source for healthy coping strategies, provides resources for students, educators and parents as well as highlighting impactful stories sure to touch many.

In conclusion, the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program offers its full support for the Song for Charlie campaign.

Very Respectfully,

CHRIS GIBSON, Director Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area

To all who care about stopping the Fentanyl Poisoning and Opioid/Addiction Pandemic.

I for the past 20 years have been on a mission to make parents and students aware of dangers of drug use, potential of addiction, and the related family tragedies. We, Song for Charlie and I, are on the same page on this. Song for Charlie is doing a great job and I appreciate their efforts and good works.

Twenty years ago when speaking in schools, I often said trying drugs was like playing Russian Roulette. There was a touch of hyperbole in that statement, even though I meant that it might lead to addiction, trouble and for some death. Today with Fake Rx and other drugs unknowingly containing fentanyl trying drugs is truly playing Russian Roulette. One Pill Can Kill.

Recently, I spoke to 200 middle schoolers, and not one was aware of One Pill Can Kill. Not far away a graduating senior 2 weeks later died by sharing 1/2 of what they thought was a Percocet with a friend. She died, her friend barely survived. Her friend lived because she weighed 30 lbs more. She had to be unplugged just days before her Graduation. Her parents received her diploma while her organs were being removed to save other lives.

Song For Charlie, God Bless your good works.

"The Pharmacist" of the Netflix docuseries viewed by over 100 million viewers.

Dan Schneider RPh.

March 22, 2022

RE: Letter in support of Song For Charlie

The national fentanyl epidemic has hit Sacramento County with more fentanyl related deaths than gun-related homicides since 2020. In 2021, 15% of those deaths involved people under the age of 21. In 2021, our crime lab determined that 99% of the most common street pills (oxycodone) seized by law enforcement are fake. Of those fake pills 99% contained fentanyl. The District Attorney’s Office has been committed to spreading awareness about this extraordinary danger throughout the community.

As part of our on-going awareness efforts, we have partnered with several affected families and non-profit organizations, including Song For Charlie (SFC). SFC and the Didier family have done much to spread awareness by presenting to local high schools and our Youth Academy students, by providing important information at our Fentanyl Town Hall, and by speaking at our safety fair. SFC has also helped with our ongoing social media campaign focused on reaching families and youth as well as provided resource information for our 1PillCanKillSac.com fentanyl resource website. The District Attorney’s Office values our partnership.

March 25, 2022

To whom it may concern:

Vibrant Future is a Youth Substance Prevention Coalition in Clackamas County, Oregon. We are grateful for the resources and collaboration with Song for Charlie. It is vital that youth, families and communities receive the information regarding how dangerous Fentanyl is. Song for Charlie’s website has an assortment of educational resources for schools and communities to spread the word that Fentanyl is in our communities and it is deadly. We admire the strength and passion of the families at Song for Charlie that have lost a loved one to Fentanyl poisoning. We have already lost youth and we stand with Song for Charlie in spreading awareness and doing what we can to protect our youth.

Vibrant Future Coalition

March 1, 2022

To whom it may concern,

The purpose of this letter is to show my support, as an educator, for the Song for Charlie Organization. Gaston Public Schools has several neighboring counties, one of which recently lost a student to an illicit fentanyl pill. This issue was already vulnerable causing heightened emotions at our school when I approached Song for Charlie about outreach.

Song for Charlie empowered my students through a series of question and answer sessions that provided factual information with insightful infographics. Language was used in a way that middle schoolers could understand and internalize the content. Students were welcomed to draft their own questions ahead of time and feel heard through a personal skype session. This raw exposure showed humanity and personal experience in a way that other drug education programs never could.

I am incredibly grateful for the education my students received through Song for Charlie. I know that the messages portrayed will create a lasting impact as they move into High School and beyond. I feel confident that my students are now equipped with what they need to make informed, safe decisions. As Song for Charlie says: One Pill Can Kill.

Please feel free to contact me at disneym@gastonk12.org with any questions.

Sincerely,

McKenna Disney

Gaston Junior/Senior High School

Spanish Teacher

March 18, 2022

To Whom It May Concern,

The nonprofit Community Action Network for Drugfree Lifestyle Empowerment, Inc. (CANDLE, Inc.) is dedicated to drug prevention for families everywhere.

For almost 20 years we have empowered communities to take care of their own prevention needs through our program Reality Tour that educates parent and child together on today’s drug trends and teaches family coping skills.

When I was looking to update our Reality Tour program content to address the deadly drug fentanyl, appropriate resources that had the depth that we needed for our target audience were limited.

I came across the website, songforcharlie.org (SFC) and was able to schedule a Zoom conference with founders Ed and Mary Ternan. It was heartbreaking to learn how their dear son Charlie became an unsuspecting victim of fentanyl. It is unbelievable what Ed and Mary have accomplished to date to create SFC and extend the love they have for Charlie to benefit all.

Through their work, Charlie will always be remembered and many more lives will be saved. Our non-profit is extremely indebted to SFC for sharing resources and being the guide through this terrible new trend. They have emerged as national leaders in this effort.

Recently, the national CADCA group of coalitions referenced SFC in their online discussion group. I have shared the school toolkits with educators and in our newsletter. We received permission to include their video during our Reality Tour program. When I received an inquiry from a news reporter regarding fentanyl, I referred them to Ed and Mary as the best source.

Through collaboration and sharing resources, SFC, Ed and Mary Ternan as well as all who have answered the call to their cause, demonstrate the true nature of nonprofit service. Our nonprofit is honored to support SFC and honor the memory of Charlie Ternan.

Sincerely,

Norma J. Norris

Executive Director

CANDLE, Inc./Reality Tour

There is no voice more powerful than families who have suffered greatly because of fentanyl poisoning. Song for Charlie came to speak to 250 undergraduate students, faculty, and staff at an overdose education event organized by my undergraduate students. Ed and Mary's voices - in all their strength and grief - were clear and incisive, going directly to the hearts of the audience. Students were awestruck by their story and commitment to spreading education. In public health, we know that in order to change behavior, you need to change hearts too. Song for Charlie has evidence-based solutions and the ability to connect strongly to the audience - a rare and powerful combination.