Holyoke’s ‘Hopey’ Awards honor community difference-makers

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – An awards show took place in Holyoke Friday afternoon, with community members who make a difference getting recognized.

Today was the 8th Annual Hopey Awards hosted at the Hope For Holyoke center right on Suffolk Street where there was a true red carpet celebration.

The nonprofit organization that is a Peer-led Recovery Support Center which supports all pathways of recovery held their now annual tradition that brings the recovery community together for a day of recognition for individuals, businesses, staff, peer leaders, and volunteers, to receive awards in several different categories.

22News spoke to the keynote speaker for the event, State Senator John Velis, as well as the emcee of the awards show Kevin Lebeau about the Hopey Awards. Velis told 22News, “It’s a subject that we need to continue to prioritize more and more, we’re getting better with the stigma and pushing back on the stigma, and Hope for Holyoke is one of the main leaders in that fight.”

LeBeau adds, “It makes a difference for them to know that we care, that we acknowledge them as something important and they are important in our lives, they support us.” This year’s honorees at the Hopey’s were Eddie Caisse of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Holyoke City Councilman Israel Rivera, and John Velis.

As addiction rates continue to be high across western Massachusetts everyone at the awards show today really kept stressing how important the work Hope for Holyoke does.

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Heath Kalb is a reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since 2022. Follow Heath on X @HeathKalb and view his bio to see more of his work.

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