Portland, OR – The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Oregon (NAMI Oregon) announced today that former Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and Dr. Norwood Knight-Richardson, a former administrator at Oregon Health and Science University, have been selected as the 2016 recipients of the Gordon & Sharon Smith New Freedom Award.
Created by NAMI Oregon in 2009 to honor the mental health advocacy efforts of former United States Senator Gordon Smith and his wife, Sharon, the New Freedom Award is presented annually and recognizes an individual or individuals for their leadership on mental health issues.
“Throughout his remarkable public service career, Governor Kulongoski has served as a champion on behalf of individuals battling mental health issues. Dr. Knight-Richardson is a recognized state and national leader in the mental health public policy arena,” said former Senator Smith. “NAMI Oregon has chosen very wisely in recognizing them for the positive and life-changing difference they have made and continue to make. Sharon and I look forward to presenting Ted and Norwood with the award that bears our name.”
The award will be presented at a dinner to be held at the Portland Downtown Waterfront Marriott on October 6. More information about the dinner can be obtained at www.namior.org or by calling
(503) 230-8009.
Information on 2016 NAMI Oregon Gordon and Sharon Smith New Freedom Award Recipients
Governor Ted Kulongoski is Distinguished Fellow of Politics and Policy at Portland State University. He previously served as Governor (2003-2011), Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court (1997-2001), Oregon Attorney General (1993-1997), as well as in the Oregon State House and Senate. After serving in the Marine Corps, Ted earned a law degree from the University of Missouri and practiced labor law. While Governor, he attended the funeral of every military service member from Oregon killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dr. Norwood Knight-Richardson served in various leadership positions at Oregon Health and Science University, including as senior vice chairman of the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Knight-Richardson also has an extensive history of public service at the local, state and federal levels. He has been a federal and state commissioner and chaired the committee on cultural competency and the committee on the integration of behavioral health and medicine, and co-chaired the committee on rural health for the President’s National New Freedom Commission. He also served on the council for the National Institute of Mental Health and on the board of advisers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About NAMI Oregon
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Oregon (NAMI Oregon) is a statewide grassroots organization with more than 1,700 members in 14 affiliates; it is one of 50 state organizations that comprise the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI Oregon is the state’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to education, support and advocacy around mental illness and treatment. All proceeds from the dinner will benefit NAMI Oregon’s free education, support and advocacy programs.
