NOPE of Pinellas County, an organization dedicated to educating youth about the dangers of drug use, was presented a $7,500 donation by the National Life Group Foundation this week in honor of the commitment National Life Group’s partner agent, Mark Serra of Planned Financial Services Corp. in Clearwater, Fla., has made to the nonprofit.
Mark received one of National Life’s inaugural Agent Do Good Awards, awarded to two agencies whose commitment to helping nonprofits in their communities stand out.
Serra and his wife, Laurie, were founding members of NOPE of Pinellas in 2009 after the death of their oldest son, Matthew, to a prescription drug overdose. Serra’s commitment to NOPE, which stands for Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education, has helped educate more than 100,000 young people to the dangers of drugs through school assemblies, an annual candlelight vigil and scholarships.
“Our company lives its values to Do good. Be good. Make good every day,” said National Life President and CEO Mehran Assadi. “We’re proud to recognize our agents when they share our commitment to doing good in the communities in which we operate. We’re humbled by Mark and Laurie’s determination to take a tragic situation and try to prevent it from happening to other families.”
In addition to its work with students, NOPE of Pinellas also works with parent groups, community service organizations, churches, synagogues and hospitals.
The agency was given the award at a surprise event during a meeting of the NOPE of Pinellas County task force, and a $7,500 check was presented to NOPE in Planned Financial’s name. National Life was represented at the surprise ceremony by Nikki Cook, Duane Hettlinger and Ross Sneyd.
In the photo above, National Life’s Nikki Cook and Duane Hettlinger, far left, and Ross Sneyd, far right, present a check to Mark and Laurie Serra.