The Robin Foundation Announces Fund Raising Efforts To Reverse the Overdose Trends with the Help of Local Partners

Cristina Cavallo, the co-founder of The Robin Foundation, is a certified addictionologist and an expert in harm reduction. In a recent interview, she spoke on the dangers of fentanyl poisoning, saying, “A major concern is our kids’ taking
pills that seem inconsequential to them but are extremely deadly when laced with fentanyl.

Cristina Cavallo also spoke of the dangers of vaping. She said, “The other major concern is our teenagers who are now vaping. Vaping and/or electronic cigarettes are a major health concern, especially with future lung and cardiac issues. Still, when you add fentanyl into the “mix,” the likelihood of overdose and death increases immensely.”

Community Outreach to Raise Awareness

In just the last month, The Robin Foundation has attended six public events giving out Narcan and training material to show how to use it in case of an overdose. A common theme at these events was from parents and/or family members who disclosed they had lost someone to an accidental overdose. In some cases, the overdose may have even been intentional because the individual did not want to continue their daily suffering from their disease of addiction.

The Robin Foundation has begun fundraising to purchase and distribute 200 emergency overdose kits filled with Narcan.

These kits are placed at hot spots throughout South Florida, such as homeless living areas on the streets, restaurants, bars,
nightclubs, hotels and motels, concert events, and university campuses.

Establishing Facilities for Those in Need

The Robin Foundation is also seeking funds to have a FARR (Florida Association of Recovery Residences) and MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) certified recovery residence for women who are the most underserved in Broward County and women and children.

According to Chris Cavallo, the cofounder, along with his daughter Cristine Frisby Cavallo, it is a dream inspired by Stefanie Cavallo, Cristina’s twin sister, who died from fentanyl poisoning in 2019. The goal is to create recovery housing for women somewhere in Broward County. Presently, the Foundation has submitted proposals for two grants to develop recovery communities for women. The target is to open its first facility in 2023.

The Robin Foundation is also selling products affiliated with the opioid pandemic. These products can be used to either help when CPR is being administered or store Narcan in bags or emergency kits. They will be free in high-traffic and public areas throughout the South Florida community.

The Partners in this Endeavour

Chris Cavallo has stated that the Foundation’s committed relationships with partners are a major factor in saving lives. Chris Cavallo states, “The expression ‘I can’t, we can’ is a centerpiece of The Robin Foundation’s beliefs. The community must come together and continue to educate and support each other in this desperate fight against fentanyl poisoning, which has caused way too many overdoses and deaths among loved ones. On-going conversations about this opioid pandemic must occur at family gatherings, community meetings/events, social media, and in any public forum. It is critically important to keep this topic relevant. The more substance abuse and mental health challenges are discussed, the greater the opportunity is to reverse what has become an unacceptable norm in daily life.”