Marcia Goodman Hinnershitz Receives Legacy Award

COCA’s Director of Planning & Resource Development Marcia Goodman Hinnershitz was awarded the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance’s (CPA) statewide Marcopul Award for Legacy.

The award was presented during the CPA’s 50th Anniversary Gala during the Annual CPA Conference, which hosts prevention professionals from across Pennsylvania.

The statewide award celebrates Marcia’s substantial contribution to substance use prevention,  reflecting the spirit and dedication of the late Maggie Marcopul. Early in her career, Marcia was mentored by Marcopul, for whom the award is named.

Marcia was nominated for the award by COCA Prevention Supervisor Alicia Kline.

“For the past 10 years I have been fortunate to learn from Marcia. She has generously shared her expertise, her guidance and her passion for prevention,” Alicia said.

“Marcia is not only exceptionally knowledgeable—she is also deeply kind and genuinely committed to strengthening our communities. She consistently operates at the highest level of prevention practice. I am constantly in awe of her ideas, her innovation, and her dedication to delivering the most effective prevention services to communities across Pennsylvania.”

In her nomination, Alicia listed the following among Marcia’s many achievements:

• Served on the CPA Board of Directors from the early 1980s to the 90s
• COCA’s first prevention specialist
• Was instrumental in planning and organizing the Tobacco Master Settlement Funds in Berks
• Started Berks PRIDE, an after-school prevention program that used performing arts (drama and dance) to share prevention messages. Marcia continues to mentor some of the members who are now in their 30’s and attribute much of their success to her
• Involved in the Kutztown University Presidents’ Round Table.
• Helped start Reading’s Health to Go smart vending machine with Penn State College of Medicine, which led to a published journal article and presentations at national conferences.
• Provided support and technical assistance in the establishment of several grassroots coalitions, including Kutztown Strong, Brandywine Task Force and SOS Berks Opioid Coalition.