The Berks County Council on Chemical Abuse is recognizing one of its leaders for receiving a statewide award that honors substance use prevention professionals.
Marcia Goodman Hinnershitz, the longtime director of planning and resource development for the council, was presented with the 2026 Marcopul Award for Legacy in Prevention at the annual Commonwealth Prevention Alliance Conference last week.
Officials of the alliance said the award recognizes Hinnershitz’s substantial contributions to substance use prevention, reflecting the spirit and dedication of the woman for whom the award is named.
The late Maggie Marcopul, who helped develop and implement the Community That Cares model in Pennsylvania, mentored Hinnershitz early in her career.
Hinnershitz was nominated for the award by Berks County Council on Chemical Abuse Prevention Supervisor Alicia Kline.
“For the past 10 years I have been fortunate to learn from Marcia,” Kline said. “She has generously shared her expertise, her guidance and her passion for prevention.”
Kline said Hinnershitz is exceptionally knowledgeable and deeply kind and genuinely committed to strengthening the community.
“She consistently operates at the highest level of prevention practice,” she said. “I am constantly in awe of her ideas, her innovation and her dedication to delivering the most effective prevention services to communities across Pennsylvania.”
Kline said Hinnershitz has been instrumental in planning and organizing several initiatives during her career. Those include assisting with the distribution of Tobacco Master Settlement funds, starting the prevention program Berks PRIDE and helping to establish the SOS Berks Opioid Coalition.