Latest news with #Victoria'sVoice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Victoria's Voice Foundation Marks National Naloxone Awareness Day on June 6 with Special Event on Capitol Hill
Annual Awareness Day Focusing Attention on the Drug Crisis and Importance of Lifesaving Opioid Overdose Reversal Medications was Launched by Victoria's Voice with Support from a Bipartisan Congressional Resolution Over 140 Iconic Buildings and Landmarks Nationwide to Shine Purple in Recognition of Awareness Day WASHINGTON, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Victoria's Voice Foundation marked National Naloxone Awareness Day on June 6 with a special event on Capitol Hill, bringing together families affected by the opioid crisis, advocates, lawmakers, law enforcement and other first responders. The awareness day is a vital time to heighten awareness of the risks of opioid overdoses and the urgency of expanding access to and the use of lifesaving overdose reversal medicines. It was launched in 2023 by Victoria's Voice Foundation with support from a bipartisan congressional resolution recognizing the awareness day annually. Naloxone, commonly sold over the counter under the brand name NARCAN® Nasal Spray, is a critical tool in preventing fatal opioid overdoses – and is credited with helping drive the recent 27% decline in U.S. drug overdose deaths. Naloxone nasal spray helps restore normal breathing in a person experiencing an opioid overdose. It is safe, easy to administer and non-addictive – and designed for use by bystanders and first responders alike. This is crucial because nearly 40% of fatal overdoses occur in the presence of someone else, according to the CDC. "We must continue to expand naloxone awareness, access and use so we can save as many lives as possible from opioid overdose," said Jackie Siegel, who co-founded Victoria's Voice with her late husband, David, after losing their daughter, Victoria, 18, to an accidental drug overdose on June 6, 2015. On the day she died, Victoria had a pulse when first responders arrived and found her unresponsive, but they were not equipped with naloxone, and Victoria became another statistic. Jackie added: "I am deeply grateful to the members of the U.S. Senate who introduced a bipartisan resolution declaring June 6 as National Naloxone Awareness Day – and to all those on the front lines of the crisis. While today is especially bittersweet as we mark 10 years since Victoria's passing, I find comfort and strength in knowing that her legacy is that because of her death, many more people will live." Victoria's Voice is dedicated to drug awareness and prevention and saving lives from overdose. Since its founding, Victoria's Voice has positively impacted over 1.5 million children and parents through its education programs. Additionally, David Siegel was at the forefront of the efforts to increase naloxone access and use – especially among law enforcement in Florida and nationwide – and inform about its lifesaving power. The 2025 federal resolution was introduced by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jim Justice (R-WV), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), James Lankford (R-OK), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Angus King (I-ME) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA). Speakers at yesterday's resolution ceremony in the Hart Senate Office Building included Jackie Siegel, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), and Seminole County (FL) Sheriff Dennis Lemma, a statewide and national leader on responding to and preventing overdoses, and a Victoria's Voice board member. Other speakers included Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fl), Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), Virginia First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin, and Sir Edwards, Mayor-President of Baton Rouge (LA). "It is a privilege to join Victoria's Voice Foundation in recognizing National Naloxone Day and honor the life of Victoria, a young life lost to the devastating opioid epidemic. It is every parent's worst nightmare to lose their child, and it is remarkable to see how the Siegel family has turned their grief into a mission to educate others about the dangers of the opioid crisis so other families don't experience this same heartbreak," said Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL). Scott added: "This year was also the first Naloxone Awareness Day since the passing of my friend and Victoria's Voice founder, David Seigel. Ann and I were honored to donate a portion of my Senate salary to Victoria's Voice to support its cause and pay tribute to David's incredible work and legacy. I am proud to work with the foundation to raise awareness on the crisis and life-saving tool of Naloxone, which is critical in our fight to stop loss of life from opioids." "In every state, there are families, friends, and neighbors who are grieving the loss of a loved one to overdose. Naloxone can save lives but only if we get this lifesaving medication in people's hands. We need people to have access to naloxone, be able to afford it, and know how to use it," said Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). "I'm proud to join my colleagues in recognizing June 6 as Naloxone Awareness Day. This is an essential step in spreading awareness and giving communities the tools they need to save lives in the face of the opioid epidemic." National Naloxone Awareness Day is proudly sponsored by Emergent BioSolutions, the makers of NARCAN® Nasal Spray. "On National Naloxone Awareness Day, we have the opportunity to reinforce opioid emergency preparedness and make sure stakeholders across all sectors – from government officials to business leaders and local organizations – feel equipped with the tools they need to be ready to rescue not only today, but every day," stated Paul Williams, senior vice president, head of products business, global government & public affairs at Emergent. "We're proud of the work Victoria's Voice Foundation is doing year-round and we're honored to use this key moment in time to raise awareness and keep our communities safe together." In support of National Naloxone Awareness Day, over 140 iconic buildings, landmarks, bridges, monuments, parks, museums, city halls, downtown hubs and skylines nationwide will glow purple. From Niagara Falls, Baltimore's City Hall Dome, and the Kia Center in Victoria's Voice's Orlando hometown, to the Louisiana State Capitol, Chicago's 875 North Michigan Avenue and the Hawaii Convention Center, lights will be illuminated purple in a powerful display of awareness, unity and hope. Additionally, proclamations were issued by counties, cities and states including Orange County (FL), Baltimore, Kansas City, and the State of Illinois. For more information about National Naloxone Awareness Day, visit About Victoria's Voice Foundation David and Jackie Siegel established Victoria's Voice Foundation after losing their 18-year-old daughter to an accidental drug overdose on June 6, 2015. Victoria's Voice is dedicated to providing support and resources to families affected by substance use. Since its founding, Victoria's Voice has positively impacted over 1.5 million parents and children through its education programs. For more information, visit or @victoriasvoicefoundation. #VictoriasVoiceFoundation #GetGiveSave. About NARCAN® Nasal SprayNARCAN® Naloxone HC1 Nasal Spray 4 mg is the first FDA-approved, over-the-counter (OTC) 4 mg naloxone product for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. NARCAN® Nasal Spray is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Repeat dosing may be necessary. Use as directed. View original content: SOURCE Victoria's Voice Foundation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Queen of Versailles'' Jackie Siegel Takes Bucket List Trip with Son Her Late Husband ‘Never Got to' Take 1 Month After His Death
Jackie Siegel and her son Drew Siegel enjoyed a trip to Egypt together one month after the death of her husband David Siegel David died at age 89 in April, and she said he "never got to" go on this trip Jackie also lost her sister Jessica Mallery three days after David diedJackie Siegel is living life to the fullest in honor of her late husband, David Siegel. The Queen of Versailles star shared photos and videos from her trip to Egypt with her son Drew Siegel one month after the death of David, which was followed three days later by the death of Jackie's sister, Jessica Mallery. 'I needed a minute to clear my head,' Jackie captioned a photo of herself posing in front of the Great Pyramids and Sphinx in Cairo. 'We never got to go here together. What a beautiful place…❤️👸💋' She also shared a photo of herself and Drew doing a tourist pose with the pyramid in the background, writing, 'Egypt is amazing! We needed this. ❤️👸💋' The former reality star brought her followers on the journey with her, sharing a video in the desert with a camel and the pyramids. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. It's been a difficult few weeks for Jackie as she mourns her husband and sister. Earlier this month, she honored David on his birthday, when he would have turned 90. 'Happy Birthday David 🤴!' she captioned the video montage of sweet throwback photos. 'My first, my last, my everything…❤️👸💋' Jackie first shared the news of David's death on April 5, in a post on Instagram. "I was lucky enough to share twenty-five wonderful years with David, and together we raised eight incredible children. His life and legacy live on through them all," Jackie, 59, wrote in the post's caption of the timeshare resort company founder. "To say we are devastated is an understatement. But I find comfort in knowing that Victoria was there to greet him—the first thing he heard was 'Dad,' followed by a big hug," she wrote, referring to her and David's late daughter, who died of an accidental drug overdose when she was only 18 in 2015. "And of course, Steven is there too. That thought brings me so much peace." She also acknowledged the death of her sister, which occurred three days after David's death. 'Losing David and Jess in the same week is something I never could have imagined, but we're a strong family and we're supporting each other right now.' Jackie wrote at the time. Jessica died of an accidental drug overdose, which Jackie acknowledged she was all too familiar with. "Jessica died after using cocaine laced with fentanyl. Her death is another stark reminder of the drug epidemic and fentanyl crisis plaguing our country – and the urgent need to address substance abuse in order to save lives," she continued. "Our work at Victoria's Voice remains more critical than ever, and in her memory, we will continue to raise awareness and advocate every single day until this form of grief is a distant memory in this country." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Queen of Versailles ' Jackie Siegel Mourns Deaths of Sister and Husband
Originally appeared on E! Online Jackie Siegel is in mourning. The star of the 2012 documentary Queen of Versailles' sister Jessica Mallery died April 5 from an accidental overdose, Jackie's charity Victoria's Voice Foundation confirmed April 8, three days after Jackie announced the passing of her husband David Siegel. "As I mourn the profound loss of my beloved husband David Siegel, who passed away on April 5 at the age of 89, my world was shattered again yesterday by the unexpected loss of my beautiful sister, Jessica Mallery, 43, to a scourge we as a family sadly know too well—accidental drug overdose," Jackie shared in her Instagram statement. "Jessica died after using cocaine laced with fentanyl." "Her death is another stark reminder of the drug epidemic and fentanyl crisis plaguing our country," she continued, "and the urgent need to address substance abuse in order to save lives. Our work at Victoria's Voice remains more critical than ever, and in her memory, we will continue to raise awareness and advocate every single day until this form of grief is a distant memory in this country." More from E! Online Michelle Obama Breaks Silence on Barack Obama Divorce Rumors Kenan Thompson Shares Health Diagnosis After 'Suffering in Silence' for Years Tallulah Willis Makes Rare Comment on Ex Stepdad Ashton Kutcher Jackie's heartbreaking news came three days after the 59-year-old announced the death of her husband, David, who had been battling cancer, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I wanted to personally reach out and let you know that my husband, David Alan Siegel, passed away this morning," she shared on Instagram April 5. "I was lucky enough to share twenty-five wonderful years with David, and together we raised eight incredible children. His life and legacy live on through them all." "To say we are devastated is an understatement," Jackie continued. "But I find comfort in knowing that Victoria was there to greet him—the first thing he heard was 'Dad,' followed by a big hug. And of course, Steven is there too. That thought brings me so much peace." David and Jackie's daughter, Victoria—who their foundation is named after—died of an accidental overdose at the age of 18 in 2015. David's son, Steven, died last year from Glioblastoma at the age of 63. "I know you all loved him too, which is why I wanted to share this with you," Jackie's tribute to her billionaire husband went on. "Thank you for your love and support during this difficult time. It means the world to us." She finished by saying that "life is a precious gift from God—and my husband has found his peace with Him. Embrace and cherish every moment—and thank God." Westgate Resorts, the company that David founded which calls itself "the largest privately held timeshare company in the world," also paid tribute to him following his death. "David never forgot his humble roots, starting Westgate in his garage and using the company as a way to lead others to become inspired and successful," the company's CEO Jim Gissy said. "We know that we are all up to the task of driving forward the legacy of this visionary man and the company he founded."
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Reality Star's Sister Dies in Tragic Accident Days After Husband
Queen of Versailles star Jackie Siegel's sister, Jessica Mallory, has died at age 43 from an accidental drug overdose, according to an Instagram post shared by Siegel on Tuesday. The tragic news comes just days after Siegel's husband, businessman David Siegel, passed away. David Siegel founded Westgate Resorts Ltd., a timeshare resort firm based out of Florida. He and Jackie were the subjects of Lauren Greenfield's 2012 documentary The Queen of Versailles, which documented the Siegels' effort to build the largest single-family dwelling in the U.S., dubbed 'the Versailles House,' just as the country's economy began to tank in 2008. David Siegel and Westgate Resorts later filed a lawsuit against Greenfield and the Sundance Institute, which produced the film, alleging that the material therein was defamatory. Despite the controversy, the documentary became a sizable cult hit and even spawned a musical adaptation which premiered on Broadway in 2024 starring Kirsten Chenoweth in the role of Jackie and F. Murray Abraham as David. The Siegels also seemed to appreciate their newfound stardom, going on to appear in episodes of Celebrity Wife Swap and Below Deck."As I mourn the profound loss of my beloved husband David Siegel, who passed away on April 5 at the age of 89, my world was shattered again yesterday by the unexpected loss of my beautiful sister, Jessica Mallery, 43, to a scourge we as a family sadly know too well — [an] accidental drug overdose," Jackie wrote in her emotional post. "Jessica died after using cocaine laced with fentanyl. Her death is another stark reminder of the drug epidemic and fentanyl crisis plaguing our country — and the urgent need to address substance abuse in order to save lives," Siegel continued. "Our work at Victoria's Voice remains more critical than ever, and in her memory, we will continue to raise awareness and advocate every single day until this form of grief is a distant memory in this country." The Siegels founded the Victoria's Voice Foundation and named it after their daughter, who also died of a drug overdose. 'Victoria's Voice seeks to be the trusted national leader in successfully educating and providing the necessary tools for parents and families to take action to prevent substance use disorder and overdose deaths,' its website reads. "To say we are devastated is an understatement,' Jackie wrote of David's passing just days ago. 'But I find comfort in knowing that Victoria was there to greet him — the first thing he heard was 'Dad,' followed by a big hug."
