On Thursday, November 12^th, Allan Rawson, President of Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. was presented with the Volunteer With Youth Award from Northeast Communities Against Substance Abuse (NECASA).  The award ceremony took place during NECASA’s annual meeting at the Alumni Hall of the University of Connecticut. Putnam PRIDE Coordinator, Romeo Blackmar, nominated Rawson for the award in recognition of the many years Rawson has devoted to youth sports, first as a soccer coach, and more recently as the founder of Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring access to sports, fitness, and nutrition for area youth. Upon receiving the award, Rawson spoke about the many ways in which NECASA and NOW are working toward a common goal of making a positive impact on the lives of Northeast Connecticut children.