From UCLA to 70+ Cities: End Overdose Sparked a College Campus Movement with Maddie Ward

At just 23 years old, Maddie Ward became Chief Operating Officer of End Overdose, a nonprofit that’s trained over 500,000 people to identify and respond to opioid overdoses. What began as a grassroots effort at UCLA has since EXPLODED into a powerful, youth-driven network spanning 70+ cities, fueled by data, creativity, and pure heart.

Maddie offers a fresh perspective on how she built scalable systems for leadership, recruitment, and sustainability to empower students to take ownership of their local chapters. What’s also been key to their growth? Standardizing operations and giving volunteers autonomy!

We also explore End Overdose’s creative marketing partnerships with Insomniac Events, Goldenvoice (the producers of Coachella and Stagecoach), and major musicians to spark life-saving conversations across the country.

Resources & Links

Learn more about End Overdose on their website and Instagram and connect with Maddie on LinkedIn.

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