The Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation (DCT) is a private family foundation founded in 2011 by the family of Daniel Carl Torsch, who died the year prior at the age of 24 from an overdose, that offers substance abuse prevention and recovery services. 1
History
The Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation (DCT) was founded in 2011 by the parents of Daniel Carl Torsch, who passed away a year prior at the age of 24 from an overdose. Both started a Maryland chapter of the GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing) support group in May of 2011, and held their first fundraiser later that year. In early 2012, the foundation began offering scholarships to help pay for addiction treatment. 1
In 2013, the foundation began advocacy work to help pass the Overdose Response Bill (SB610), which increased access to overdose-reversal drug Naloxone. In 2014, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene approved the DCT as just the second private entity in the state allowed to disperse Naloxone. In 2017, the foundation worked with state legislators to help pass the ‘Hope Act,’ which increased funding for addiction and recovery services. In 2019, DCT advocated for passing the Forfeiture Proceeds – Appropriation Percentage and Reporting law (SB643), which increased the rate of funds that are seized in certain drug convictions to be used for “addiction treatment and recovery services” from 20% to 100%. 1
In January of 2021, DCT was one of several organizations that signed a letter sent by People’s Action to the office of Regina LaBelle the then-acting Director for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The letter demanded the Biden administration not roll back a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy from the Trump Administration that exempted physicians from requiring additional training in order to prescribe Buprenorphine to patients recovering from opioid addition. 2 The letter continued by demanding the Biden Administration pass the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) (H.R. 2482 | S. 2074) that would remove the requirement for physicians to apply for an “X Waiver” through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe buprenorphine for patients. 3
Services
The Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation provides services related to substance abuse treatment and prevention. 4 Case management services provide “evaluation of options and resources” for those affected by substance abuse. The harm reduction training provided by the DCT Foundation includes Overdose Response and Awareness Training, Naloxone Training and Distribution, Good Samaritan Training, and Syringe Services. In addition, DCT offers special programs such as in-patient treatment and recovery housing funding. 4
Financial
According to its 2022 tax filings, the Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation (DCT) reported revenues of $379,814 and assets of $155,476 that fiscal year. 5
The Open Society Foundations has made several donations to the DCT for “general support” including $25,000 in 2020, $70,000 in 2021, and $75,000 in 2023. 6 The Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund donated $10,000 to foundation in 2022. 5 The Cole Foundation donated $2,000 to the group in 2022 for “Substance Abuse Support.” 5
People
Mary Torsch is the president of the Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation as of 2024. 7
References
- “Our Story.” Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.dctfoundationinc.org/ourstory.
- “Letter to Acting Director LaBelle.” People’s Action, January 28, 2021. https://peoplesaction.org/wp-content/uploads/01.28.2021-MAT-Letter-to-Biden-1.pdf
- “Letter to Acting Director LaBelle.” People’s Action, January 28, 2021. https://peoplesaction.org/wp-content/uploads/01.28.2021-MAT-Letter-to-Biden-1.pdf
- “Services.” Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.dctfoundationinc.org/services.
- “Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation.” Cause IQ. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/daniel-carl-torsch-foundation,453123369/.
- “Grants and Fellowships from the Open Society Foundations.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants.
- “Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation.” Cause IQ. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/daniel-carl-torsch-foundation,453123369/.