WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, the nation's leading grass-roots advocacy organization working to advance public policies that prevent suicide, announced Friday that Pua Kaninau of Kaunakakai, Hawai'i, is a recipient of the SPAN USA Sandy Martin grass-roots Award for her contributions to suicide prevention.

The award was presented at SPAN USA's Suicide Prevention Legislative Institute, "Achieving Change Through Action," in Washington, D.C., according to a news release from the organization. The award is given each year to one or more "unsung heroes" working at the state or local level who clearly exemplify sustained commitment to the mission of suicide prevention.

"Pua's involvement in SPAN USA and other organizations has advanced the suicide prevention movement," Jerry Reed, SPAN USA's executive director, said. "She is an advocate for suicide prevention and is very deserving of this award."

Kaninau, survivor of the suicide death of her son, is the founder of the Hawai'i Suicide Prevention Education, Awareness, Research Foundation; former chair of the state's Suicide Prevention Steering Committee and serves as a SPAN USA Field Liaison.

She has spearheaded Hawai'i's efforts, along with members of the Suicide Prevention Steering Committee, to establish the state Suicide Prevention Task Force, systematically implemented Living Works' two-day Applied Intervention Skills Training statewide, and organized the first Hawai'i Suicide Prevention Conference. She also successfully advocated for additional funding for suicide prevention to the state legislature that resulted in the passage of a budget bill that provided state funding to the Hawai'i Injury Prevention Program of $100,000 in FY 2008 and in FY 2009.