Father turns pain into purpose through ‘EF5’

SPRINGFIELD – Grief encompasses a wide range of feelings and experiences. How we choose to navigate those feelings is dependent on various factors. When Michael Glownia lost his daughter, Erika, from fentanyl poisoning in 2023, he channeled his pain and gave it a purpose.

In June 2025, EF5 was established as a nonprofit grassroots organization focused on helping others heal.

“The vision for wanting to do something started soon after I was out of the…