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GazetteGAUDENZIADECEMBER 2015 VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4

In Support of Treatment and Recovery:

Press Conferences Held at Gaudenzia On August 31, as part of International Overdose Awareness Day, the Pennsylvania Departments

of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Health held the second annual Building Bridges to

Recovery initiative at Gaudenzia’s Concept 90 program in Harrisburg. Gary Tennis, DDAP Secretary,

Dr. Karen Murphy, Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, Physician General, treatment professionals

and individuals in recovery discussed the drug overdose crisis, emphasizing the heroin epidemic that

continues to rage across the country. They urged people with substance use disorder to seek treatment

and focus on recovery. “Far too many Pennsylvanians are dying every day of a disease that is fully

treatable. Individuals can and do recover. There

are millions of Americans who have successfully

found their pathway to live in recovery,”

noted Secretary Tennis.

A mural painted by recovering individuals in

Gaudenzia’s care set the backdrop for the gathering,

helping to break down the stigma that too often

isolates those who live silently with a drug and

alcohol problem. Following the activity, the mural

was moved to the Pennsylvania State Legislature for

public display as part of National Recovery Month

held throughout September. Building Bridges to Recovery is a partnership

between the Pennsylvania Advisory Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse,

the Pennsylvania Parent Panel Advisory Council, and DDAP.

Dr. Val Arkoosh, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners;Michael B., Gaudenzia Graduate speaker; Bob Casey, U.S.Senator; Michael B. Harle, Gaudenzia President and CEO

On October 5, a press conference was held at Gaudenzia’s

corporate office in Norristown, PA with U.S. Senator Bob Casey

and Dr. Val Arkoosh, Vice Chair, Montgomery County Board of

Commissioners. The elected officials promoted passage of legislation

introduced in the United States Senate aimed at increasing funding

for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant

throughout the country. One of the features of Senate Bill 1410

is the authorization of annual funding increases to keep up with

inflation, thereby stabilizing states’ purchasing power regarding

the critical issue of opiate addiction.

Gary Tennis

Dr. Karen Murphy

Dr. Rachel Levine

A D D I C T I O N T R E A T M E N T & R E C O V E R Y S E R V I C E S

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Graduation

Site Visits

On October 3, at Morgan State University’s Murphy Fine Arts Center in Baltimore, 117 individuals weregraduated in front of family members and friends, Gaudenzia alumni and staff.Keynote addresses were delivered by Dr. Gayle Jordan-Randolph, DeputySecretary for Behavioral Health for theMaryland Department of Health andHygiene, and Judge Wanda Keyes Heardfrom the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.

Dr. Gayle Jordan-Randolph

Judge Wanda Keyes Heard

On June 30, Gary Hess, Commissioner, Schuylkill County, visited Gaudenzia’s FountainSprings and New Destiny.

On August 7, Lou Schiliro, Delaware Secretary of Safety and HomelandSecurity visited Gaudenzia’s Fresh Startprogram in Wilmington for recoveringheroin addicts between the ages of 18 – 25.Accompanying him were John Yeomans,Director, Division of Alcohol and TobaccoEnforcement, Lisa Shaw, Deputy Director,Office of Highway Safety Division, Mark Grubb, Director, Division ofCommunications and Thomas Kadunce,Communications Systems Manager, Division of Communications.

Chesapeake Region

Medication Assisted Treatment In response to the most serious opioid/heroin epidemic that we have seen indecades, Gaudenzia has trained all staff in the use of Narcan. Also, Gaudenzia is being requested to care for individualswhose recovery from addiction includesthe use of medication assisted treatment. In response, Gaudenzia has convened an internal Medication Assisted Treatment committee composed of amulti-disciplinary team, developingguidelines for appropriate care andrecommending agency policy. Gaudenziarecognizes that medications in conjunctionwith other evidence based practicesincluding psychosocial, TherapeuticCommunity and 12-step activities may becritical to successful recovery efforts.Presently Gaudenzia is involved in manypilot programs including Naltrexone(Vivitrol and Revia) and has plans toexpand its use.

On September 15,Kim Williams,Delaware StateRepresentative, visited Fresh Start in Wilmington.

Site Visits

AWARDS On October 22, Sue Ross,Executive Assistant at GaudenziaErie, received the 2015 Office of Vocational Rehabilitation(OVR) award on behalf of Gaudenzia Erie from thePennsylvania Department ofLabor and Industry. The awardis in recognition of outstandingcommitment to individuals with disabilities and above-and-beyond efforts on behalf of allOVR customers.

On October 15, 2015People With Hope's(PWH) Intake AftercareSpecialist James Seldonwas presented with thePhiladelphia John BellAward.

John Bell 1946-2012 was an HIV activist, mentor to a generationof ex-offenders, teacher, and our friend. In the years we wereprivileged to know him, we watched in awe as John took hislived experiences of racism, stigma, war, and disease andtransformed them into an inspirational body of thought andknowledge to help make the way easier for the people whocame behind him.

Mary Bair, Division Director; Mark Sarneso, Director of Central and Western Region; Dr. Rachel Levine, PA Physician-General; Paula Ruane, Central RegionDirector; Mike Harle and Jon Gamble, Program Supervisor

Luncheon guests included Ron Allen, Business Liaison,Maryland Department of Human Services; Lisa Benson,Staffing Director, Mary Kraft and Associates; Wanda Binns,Employee Assistance Program Manager, University of MarylandMedical Center; Brandon S. Butler, Deputy AssistantSecretary, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing andRegulation; Susan Carr, Supervisor, Small ProcurementServices, Maryland Department of Human Resources; Scott Gottbreht, Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships,United Way of Central Maryland; Kate Meaney, Marketingand Human Resources, Mary Kraft and Associates; MelanieStyles, Program Officer, Workforce Development, AbellFoundation; John Vontran, Apprenticeship Navigator,Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation;Albert Zachik, M.D,. Acting Executive Director, BehavioralHealth Administration; Karrianne Zito-Sease, StaffingManger, Mary Kraft and Associates.

On October 6, the Vocational Services staff in Gaudenzia’s Chesapeake Regionheld a luncheon at our Woodland Avenue facility in Baltimore to discussstrategies for overcoming the barriers clients face in finding employment following treatment.

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On November 5, Dr. Rachel Levine,Pennsylvania Physician General, visited ChambersHill Adolescent Program and Concept 90, in Harrisburg

On November 3, Erie Star 104 FM morningradio show hosts Murphy and Currie broughtbreakfast to online winner —

Gaudenzia Erie administration.

Mike Harle, Tom Spann, and Dan Hilferty pose with the award

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On October 1, the Gaudenzia/Gustave G. AmsterdamCommunity Champion Award Dinner was held at theSheraton Society Hill Hotel in Philadelphia. This year’sHonoree was Tom Spann, CEO, Accolade. 300 people attended, raising $120,000 net after expenses fortreatment at Gaudenzia. Honorary Co-Chairs wereCraig L. Adams, President and CEO, PECO; andGerard H. Sweeney, President and CEO, BrandywineRealty Trust. Event Committee Co-Chairs were David Connolly and Mike Rody. Mistress ofCeremonies was Pat Ciarrocchi, News Anchor at CBS 3 in Philadelphia. Silent Auction Host was John DeBella, radio personality at WMGK 102.9 in Philadelphia.

Graduate speaker Coretta H. shares her story with 300 attendees

PECO attendees Edward McBride, Romona Riscoe-Benson, April and Craig Adams

Tobe Amsterdam, Board Member; Lori Lasher; Maureen Brennan-Miller, Board Memberand Bette Lesher

Blue Crew volunteers from Independence Blue Crossassisted throughout the evening

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On November 21, the Gaudenzia Gala was held at West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill, PA. 160 peopleattended, raising $72,000 net after expenses. This year’sHonoree was Michael Fiaschetti, Founder, Vibra HealthPlan. The event committee Chair was Dr. Ira Packman.Mistress of Ceremonies was Alicia Richards, News Anchorat abc27 in Harrisburg.

On August 4, a check presentation of $10,000 was made to Gaudenzia Fountain Springs by theRonald McDonald House Charities of NortheasternPennsylvania, Inc. at the McDonald’s restaurant inFrackville, Schuylkill County. Fountain Springs is a

residential program for addicted women with young children, offering child careand child counseling while the mothers participate in treatment.

Michael Fiaschetti accepts theCommunity Champion Award

Gil Burns and Barb Flewellen with Jen and Chris Zampogna

Roland Kissinger, Owner/Operator,McDonald’s Frackville; Marilyn Shearn,Program Director, Fountain Springs; Carole Lee, Fund Development Manager,Gaudenzia North Central area; Wendy Bridal,Prevention Program Director, Fountain Springs

Ron Savidge, Jill Walmer and Kim Savidge

Michael Young, President and CEO, of PinnacleHealth System,

a lead sponsor at this year’s event

GAUDENZIAGalaA N I G H T I N V E N I C E

Volunteer Jim Ross and Board member Sheila Ross pose for a photo in the Gondola from Venice

®

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On September 3, members of the North-CentralCommunity Affairs Councilhosted a picnic for individualsin Gaudenzia’s care at GordonPark in Gordon, PA.

Recovery Walks!On September 19, Gaudenzia alumni,

clients and staff joined an estimated

25,000 people in Recovery Walks! held

at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

Individuals celebrating more than 10

years in recovery proudly displayed

sashes throughout the event.

On September 12, despite inclement

weather, Recovery Awareness Family

Picnic, Palio 2015 in partnership

with Sunbury Community Hospital

Behavioral Health Program was held

at Shickellemy State Park. The activity

helped educate Northumberland County

residents about Gaudenzia’s outpatient

program and recovery services that are

available in rural Pennsylvania.

PICNIC

Recovery Awareness Family Picnic, Palio 2015

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On September 26, a very special presentation was made to Pope Francis

during his visit to Philadelphia. Learning that one of the Pope’s favorite

pieces of art is called Mary, Undoer of Knots, community volunteer

Lori Lasher spun yarn for a stole that was made of knots by poor and

disenfranchised people who have “knots” in their lives. Participants also

wrote personal stories in a journal telling part of their stories and describing

what the knots represented. In August, Ms. Lasher invited voluntary

participation at Gaudenzia programs at 1306 Spring Garden Street in

Philadelphia and also at State Correctional Institution at Chester. She was

overwhelmed by the outpouring of clients, alumni and staff representing

all faiths who were eager to engage in the project. The completed shawl

was presented to the Pope at an unscheduled stop during his visit.

On September 26 at Presque Isle in Erie, 160 people participated in the annual Race For Recovery event.

Woven knots formed the stole that was presented to the Pope

Lori Lasher (left) with project participants

KnotsProject

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OPEN HOUSEOn October 8, an Open House

and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

was held at Integrity House,

a 16 bed half-way house for men,

in York, PA.

Doug Hoke, York County Commissioner; Keith Gillespie, PA State Representative; Mark Durgin, York/Adams HealthChoicesManagement Unit; Michelle Hovis, Executive Director York CountyHuman Services Department; Audrey Glatfelter, York/Adams Drugand Alcohol Commission; Paula Ruane, Central Region Director;Sheila Ross, Board Member and MIke Harle.

Cindy Keeley and Donna Bowen

Jeff and Peggy Davis

George Hosler,Shawna Ebert and Peggy Zechman

Erin Pressel, ReferralDevelopment Managerand Seth Grove, PAState Representative

Recently, Glenside and Chestnut Hill Rotary Clubs

conducted fundraisers totaling $12,000 to purchase

playground equipment at Gaudenzia’s New Image

womens and children’s residential program in

North Philadelphia. Over the course of several

months, Rotary volunteers invested time and effort

transforming the playground area, including initial

preparation of the space and clean up afterwards.

On October 9 and 10

a Basket Raffle was held at

the United Church of Christ in

Schuylkill Haven, PA benefitting

Gaudenzia treatment at facilities

in Schuylkill County.

Gaudenzia Inc. is pleased to receive $1,000 from

The Allstate Foundation in honor of Allstate Agent

Stephen Vahey’s volunteerism. We are pleased to

partner with Allstate and their commitment to making

our hometowns better, safer places to live.

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OPEN HOUSEOn November 16, an Open House was held at Gaudenzia Sunbury Outpatient Programfor referral sources and funders.

GIVE volunteers Kristin Dodson, Courtney East, Natalie Hazlehurst,Derrick Leak and Matt Stangroom with staff and families fromGaudenzia’s Women with Children program in Baltimore

Kristin Dodson, GIVE volunteer, helps childrendecorate pumpkins that they picked on a trip toRodgers’ Farms.program in Baltimore

Lisa Eroh and Liz Bickhart Snyder County Probation Officers

Linda Richards and Haley Inch

Julie Albright, Larry Kerstetter and Lucy Evans

Kay Foltz-Brown, West Shore Program Supervisorand Stephanie Roth, Administrative Manager

In Baltimore, the GIVE Volunteer group has been collecting

various supplies and raised over $2,000 for the children who

are in residence with their moms at the Harry and Jeannette

Weinberg Family Center. On August 26, GIVE volunteers

delivered the supplies and also chaperoned a field trip for

residents to the Maryland Zoo and the Howard Peters

Rawlings Conservatory. The trip was funded by a grant

from the Family League of Baltimore.

Thanks to a generous donation from Aegis

Mechanical Corporation, Gaudenzia’s Chesapeake

Region held an outdoor cook out and movie night

on October 7 for adult clients, and a visit to

Rodgers’ Farms pumpkin patch on October 19

for children in residence with their moms at the

Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Family Center in

Park Heights, Baltimore.

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Gaudenzia partnered with Caddick Utilities tocompete in the 2015 Philadelphia InternationalDragon Boat Festival on the Schuylkill River inFairmount Park. Caddick Utilities encouragedtheir employees to join the team. The companygenerously underwrote the event expenses sothat all the individual fundraising efforts woulddirectly impact treatment services at Gaudenziain Philadelphia. On November 7, ourGaudenzia Gladiators took their place alongside136 other boats that included nonprofitorganizations, corporations, clubs, universities,and out-of-state participants. By day’s end, ourGladiators earned a Silver Medal in theirDivision. Our presence helped raise awarenessabout Gaudenzia to thousands of participantsand spectators throughout the event.

Elana Grande, a West Chester resident, began volunteering at the Chester County Food Bank and learned of the opportunity to pick upbaked goods from Entenmann's Bakery to give to local charities. Elenaimmediately thought of Gaudenzia. Twice a month, she and long-timevolunteer Mike Rody load up his truck at Entenmann's Bakery withbakery goods to deliver to Gaudenzia programs in Chester County.Gaudenzia appreciates their thoughtfulness, as well as the kindness of Chester County Food Bank and Entenmann's Bakery.

On November 13, Steve Blank,Division Director, addressed the Caesar Rodney Rotary Clubin Wilmington, DE aboutGaudenzia’s work.

Charity Food Collection

PhiladelphiaInternationalDragon Boat Festival

James Duffy, Joan Brown, MikeRody and Elena Grande

Photos courtesy of M. J. DiNardo

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SpotlightParkway Center City High School Senior,Malik R., graduated on June 17 with a 3.3 GPA and acceptances from 20 collegesto consider. He had been offered partial and full scholarships, underscoring hisacademic excellence and leadership abilities,to Indiana University of Pennsylvania,Shippensburg University, Ohio State andSusquehanna University, to name a few.Malik overcame difficulties that many

children do not experience. His motherstruggled with mental health and substanceuse disorders, resulting in a living situationthat was inconsistent. Malik attendedseveral primary schools in his formativeyears and observed helplessly as his motherstruggled with her illness and her addiction.Eventually, Malik and his mother obtainedpermanent housing for post-treatment

Gaudenzia, Inc. is pleased to announceParesh (Perry) Patel, MBA, CHA asChief Operating Officer, effectiveNovember 2, 2015.Mr. Patel is a graduate of St. John’s

University where he earned his Master’sof Business Administration in Public

Accounting and Widener University where he studied towarda Master’s of Science in Healthcare Finance. Mr. Patel is also a Certified Hospitality Administrator and a member ofHealthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).Prior appointments held by Mr. Patel include:

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Blood Bank of Delmarva; CFO at MRPC Financial Management and CFO/Partner at 21st Management Company. Mr. Patel has received awards

Agency News Staff Appointment

Meet Malik R.Recipient of Gaudenzia's Services in Philadelphia

and commendations, including: Controller of the Year, 2014; Asian American Hotel Owner Association’sAward for Excellence, 2012. Mr. Patel is presentlyCommissioner at New Castle County, Delaware and is past Chairman of the Delaware Hotel and LodgingAssociation.Mr. Patel brings over thirty years of progressive

leadership experience in the field of healthcare and finance management and has proven executiveleadership abilities. He also has a strong background in project management, budgeting and forecasting, risk management, IT infrastructure, hospitality and healthcare management, commercial real estate and Board relations in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.

single-parenting women at Gaudenzia’s Tioga Arms facility in NorthPhiladelphia. Under the watchful eyes of caring staff members who tookan interest in Malik's education, he became active in the Drama Club and took up hobbies such as poetry, writing plays and acting. DuringHigh School, Malik had major roles in four plays.Toni Montier, Director of Housing at Gaudenzia commented,

“We’ve seen the generational cycle of addiction broken due to propertreatment and stable housing. Success stories such as Malik's areinspirational and show that obstacles can be overcome. Today he is living his dream.”Malik was determined to complete high school and college, and then

focus on a career. With college now a reality, Malik plans to major inbusiness and psychology. “Initially, I wanted to become an actor, but astime progressed, I switched to psychology. Acting remains a primarypassion, though.” Malik hopes to help people dealing with mental healthissues, especially those impacted by substance abuse. “If I had to pick theperfect job, it would be getting homeless people off the streets, helpingkids that don’t have anywhere to go. Like myself, I guess."

The Gaudenzia Gazette is published by the Community Affairs Department of Gaudenzia, Inc.

Michael B. Harle, M.H.S.President and CEO

Richard Z. Freemann, Jr., Esq.Chair, Gaudenzia Inc.

Maureen Q. DwyerChair, Gaudenzia Foundation

Gadi AronsonDirector of Development

Dan GugliuzzaJulie GirschJane HoretskyCarole LeeLynanne SchaefferAshley SealContributors

Please forward address changes to:Gaudenzia Gazette 106 W. Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401fmeis@gaudenzia.org

Production costs of this issue have been paid by the employees of Gaudenzia through the 2015 Staff Appeal.

GAUDENZIA, Inc.Corporate Offices106 W. Main StreetNorristown, PA 19401

www.gaudenzia.org

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eWarmest wishesfrom the entire Gaudenzia family. May the New Year bring peace and happiness.

Shop Amazon, Support GaudenziaDo you shop on Amazon.com? If you use AmazonSmile, a portion of your purchases will benefit Gaudenzia! Here’s how it works:Visit smile.amazon.com Sign in and select Gaudenzia, Inc. as your charitable organization. AmazonSmile will remember your charitable designation of Gaudenzia on future visits. Shop as you normally would on Amazon. Gaudenzia will receive a portion of the purchase.

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