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February 2013 Volume 27, Issue 1Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment & Recovery Services

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Key Exchange Ceremony in ErieOn December 14, 2012, Gaudenzia Erie, Inc. hosted asymbolic exchange of keys with the previous owners atthe newly acquired House of Healing. Gaudenzia Erieoffers a continuum of care including detox, in-patient,halfway houses, and outpatient services. The purchase ofHouse of Healing will allow Gaudenzia Erie to further itsmission to provide the best care possible for individuals in recovery.

Gaudenzia’s Shelton Court Apartmentsin North Philadelphia was formally dedicated on December10, 2012. The 20 unit building provides safe, affordable long term housing for single parenting women who are inrecovery from drug and alcohol use. Vital supportive servicesare provided onsite to promote residents’ independence.Speakers at the Ribbon Cutting ceremony included MarianTasco, Philadelphia City Councilwoman; Dainette Mintz,Director, Office of Supportive Housing, City of Philadelphia;Michael B. Harle, Gaudenzia President and CEO; andBonita P., resident. Also in attendance were project fundersand developers, referral partners and representatives of city,state and federal elected officials.

“Gaudenzia has been integral and continues to be a keyplayer in ending the cycle of homelessness. They providequality housing and effective services to help individualsand families succeed and become productive members ofour neighborhoods. Congratulations on bringing 20 new,greatly-needed units of supportive housing to our city.”

Councilwoman Marian Tasco

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On December 18, Karen Peterson, Delaware State Senator,visited Fresh Start tolearn about Gaudenzia’streatment programs.

On December 18,Michelle Taylor,President of United Way of Delaware, consulted withsenior Gaudenzia leadersabout mutual opportunitiesfor collaboration in thecommunity.

On November 16, Carl C. Danberg,Commissioner of Correctionfor the State of Delawarelearned about Gaudenzia’sexperience treating non-violentoffenders who are ready to re-enter the community.

SITE VISITS TO FRESH START

Volunteer Appreciation Eveningin HarrisburgOn November 29, an appreciation evening was held forvolunteers who supported Gaudenzia events and activitiesin the Harrisburg area. In the photo are Paula Ruane,Regional Director, Chris and Jen Zempogna, newlyappointed Co-Chairs of the 2013 Gaudenzia Gala andSusan and Bob Wert.

Community Education BreakfastSt. Peter’s Church, LancasterAn informational breakfast was held on November 27 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Evangelical Church in Lancaster, PA.Attendees included community members, local officials andschool administrators. “The Role of Family and Community:Navigating the Drug Culture with Adolescents and YoungAdults” was presented by Gaudenzia Marketing and ReferralManager, Al Meyer. Flanking Al are Gene Freeman,Superintendent of Manheim Township School District andSr. Dottie Almoney, Gaudenzia volunteer and St. Peter’s Youth and Family Director.

Did You Know?*$328 BillionTotal annual cost to the U.S. economy due to alcohol and drug use.

Alcohol: $185 Billioncosts include loss of employee productivity, alcohol-relatedillness, emergency room use, vehicular crashes and crime.

Drugs: $143 Billioncosts include crime, incarceration, court and other enforcementactivities, as well as health care

* According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

Every $1 spent on treatment saves $7 - 12 in societal costs. It is estimated that one in every four families is affected by theravages of addiction to alcohol and drugs.

The Gaudenzia Ball is an annual celebration marking Gaudenzia’s founding on December 8, 1968. The Ball brings together all ofGaudenzia’s clients and staff, encouraging them to depict aspects of recovery and healthy living throughskits, dance and song. This year’s theme was “It Takes A Village.”Since 1968, the number of Gaudenzia programs

and clients has grown significantly. The organization is now spread throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. Accordingly, this year’s Ball was conducted in three sections: on December 6in Harrisburg, on December 8 in Philadelphiaand December 15 in Baltimore.

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H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y , G A U D E N Z I A

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On November 30, together with 191 other nonprofit organizations,Gaudenzia participated in the Lancaster County Community Foundation's Extraordinary Give,

the first online giving marathon in Lancaster Countyhistory. Gaudenzia hosted a lunch at the offices ofRoss Buehler Falk & Company, LLP for volunteerswho helped promote Gaudenzia in the ExtraordinaryGive. Throughout the day, people donatedelectronically through the Foundation's website tolocal charities of their choice. Approximately$5,400 was contributed for treatment atGaudenzia programs in Lancaster.

John Matthews, Gaudenzia LancasterCommunity Affairs Council Member.

Theresa Bachman, Senior VicePresident of Marketing, Fulton

Financial and Lisa Spuhler, OfficeManager, Ross Buehler Falk &

Company track online contributionsbeing made to Gaudenzia.

Workforce Academy, Training Institute and the Gaudenzia Center for Higher Education

Did You Know?• 60 employees have earned their Associates Degree in Addiction Studies through GaudenziaCenter for Higher Education in partnership with Eastern University. Of them, 50 continuedto further their education. 27 have obtained advanced degrees.

• Two years ago, our Workforce Academy launched Project Entry, to prepare 40 House Managersfor possible career paths at Gaudenzia.

• Last year, a six month Peer Leadership training program was launched for individuals whocompleted treatment and sought employment at Gaudenzia as entry-level House Managers.

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ALUMNISPOTLIGHT

Gaudenzia empowered me with the tools I need to get

through a day, a week, a month and a year. They are the reason

I’m alive and the reason I’ve been able to stay in recovery since

December 27, 1983. Without Gaudenzia’s help, I would be

dead, in jail or in an institution.

I started drinking when I was a teen. Alcohol use led to my

experimenting with marijuana, using pills and then other drugs.

To support my addiction, I participated in illegal activities

which led to jail time. Soon after, my family shunned me.

After losing many jobs, an employer convinced me to go

to treatment. The court system directed me to the help I needed

at Gaudenzia.

In treatment, my counselors, especially Ramon Roman,

John Montero and Donald Garnett helped me succeed. They

taught me the skills I needed to live without drugs or alcohol,

and customized an aftercare treatment plan so I could graduate

in 1985, and I did!

After I graduated, I went back to school to start a career

in Aviation. I obtained my professional pilot’s license!

Today I am employed, I have been married for 22 years

and I support my family. We have three wonderful kids:

Lacey, a high school biology teacher; Rachel, soon to be

attending college; and, Joey, a freshman at the University of

West Virginia.

I also attend meetings regularly. I’m reminded that I’m

not alone in my battle with addiction, and that there’s hope.

By staying clean and living by the principles that I was taught

at Gaudenzia, I have become a role model for friends and

family. I surround myself with positive influences in my life

and I’ve developed healthy relationships with recovering people.

Joe O.Michael Coyle isGaudenzia’s Director of Financeand Accounting. He holds a B.S.from Drexel University, an MBAfrom LaSalle University and is aCPA. Mr. Coyle has over 20 yearsof executive financial experience,specializing in healthcare and

non-profit organizations. Previous to joining Gaudenzia,Michael was employed at Montgomery CountyCommunity College, Wills Eye Institute and HolyRedeemer Health System.

Joan Gaughan isGaudenzia’s Director ofCompliance and Governance.She holds a B.A. magna cumlaude, from Syracuse Universityand a Juris Doctor Degree fromDuquesne University School ofLaw. She has completed coursework for a Master’s in Public

Administration from the Pennsylvania State Universityand has a certificate in Addiction Studies fromVillanova University. Prior to joining Gaudenzia, shewas a Compliance and Government Relations Specialistfor Health America’s Medicaid Programs. Joan has over 20 years experience in the private practice of lawspecializing in ERISA litigation and benefitsadministration.

Mark Sarneso isGaudenzia’s Director of Centraland Western Regions. He holds a B.A. from York College ofPennsylvania and a M.S. from the University of Pittsburgh’sSchool of Social Work with aconcentration in Child and

Adolescent Development. He has over 35 years ofincreasingly responsible management positions in thebehavioral health field. Mark also has extensiveexperience in advocacy of public policy, as he wasChairman of DASPOP (Drug and Alcohol ServiceProviders of Pennsylvania) for 17 years.

EXECUTIVE STAFF APPOINTMENTS

If you have much, give of your wealth; If you have little, give of your heart.

Arab Proverb

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St. Norbert’s Parish of Paoli, PA provided 140 holiday gifts to the men, women andchildren of Gaudenzia’s

West Chester areaprograms through their

annual giving tree.

First Philadelphia Prep Charter Schoolcollected over 400 holiday gifts for childrenin Gaudenzia’s Philadelphia area treatmentprograms. The school also arranged forGaudenzia staff to interact with its studentsabout the perils of drug and alcohol abuse.

Caron Foundation Toy DonationsIn the spirit of holiday giving, the Plymouth Meeting parent group of Caron Treatment Centers provided gifts tothe children of Gaudenzia’s Philadelphia area Women withChildren programs this year. Presents were distributed to 5 locations, which included residential treatment programsand transitional housing facilities. Special thanks are due to Jim McManus, Mid-Atlantic Regional Vice President and Joi Honer, Youth and Parent Alumni Coordinator for Caron Treatment Centers.

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The Chesapeake Region’s Women with Childrenprogram was the recipient of many generousdonations this holiday season thanks to The WBALKids Campaign, Bilal Ali Productions, Michele’sHaven, and Nurturing Parenting.

the staff at Brandywine Valley Insurance Group (BVIG) hosted families from Gaudenzia’s Kindred House on November 30 at West Chester’s Old Fashioned Christmas and Parade celebrations. BVIG provided refreshments and holiday decorations to the women and children, assuring our clients that they are not alone in their journey to recovery.

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In Schuylkill County, “elves" from Preferred Warrantiesand PACCO helped to bring holiday cheer to the

women at Gaudenzia's Fountain Springs and New Destiny. They purchased presents and put together gift bags

for the residents to enjoy.

Children of The Blue Mountain 7th Day Adventist School were able to make the holidays

merrier for kids less-fortunate than they are. These little“elves” collected presents and made their own gift bags to

donate to the young residents at Gaudenzia Fountain Springs.

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Fostering the HOLIDAY SPIRIT,

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

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

Richard Z. Freemann, Jr.Chairman,Gaudenzia Inc.

R. Max BockolChairman, Gaudenzia Foundation

Gadi AronsonDirector of Development

Sara BaumgardnerJulie GirschAndrew KeimigCarole LeeLynanne SchaefferCarol SchonourContributors

Please forward address changes to:

Gaudenzia Gazette 106 W. Main StreetNorristown, PA 19401fmeis@gaudenzia.org

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

www.gaudenzia.org

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Follow us online!www.facebook.com/gaudenziaorgwww.twitter.com/gaudenzia

Gaudenzia has joined the list of official Philadelphia Phillies charities for 2013! At a reception held at Citizens Bank Park, team mascot The Phillie Phanatic greeted Al Meyer, Eastern Region Referral Development Manager and Mike Harle, President and CEO.

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