Fall / Winter 2019

Life is Wonderful

PICKUPDONATION

FOR

DONATEFURNITURE

DONATEHOUSEHOLD

525-3130HELP SAVE LIVES

Dennis Farmer (Cover), Bridge House / Grace House Used Car Lot Director, shares how you helped change his life.

You Helped Save His LifeQ & A

Q How are you connected to Bridge House / Grace House?

A I am a five-time client of Bridge House. I first came to Bridge House in 2014. I left without completing the program and came back four other times. The beautiful thing is y’all kept taking me back. I was in Bridge House a total of 19 months out of 24. And I needed every bit of it. I am also, now, the Director of the Bridge House / Grace House Used Car Lot.

Q What was happening in your life that brought you to treatment?

A I am an alcoholic and a drug addict. Alcohol, crack-cocaine, meth or anything else I could get my hands on for a couple decades came close to killing me. I was chronically homeless. I once lived under a bridge in California for two years. Stays in hospitals, psych wards and jail became normal. Jail was actually a reprieve from the streets, from myself. I literally had nowhere else to go.

Q How is your life different today because of Bridge House / Grace House?

A The amount of time I spent in Bridge House began to reshape the way I viewed the world. It used to be me against the world. Things slowly got better, I began to have a little hope. Hope that things might keep getting better. Hope that I could recover.The alumni came back to Bridge House to help us, and it helped me see recovery was possible.I was assigned to work in the car lot and having a job gave me a purpose. Bridge House / Grace House eventually offered me a job as assistant manager of the Used Car Lot

and it blew my mind. The opportunity was a godsend. I had no idea what I was going to do.

Q What have you learned through this process?

A Life is wonderful, yet challenging at the same time. There are good days and there are tough days but if I don’t use during the difficult times, things will get better. I don’t need to complicate things for myself.I learned that there are alot of people who love me. I didn’t believe that before Bridge House and recovery.

Q What makes you feel good when you think about Bridge House /

Grace House?A I’ve been sober for three and a half years and I’ve been able to build a life for myself.Today, I am in a loving and supportive relationship with a wonderful woman. I am now the Director of the Bridge House / Grace House Used Car Lot and I am able to give back each day to help someone just like me. As I like to say, We aren’t in the business of selling cars, we’re in the business of saving lives and selling cars just enables us to do that.I came to Bridge House with only the clothes on my back, literally. If it weren’t for Bridge House / Grace House, I wouldn’t be where I am today. There are men and women in treatment there right now who are just like me and without Bridge House / Grace House, they would be destitute. Thank you.

Don’t Trade It, Donate It!

It’s an easy way to help the community. Instead of paying big repair bills, donate your vehicle to Bridge House / Grace House’s Used Car Lot where we provide on-site training for our recovery clients. We accept all vehicles!You will need the registration, driver’s license, and the title or a Lien Release from the

financier of the vehicle.To donate a vehicle, please call 504-598-3355 today! Or, you can stop by the Bridge House / Grace House Used Car Lot located at 4281 Earhart Blvd, New Orleans, LA. Each and every donation makes a difference!

By donating your car, you can help save lives, one car at a time!

Call 504-598-3355 to donate your car! Or visit www.bridgehouse.org for

more information.Above: Our mechanics work hard to make the most of your donated vehicles.

SponsorsPresenting

Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Media WWL-TV

PlatinumWally Pontiff Jr. Foundation Whitman Family Foundation

Mocklin Audio Visual, Inc.

GoldChalmette Refining

Clandestine Events & ExperiencesEvans Landscaping

Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Goldring Family Foundation

James P. Raymond Jr. Foundation SECRant.com

TigerDroppings.com Woldenberg Foundation

Silver Egenberg Trial Lawyers

EntergyInvestar BankKendra Scott

Laitram Latter & Blum

LookFar

Magnolia EnterprisesNew Orleans Nephrology Associates

Resource BankVerges Rome Architects

Bronze Cox Communications

IBERIABANK Jeffery A. Carlson, Attorney at Law

McDonough Marine ServiceMoisant Kiwanis

Mr. & Mrs. Jospeh C. CanizaroRiver Parish Disposal

Thomas O’Keere

PartnerAnn C. Tillman

Bob & Judith KiddCamenzuli Dental Excellence

Champion Home Improvement, LLCCrane Builders of New Orleans

Crescent TitleFradella’s Collision Centers

Guy’s Foreign & Domestic Auto RepairJames Mounger

Kelley & Laura McWhirterLakeview Vision Source

Martin SteibMr. & Mrs. Bruce SongyRussell Marine Group

The Avenue PubXplore Federal Credit Union

Above: Matt Rinard, Mr. Legs XIX, starts his performace with a bang!

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SponsorsPresenting

Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Masters

EntergyFreeport-McMoRan Foundation

UPS

19th Hole SponsorEvans Landscaping

President’s CupBill Mimeles

Cox CommunicationsGoldring Family Foundation

Morgan StanleySECRant.com

TigerDroppings.comTriton Stone Group

Whitman Family FoundationWoldenberg Foundation

CorporateBenecom

Carpet Keepers, Inc.Command ConstructionFishman Haygood, L.L.P.

Hancock WhitneyIBERIABANKRiess Lemieux

Swerve SweetnerVerges Rome Architects

Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation

Bloody Mary Sponsor Blue Williams, L.L.P.

Hospitality Sponsors E-Claim.com

Palazzo Law Firm

Beverage Cart Sponsors Hymel & Ready, CPAs

Interstate BatteryWJS Enterprises, Inc.

Above: The Bridge House / Grace House Fore! Recovery Invitational golf tournament was held on October 4, 2019 at English Turn Golf and Country Club. A HUGE thank you to all who made this wonderful event possible!

Above: Over 140 golfers played in the Invitational to help save the lives of the men and women of Bridge House / Grace House.

All Volunteers, Friends, Family & Supporters

Andrews Jr. BandBenecom

Chalmette RefiningCity Donuts & Cafe

CoolBrew CoffeeCrescent Crown Distributing

Eddie GonzalesFaux Pas Prints

Goldring Family FoundationHancock Whitney

IBERIABANKIggie PerrinJoe’s Cafe

Jon RenaudinKrispy Kreme

Magnolia EnterprisesMr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Canizaro

Resource BankRiver Parish Disposal

Terrytown CafeTrader Joe’s

Walton Goldring

Special Thanks

Above: The March for Recovery Second Line for a Second Chance led by Andrews Jr. Band!

Above: Board President, Susan Tyler, and Board Secretary, Walton Goldring, lead off the Second Line for a Second Chance!

Above: Ronald Rogiero tells the story of his journey from addiction to recovery.

Grace HouseTHE OSCAR J. TOLMAS CHARITABLE TRUST CAMPUS

ON STRATFORD PLACE

Grand Opening

The Grand Opening of Grace House on Stratford Place, The Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Campus, was held on November 14, 2019. It was an amazing day for all in attendance. This new home for Grace House is astounding, and it would not be possible without your support! Thank you to all who helped make this dream come true.If you would like to tour the new home for the women of Grace House, please call Kevin Gardere at 504-821-7133.

Thank you!

Above: Tywana Lewis, Grace House Alumna, shares how Grace House saved her from the streets and saved her life.

Above: Executive Director of Development, Kevin Gardere, CEO, Else Pedersen, Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Trustees, Vince Giardina and Lisa Romano, and Board President, Susan Tyler cut the ribbon for the Grace House Grand Opening.

Above: Charmaine Neville accompanied by pianist, Amasa Miller, gives a truly touching performance.