July 2014 FINAL - St. Christopher`s Inn

JULY
NEWSLETTER OF ST. CHRISTOPHER’S INN - A MINISTRY OF THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE ATONEMENT the
INNsight
2014
St. Christopher’s Inn
21 Franciscan Way
P.O. Box 150
Garrison, NY 10524
www.stchristophersinn.org
From Addicted, Angry & Alone to Recovery, Love & Family
My Journey through St. Christopher’s Inn
Kyle L., a Brother Christopher with three years clean and
sober, shared his powerful story of redemption and hope at
the 10th Annual St. Christopher’s Inn Board of Directors Dinner
in NYC on May 29, 2014.
I spent most of my youth and teenage years incarcerated
in various group homes, jails and institutions, and this was
before I even met the drug that would bring me to my
bottom. My father was a Vietnam Veteran and suffered
from PTSD, so between addiction, mental health and some
criminal element I grew up around, I chose to engage in
some unhealthy learned behaviors at a young age.
I was homeless at about 15 years old, and turned to the
streets for support. I had every excuse to use and drink
and not care about others because I didn’t feel anyone
cared about me. Shortly after 9/11 I enlisted in the US
Army. I spent over two years in South Korea where
alcohol became a big part of my life. I came home full of
nothing but anger and resentment towards life, God and
myself, and all the anger and pain I bottled up my entire
life came to the surface.
I walked in to an opiate epidemic on Long Island, and I
dove right in. It led me to many rehabs, detoxes and
psychiatric hospitals only to be prescribed more meds that
fueled my bottom. Finally, after many black outs, car
accidents and overdoses, no one would speak to me. I
was using heavily and went into psychosis, beginning to
hear and see things that were not there. I did not sleep
for about nine days and ended up in a psychiatric hospital
for the last time. I was released from the hospital mid
psychosis and overdosed on a side street somewhere in
the dark. I woke up in the hospital after being violently
revived only to see tubes of all sorts in my body and was
told that I was dead briefly. I started to pray out of
desperation, as I knew I did not want to die and take all
this ugliness with me to the grave. I knew I needed to
figure out how to get help, and eventually I walked
through the doors to St. Christopher’s Inn.
SCI is not a treatment center, it
is the Friars Home, and the
Holy Mountain. I was treated
with a level of care that is
second to none. I received
intensive therapy, trauma
therapy, addiction counseling,
and was cracked wide open to
the entire SCI experience.
Thanks to my counselor, the
Friars, and a few others that
loved me so much I couldn’t
resist but to start loving myself! I
learned how to care for others,
and to allow others to care for
me.
“I had every excuse to use and drink and not care
about others because I didn’t feel anyone cared
about me.” - Kyle L.
When it came time for me to leave, I did not want to go.
This was the first healthy and safe home, and the first time
I had experienced genuine compassion and love since I
was 13—I did not want to leave it behind. I took the
suggestion of my counselor, and went to Florida where
other Brothers Christopher were offering me a space in a
sober living facility. This was the best decision I ever made
in my life.
I have been in Florida for two years, and I am working at a
sober house with many more of my Brothers. I have
opportunities every day to share with others what was so
freely given to me! I left that mountain with ten dollars in
my pocket that was given to me by a Brother Christopher.
I thought I had nothing. I realize now that with God and
St. Christopher’s Inn in my heart, I had everything. I have a
real life of substance, I can be of service to others, I have a
career, a home, and a family of Brothers Christopher that I
cherish. God Bless you all and Thank You!
Inside this issue:
Testimonial by Kyle L..
..............................................1
Board of Directors Dinner
....................................2
Circle of Hope
.............................................................2
SCI Seeks Funding from Legislators
.................3
Bishop Arogundade visits SCI
..............................3
We Wanted You to Know
......................................4
Bishop Jude and SCI Board Dinner Honoree, John Flaherty, on a recent visit to the Inn.
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10TH ANNUAL ST. CHRISTOPHER'S
INN BOARD OF DIRECTORS DINNER
Celebrating 10 years of Honoring our Friends and Benefactors
On Thursday, May 29th, the Friars, Staff, Alumni and Benefactors of St. Christopher’s Inn (SCI) celebrated their 10th Annual
Board of Directors Dinner at Gotham Hall, an architectural landmark in New York City. More than 230 guests joined Charles
H. Townsend, CEO of Condé Nast, a past Honoree and the 2014 Honorary Event Chair, to celebrate the many lives that have
been saved and restored by the good work at the Inn.
Attendees enjoyed a short film highlighting the recently opened Brothers Christopher House in White Plains, the first St.
Christopher’s Inn transitional house, followed by the personal story of Kyle L. (You can read Kyle’s story on page one.) The
evening was capped by the presentation of awards to this year’s Honorees, John F. Flaherty, senior partner of Gibney, Anthony
& Flaherty, LLP, and Joe Piscopo, actor, comedian and entertainer who ended the night by singing Frank Sinatra’s “New York,
New York.” Ken Rosato, morning anchor for WABC-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News NewYork, served as the Master of
Ceremonies for the evening.
Fr. Bill Drobach, President & CEO of St. Christopher’s Inn, said, “We are so grateful for our many supporters, alumni and our
Board for the ongoing help they give to the men in recovery who come through our programs. It is a blessing to have such
caring individuals willing to share their resources and talents to help those suffering from addiction and homelessness.”
After a wonderful evening of celebration and support for St. Christopher’s Inn, we are already looking forward to next year’s
Board Dinner which will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2015 when we will honor His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan,
Archbishop of New York. More details about next year’s celebration will be available early in 2015.
Mark Campione, CFO; Joe Piscopo, Honoree:
Marianne Taylor-Rhoades, COO; Fr. Bill Drobach, SA,
CEO: John Flaherty, Honoree
Please join our
CIRCLE OF
HOPE
Amy Sucich, Asst. Clinical Director of Counseling & Shelter
Services with her husband, Tony Sucich, along with Friends
and Benefactors of the Inn, Edward & Brigid Kenney
SCI Board Members, Mary Siri of Condé Nast
and Michael Elms, Retired CFO of Rolex Watch
USA, along with Kristin Keddie of Condé Nast.
The Circle of Hope is a monthly giving club reserved for our supporters who want to be
sustaining partners in our care for men healing from addiction. We’re filled with hope
because SCI has achieved a unique 77% success rate for substance abuse treatment —the
highest completion rate in NYS among like programs.
We named this special society Circle of Hope because that’s what we do – nurture hope
where none existed. Men come to us in crisis and through our unique treatment program
we give them the tools they need to regain their dignity and sobriety.
By making a monthly commitment and joining the SCI’s Circle of Hope, you are saying, “I
want to provide hope. I understand how important it is to make treatment available to
those suffering from addiction so they can rejoin their families and communities and be
productive members of society.”
Why become a member?
The Circle of Hope is for those donors who want to make a deeper and more lasting impact
and—in some cases—establish a planned giving legacy.
As a member, you will receive personal updates directly from Fr. Bill, invites to “member only” events, and special
recognition in the Annual Report. But most of all, you will be a part of a society of donors whose support is helping
to ensure that the life-saving work of the Inn continues long into the future.
Please fill out the enclosed envelope and return it to us to become a member of the Circle of Hope.
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ST. CHRISTOPHER’S INN
SEEKS FUNDING FROM LEGISLATURE
In New York State, drug
overdose deaths rose
169 percent between
1979 and 2010.
Overdose deaths top
motor vehicle accident
mortalities today. In
order to help state
legislators establish
budget priorities that
serve the needs of
citizens and ensure the
health and safety of the public while saving taxpayer dollars, St.
Christopher’s Inn has begun reaching out to legislators, extending
invitations to visit and learn about the impact the crisis has on
individual lives and on the critical institutions that serve them.
NY Senator Terry Gipson (D-Dutchess, Putnam) accepted this
invitation to St. Christopher’s Inn to understand firsthand the
urgency needed on the part of both the client and the agencies
that serve those in crisis.
Father Bill Drobach, SA, President and CEO of St. Christopher’s
Inn said, “At this time, St. Christopher’s Inn is receiving over 100
client inquiries daily, and we host 177 men at a time. In the face
of this public health challenge, it has never been more important
for the New York State budget to fund public health initiatives that
cost-effectively treat people suffering from addictions. These
people bring complex clinical situations that require wrap-around
services proven to improve health and social outcomes, and there
must be adequate funding and opportunities for those who need
care to receive it.”
Today, as the oldest free-standing men’s shelter in New York
State, St. Christopher’s Inn offers a continuum of care for chemical
dependency for up to 1,000 men annually. Offering one of the
only integrated care programs in the area, clients are treated for
their substance abuse problems, receive psychiatric evaluations
and treatment, get their medications stabilized in a safe
environment, and have access to primary care including physicals,
testing, and coordination of care and health education, all in a
safe, therapeutic environment. Since over 35% of clients entering
day treatment programs report they do not have stable housing,
our program offers shelter, food and clothing, all at no cost, as well
as a support network and education, that contribute to successful
long-term outcomes. This program reduces Emergency Room
visits and encounters with the criminal justice system. It is clear that
this model works, since according to the New York State Office of
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, St. Christopher’s Inn has the
highest completion rate in the state of New York among like
programs—77%.
Senator Gipson said, “It's important for me to visit the many hard
working organizations in our community like St. Christopher's Inn to
learn how I can best represent them in the State Senate. My visit
with the administrators and some clients at the Inn was very
informative. Their efforts are a strong example of how working
together through community partnerships can improve our ability to
help others when they need it most."
“We appreciate Senator Gipson’s efforts to learn about effective
treatment for chemical dependency so he can better develop public
policies in Albany,” said Fr. Drobach. “Many people seeking recovery
are hindered by a lack of available treatment programs or are simply
unable to pay for help they desperately need. In order to tackle this
growing tragic public health problem, New York State must treat
chemical dependency as the significant problem it is by expanding
the budget for proven treatment options. New York’s citizens should
support this effort because in the long run, funding treatment will
reduce health care costs, and it will lower criminal justice costs
saving their tax dollars. It also will save lives.”
“With personal tours of the Inn for our legislators,” Fr. Drobach
added, “we can help make the case that treating chemical
dependency should become a priority for the long-term health of
our state.”
There are several bills in the NY state legislature designed to
address the needs of people needing resources to treat their
chemical dependencies and mental illnesses and to ensure that the
agencies offering effective treatments have adequate resources to
continue their missions in the face of a growing health problem.
Bishop Jude Visits St. Christopher’s Inn
On Wednesday, May 14th, The Most Rev. Dr. Jude Ayodeji Arogundade, Bishop of the
Diocese of Ondo, Nigeria and the 2012 SCI Board Dinner Honoree, celebrated Mass
with residents and staff at St. Christopher’s Inn. Bishop Jude makes a few trips to the
United States each year, and he always includes Mass at the Inn as part of his busy
schedule to encourage the residents in their recovery. He is as generous with blessings
for the men and staff as he is with his time, but the highlight of the visit is when he joins
the choir for an anthem to close the service.
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St. Christopher’s Inn
21 Franciscan Way P.O. Box 150
Garrison, NY 10524
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
St. Christopher’s Inn
10524
www.stchristophersinn.org
(845) 335-1000
If you do not wish to receive fundraising requests supporting St. Christopher’s Inn, please contact the Development Office at 845-335-1005
or email us at [email protected] to have your name removed from our mailing list.
WE WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT...
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Welcome Home!
Backyard Forum
Meet Our New CFO
Saturday, August 2nd is the Annual
Homecoming and Alumni Picnic!
The morning will begin with mass
in Our Lady of the Atonement
Chapel (formerly Pilgrim Hall) at
9:00 AM. You can see details about
the schedule on the website.
St. Christopher’s Inn, in
partnership with
Walter Hoving Home,
hosted a Drug Crisis in
our Backyard Forum focusing
on Putnam County Drug Court
and why it works.
The Honorable James F. Reitz
was the speaker.
Mark Campione joined the
St. Christopher’s Inn Executive
Team as the Chief Financial Officer
in January, 2014.
Mark brings 18 years of
experience in both financial
and operational positions in the
Not-for-Profit sector.