Open Hearts Open Homes June 30th

oh oh logo 16 Square boldPlease join us for our Open Hearts Open Homes Benefit on Thursday, June 30, 2016. The event will feature a reception that includes a live and silent auction, followed by individual dinner parties hosted by our celebrity hosts. Proceeds will be used to help support our residential programs and services and our efforts to help others to achieve and maintain sobriety.

The festivities start at 5:30 pm at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel with our Open Hearts Reception where guests can whet their appetite with delicious hors d’oeuvres. There will be outstanding items at our Live and Silent Auctions including spectacular trips, tickets and one of a kind experiences. At 7:30 pm guests who have chosen to extend their evening for an Open Homes Dinner will head out to one of our hosts fabulous homes or restaurants for a unique dining experience.

Congressman Stephen Lynch will be honored as our “Man of the Year” for his incredible work on behalf of the Gavin Foundation and the entire recovery community. To honor the spirit of Gavin House founders James and Mary Gavin, the Caring Hearts Award will be presented to the leadership and members of Sprinkler Fitters and Apprentices Local Union 550. The members have been tremendous supporters of the Gavin Foundation and we are thrilled to be able to acknowledge their kindness.

Purchase tickets online via credit card or checking/savings account. Individual tickets for the Open Hearts Reception are $100 per person (dinner seating not included). Individual tickets for the Reception with Dinner to follow are $125.

Make a donation via credit card or checking/savings account.

There are many other ways to contribute; please consider becoming a sponsor, donating an auction item or hosting a dinner. For more information please contact our Development Director Susan Bradley by email or call 1-857-496-0052 ext. 806.

PDF’s:
Event Sponsor
Community Nonprofit Sponsor
Auction Letter & Form 2016OHOH

 

Cheer on our Runners for Recovery

Our Boston Marathon runners have picked up their bibs and are ready for Marathon Monday! If you can’t make it to the marathon you can follow them on the Boston Athletic Association website using their bib numbers listed below.

Donations can still be made on their fundraising pages; please support their Run for Recovery in support of the Gavin Foundation programs.

Erin Murphy Bib Number 28730
Erin’s Fundraising Page

Erin 2015 & 2016

“In 2015 I had my marathon shirt printed with the words HEROIN SUCKS across the front and ran from Hopkinton to Boston with cheers from the crowd and even a few hugs from strangers. I am running the 2016 Boston Marathon to raise awareness and money for the Gavin Foundation. This time my shirt will say “HEROIN STILL SUCKS” and I hope to run every year I can and help give back to the foundation that has helped my son and family in so many ways.”

 

 

Brenda’s Bib Number 29593 and Darlene’s Bib Number 29595
Brenda and Darlene’s Fundraising Page

Brenda and Darlene pick up their bibs

“This July will mark 10 years since we lost our brother Carlie to addiction. Feeling at a loss and not wanting to see others suffer as our family had, we decided to raise awareness for this terrible epidemic. So here we go… getting ready to run the Boston Marathon AGAIN for a cause that is so important to us! Gavin Foundation’s Cushing House program is instrumental in the recovery of both youth and adults struggling with addiction. We hope to raise funds so they can continue saving and improving lives! We are so grateful for those who have supported us throughout all these years. Words cannot express how blessed we feel and we know Carlie is looking down feeling proud.”

Boston Marathon 2016

We are most grateful to the individuals who are Running for Recovery and raising funds for the Gavin Foundation. Please follow the links to their fundraising pages to learn more about them!

Erin Murphy
Erin Murphy Boston Marathon 2015“In 2015 I had my marathon shirt printed with the words HEROIN SUCKS across the front and ran from Hopkinton to Boston with cheers from the crowd and even a few hugs from strangers. I am running the 2016 Boston Marathon to raise awareness and money for the Gavin Foundation. This time my shirt will say “HEROIN STILL SUCKS” and I hope to run every year I can and help give back to the foundation that has helped my son and family in so many ways.”

 

 

Brenda Jigarjian Farren and Darlene Jigarjian Haley
Jigarjian Marathon Pic“This July will mark 10 years since we lost our brother Carlie to addiction. Feeling at a loss and not wanting to see others suffer as our family had, we decided to raise awareness for this terrible epidemic. So here we go… getting ready to run the Boston Marathon AGAIN for a cause that is so important to us!  Gavin Foundation’s Cushing House program is instrumental in the recovery of both youth and adults struggling with addiction. We hope to raise funds so they can continue saving and improving lives! We are so grateful for those who have supported us throughout all these years. Words cannot express how blessed we feel and we know Carlie is looking down feeling proud.”

 

Massachusetts Municipal Association Opioid Task Force

MMA LogoThe Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) created the Municipal Opiate Addiction and Overdose Prevention Task Force Chaired by Attleboro Mayor Kevin Duman and Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn. Over the course of the past year the task force focused on several key areas, including:

  • Identifying best practices, information sharing, and education opportunities for local officials
  • Ensuring the effective coordination of resources between federal, state and local agencies
  • Determining additional resources and programs that are needed to address the issue
  • Promoting a multi-disciplinary approach to the public health crisis

Gavin Foundation President/CEO John McGahan participated in the process and was asked to join the panel presentation at the MMA Annual Meeting as the Task Force presented their findings. The Gavin Foundation was proud to be a part of the MMA’s effort to assist local officials in their communities deal with the opiate crisis.

Municipal Opiate Addiction and Overdose Prevention Task Force presentation: pictured L to R Bill Carpenter, Mayor, City of Brockton, Kim Roy, Chair of the Board of Selectman, Halifax, John McGahan, President/CEO, Gavin Foundation, and Kevin Duman, Mayor, City of Attleboro.
Municipal Opiate Addiction and Overdose Prevention Task Force presentation: pictured L to R Bill Carpenter, Mayor, City of Brockton, Kim Roy, Chair of the Board of Selectman, Halifax, John McGahan, President/CEO, Gavin Foundation, and Kevin Duman, Mayor, City of Attleboro.

Sober Home Certification Begins

John McGahan, President/CEO, Gavin Foundation, Cheryl Kennedy-Perez, Director of Housing and Homeless Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Paul Pazniokas, Sober Homes Inspector, Recovery Homes Collaborative, Diane cadiz, Manager, A New Beginning, Fred Way, Treasurer, National Alliance for Recovery Residences, Robert Monahan, President, Recovery Homes Collaborative of Massachusetts, Richard Winant, President, Massachusetts Association for Sober Housing
The first Massachusetts Sober Home certification took place on January 20, 2016 at A New Beginning, a Sober Home located in Dorchester. Pictured left to right: John McGahan, President/CEO, Gavin Foundation, Cheryl Kennedy-Perez, Director of Housing and Homeless Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Paul Pazniokas, Sober Homes Inspector, Recovery Homes Collaborative of Massachusetts, Diane Cadiz, A New Beginning, Fred Way, Treasurer, National Alliance for Recovery Residences, Robert Monahan, President, Recovery Homes Collaborative of Massachusetts, Richard Winant, President, Massachusetts Association for Sober Housing

Massachusetts Department of Public Health has initiated a voluntary certification process for Sober Homes. Also known as Recovery Homes, Sober Homes are places for individuals to live to support their early stages of sobriety after residential substance abuse treatment. A New Beginning, a Sober Home located in Dorchester was the first to be inspected on January 20, 2016.

The Department of Public Health has contracted with the National Alliance for Recovery Residences to provide training to two organizations that will administer the certification process; the Massachusetts Association for Sober Housing (MASH) and the Recovery Homes Collaborative (RHC). MASH and RHC will use standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences. Certification for Sober Homes is voluntary, but state-funded treatment facilities will be required to refer only to certified facilities.

 

Thank You for Making the Season Bright!

 

Thank you to our Thank You Cardalumni and friends for giving our residents a wonderful holiday! Each one of the residents of the Charlestown Recovery House, Cushing House Boys, Cushing House Girls, Gavin House, Hamilton House and the Graduate Houses received a gift bag at the Holiday Open House. Alumni and volunteers were there to help distribute the bags. It was a wonderful night for all and we are most grateful for the love and support given to our residents. Please visit our Facebook page to see a few photos from the night.

Christmas Open House

Santa PicAlumni, family and friends are invited to participate in our annual Holiday Open House on Wednesday, December 16th at 7:00 pm.  Join us for food, music and fun. We also expect a visit from a special red-suited guest! You are welcome to join us at the McKeon Post in Dorchester for a bite to eat or a cup of AA coffee. We would like to share the holiday with you and thank you for your support and kindness throughout the year.

Please rsvp via email to Susan Bradley or call 857-496-0052 x806. Donations to purchase gifts for our residents gratefully accepted on our Christmas Page.

 

Swim for Recovery

Charlestown House LogoCalling all swimmers to join us for this fun annual event to benefit the Charlestown Recovery House. Can’t swim? No worries, come by to cheer on the swimmers! Participants can be pledged per lap or by time. Pledges may made be made on our donation page.

Swimathon
Friday, December 11, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Charlestown YMCA
Pizza Party to follow
To register or for more information please email volunteer organizer David Bobick or call him at 857-247-5666.