RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY PHOENIX HOUSE QUINCY Phoenix House Pres/CEO Patrick McEneaney, Phoenix House Vice Pres Fred Trapassi, Jr., Gavin Foundation Board Chair Willy Ostiguy, Gavin Foundation Pres/CEO John McGahan, Phoenix House Chair/BOD Sheri Sweitzer, Phoenix House Board Member Dan Jaehning, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Sen. John F. Keenan, MA DPH Commissioner Monica Bharel, Norfolk County Sheriff’ Michael Bellotti
Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, state Senator John Keenan, D-Quincy, and Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch and were guests at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of Phoenix House Quincy, a partnership between the Gavin Foundation and Phoenix House. Photos of the day available on the Gavin Foundation Facebook page.
Gavin Foundation President/CEO John P. McGahan remarks:
We are here to celebrate the opening of Phoenix House Intensive Treatment Services. It is clear that the Administration is taking the opiate epidemic seriously – it wasn’t just a campaign stump speech – Gov. Baker quietly visited our recovery center pre- election and has shown an ongoing commitment through the development of the Opiate Working Group. We look forward to working with his team and Commissioner Barelle to implement the changes needed to effectively address this crisis for the families struggling with this disease of addiction. In fact Lt. Gov. Polito attended Gavin Foundation’s recovery month event, and traveled to Greenfield to hear from providers, court and families. We commend them for their commitment to finding a solution.
The administration cannot do it alone, they need partners and allies in the legislature in order to make thing happen. Senator Keenan has been a real leader on this issue as Chairman of SA/MH committee and now as Chair of Public Health committee. He has filed numerous bills to address this crisis and is a leader in every sense of the word.
We would not be celebrating the opening here today without the courageous leadership of Mayor Koch. He understands the needs of this community and was willing to embrace Phoenix House and the Gavin Foundation in order to ensure these life-saving and life-changing services are available for folks of Quincy and this region.
Thank you to our political leaders who have appeared today, along with Sheriff Bellotti and DA Morrissey. Thank you to Congressman Lynch, who is a strong supporter of this program, and is in Washington advocating constantly for treatment services. Thank you to the Gavin Foundation Board of Directors for their willingness once again to expand services to meet the growing needs of families struggling with the disease of addiction. Thank you to the staff, and thank you to the community for entrusting us with this important mission.
Gavin Foundation is proud to partner with Phoenix House to provide these vital services – both agencies have a rich history and commitment to serving this population. We are committed to making Phoenix House Intensive Treatment Services – this facility- a model program.
