
LIRA
Long Island Recovery Association
PO Box 262 Franklin Square NY 11010-0262
Summer/Fall 2015
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UNITE TO FACE ADDICTION EVENT
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attention and resources needed. Do not miss
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THE NATIONAL MALL, WASHINGTON DC
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this chance to help make history!
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SUNDAY OCTOBER 4, 2015
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LONG ISLAND UNITED:
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Reserve your seat on our Long Island buses
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On Sunday August 30th the 1st Annual Walk
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today, email 15Bucks@optonline.net
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and Rally was held at SUNY Farmingdale.
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October 4th the Day the Silence ends. Join
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Nearly 1000 people came out on a steamy
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LIRA and more than 630 other organizational
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summer day to shine the spotlight on addiction.
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partners on the National Mall in Washington
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Many groups representing affected families,
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DC for a nationwide call to action: UNITE TO
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prevention coalitions, treatment provider
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FACE ADDICTION. Our time has come!
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agencies and the recovery community worked
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Thousands of advocates from across the
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together to make this a highly successful
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country will descend on DC lending their faces
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event. The generosity of the sponsors helped
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and voices to raise awareness about addiction
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to make free tee shirts available with
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as a public health crisis and highlight the reality
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refreshments and live music too.
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of recovery. More than 350 people a day die
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Long Island is leading the way with a trend
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from alcohol/drug related causes. Over 22
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setting example of collaboration as these
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million people need treatment and <10% of
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sectors joined forces to raise awareness about
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those in need get help for a variety of reasons.
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the ongoing opiate crisis and openly shared the
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More than 23 million Americans are in recovery
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reality of long term recovery from addiction. A
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from addiction and many are mobilizing to
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special thanks to FIST, LICADD, LIRA, PUSH,
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address America’s public health crisis.
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Drug Free Long Island, Bridgeback to Life,
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Be sure to be part of this historic event that will
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Family & Children’s Association, Prevention
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feature musical performances from Steven
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Resource Center, Kings Park in the kNOw,
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Tyler (Aerosmith) Joe Walsh (Eagles) Sheryl
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Seafield and the Suffolk County Division of
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Crow, The Fray, Jason Isbell, the Goo Goo
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Community Mental Hygiene all were event
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Dolls and many other special guests including
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committee members. Lastly a giant shout out
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former major league baseball star Darryl
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to our very own Anthony Rizzuto of Seafield
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Strawberry and television personality Dr. Oz.
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for taking the lead role in planning and bringing
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Together we emerge from the shadows to end
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all of Long Island together to combat addiction.
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the silence and forever change the way
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Can’t wait until next year!
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addiction is addressed in this country.
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The day before on October 3d at the Lincoln
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memorial the nationwide
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place. Many of our Long Island families and
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friends will be attending once again. Why not
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plan a 3 day trip to Washington and you can
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also attend Recovery Advocacy day on Capitol
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Hill Monday October 5th as we press our
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federal representatives to end discriminatory
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policies and give addiction and recovery the
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1!
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LIRA members @ LI UNITED: Michelle Louzoun, Richard Buckman, Edmond Hakimi, Suzanne Loevner, and Ed Olsen
THE ANONYMOUS PEOPLE
Has now been viewed by more than 1 million people and continues to inspire new voices to join our growing movement. LIRA will continue to host community screenings in 2015 and 2016. Our next screening is September 16th 7PM at 535 Broadhollow Rd 2015 in Melville. Stay tuned for other dates.
LIRAs Annual Rock N Recovery Celebration
LIRA held its Rock N Recovery VI celebration at the Deer Park Community Center in September 2014. Some 200+ attendees enjoyed a great evening at our free event, while enjoying a delicious hot Italian buffet and celebrating National Recovery Month. More then $2000.00 in scholarship awards and prizes were given away thanks to our many sponsors and donors. LIRA honored two Friend of Recovery Award recipients once again in 2014, John Haley and Mark Epleyboth executives with Seafield were recognized for their commitment to recovery and participation and support of advocacy efforts over the years. Seafield has been a major LIRA supporter since our inception more than 15 years ago and we appreciate their genuine commitment to recovery in word and deed.
Once again the LIRA board opted to present two separate recovery community scholarship awards (RCSA) of $500.00 each; in 2014 to
Suzanne Loevner and Rise Gibson. Both are women in long term recovery, dedicated recovery advocates and graduates of the Suffolk County Community College Chemical Dependency Studies Program. Rise has since graduated from Stony Brook and is now an MSW. Suzanne is also a student in the social work program and was recently elected to the
LIRA board of directors. Congratulations to these well deserving recipients both shining examples of the proof and power of long term recovery. The cumulative total of RCSA giving
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now stands at $5,500 since we started. LIRA
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Olsen, Joan Phillips, Anthony Rizzuto,
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uses its resources to directly support recovery.
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Craig Sehlhoff, Jean Shabkie Fessenden,
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Bruce Till & Debbie
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Many sponsors and supporters donated funds, goods, door prizes or resources and helped to make this free event possible. A huge thank you to all contributors for your generosity!
You can see the complete 2014 scroll of honor sponsor/donor list on the last page.
Rock n Recovery committee member Claudia Friszell sure has the spirit while distributing raffle baskets to winners.
We would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their time and energy, helping to make our annual event a huge success: Tina
Bruzzo, Richard Buckman, Nicole Carey, Sue Ferrero, Claudia Friszell, Rise Gibson, Eugenia Karahalias, Suzanne Loevner, Michelle Louzoun, Doreen Mazzei- Buckman, Althea Migliore, Nora Milligan, Ed
The students in the Chemical Dependency Program for CASAC studies at Suffolk Community College were a big help. Thanks to
Kathy Ayers-Lanzilotta for continuing the tradition of empowering students to participate in LIRA events and advocacy efforts as an adjunct to their CASAC training experience.
ROCK N RECOVERY VII SAVE THE DATE!
Join us this year on Friday Sept 25th 2015 at St Peters Lutheran Church in Huntington Station as we once again celebrate National Recovery Month with our flagship event. LIRA has chosen fellow trailblazers Jeff Reynolds andTeri Kroll as our 2015 Friend of Recovery Award recipients. Congratulations to these two tireless, outstanding advocates! More details available on our web site www.lira-nys.org Please consider a donation or sponsorship!
Friends of Recovery New York (FOR-NY) Funding was renewed and increased by OASAS to FOR-NY in a new 5 year contract that will add considerable resources to the growing effort to expand recovery supports across the state. FOR-NY once again hosted the annual statewide Recovery Rally and Advocacy Day in Albany on February 10, 2015. More then 200 advocates statewide, including 50+ from Long Island rallied in support of continuing to confront addiction through pro-
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active legislation and by expanding recovery support services across New York State
Jean Fessenden & Suzanne Loevner and LIRA lead the way from the morning rally to the state capitol to meet with legislators.
LIRA started working on improving sober homes more then 10 years ago and the increased reimbursement rate is a specific LIRA recommendation that was approved to reward and incentivize operators who agree to higher standards to improve the quality of life. The National Association of Recovery Residences (NARR) is making significant progress in bringing quality standards to recovery housing across the country. In Florida legislation has just been passed leading to the certification of sober home residences
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
This past session advocates worked feverishly for passage of a physician education bill which was not voted on in the Assembly. Advocates across the state with a strong push from LIRA,
FIST and LICADD pressed the Assembly until the end of session yet fell short reminding us that more work remains to be done to help stem the tide of opiate addiction.
RECOVERY HOUSING
Several providers were approved to receive the enhanced housing operators rate from Suffolk County DSS for recovery homes. The pilot project is a continuation on our groundwork to improve the quality of living for all especially newcomers in recovery by ensuring they have a clean, healthy and safe residence as they tackle the tasks of early recovery.

Long Island advocates press conference with Suffolk legislators urging passage of a Physician education bill
LIRA & FOR-NY members met with key legislators and the Governor’s office advocating for increased funding for OASAS to support recovery peer services including recovery community organizations and recovery centers. Our efforts paid off with a renewal and increase in FOR-NY funding and OASAS received an additional $5 million and planned to make available funding for 4-6 new recovery centers statewide with these resources. Congratulations to all who helped!
On the Federal level the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act (CARA) was introduced in the Senate (S-524) by Senator
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Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). CARA would promote recovery support services and combat the opiate epidemic by infusing up to $80 million into pro-active programs and services. LIRA with our friends at Metro IAF recruited Senator Chuck Schumer as aco-sponsor and helped persuade Senator Kirstin Gilibrand to sign on as well. On the House side, freshman east end Congressman Lee Zeldin, responded favorably to our direct request for co- sponsorship of the same asHR-953 bill (Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and more recently Rep. Steve Israel agreed to become a co-sponsor too. We continue to pursue representatives Peter King, Kathleen Rice and Gregory Meeks. All of our congressional members should be in favor of this legislation and be willing to co- sponsor. We are on it!
FACES & VOICES OF RECOVERY
The national voice of the recovery community for nearly 15 years continues to lead the way. The Faces & Voices Board of Directors hired
Patty McCarthy Metcalf a former board member from Vermont as Executive Director to lead Faces & Voices into the future.
The Annual America Honors Recovery AHR Awards dinner was held in Arlington Va. in late July. This annual gala is an incredible event !
landscape with federal representatives, celebrities and other prominent individuals in attendance once again. The stars remain aligned for recovery and we need to keep the momentum going to end the opiate epidemic, eliminate discriminatory policies & practices and increase support for recovery initiatives.
ARCO: The Association of Recovery Community Organizations another Faces and Voices initiative continues to grow and now boasts 103 organizational members across the country with a dozen more applications waiting to be reviewed including some international outfits from Canada, South America and the United Kingdom. Each year ARCO leaders are invited to attend the Executive Leadership
Academy (ELA) which was held on July 23rd & 24th in conjunction with the America Honors recovery banquet this year. Attendees experience cutting workshop and trainings with prominent subject matter experts from across the country.
A standing room only ballroom of 250 saw The Anonymous People film maker Greg Williamsreceive the Voice of Recovery Award and former Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment-CSAT Dr H. Westley Clarkreceive the Lisa Mojer-Torres Award. Three deserving advocates received Vernon Johnson Awards and USARA of UTAH was recognized as the Recovery Community Organization of the Year. This annual AHR event is helping to raise the profile of recovery on the national
With heavy hearts Faces and Voices of Recovery mourns the tragic loss of Jerry Gillen, long time staff member and Director of Operations. We are reminded how precious life is. RIP Jerry and thank you for your service.
LIRA MEMBERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Anthony Rizzuto was honored by NASW
Nassau as social worker of the year and received his MSW degree from Adelphi.Richard Buckman was named Chairman of the Board of Directors for Faces and Voices of Recovery in Washington DC.
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Tatiana Green is featured in televised public service announcements for OASAS addressing addictions devastation and the power and reality of recovery. Congratulations to these tremendous LIRA member advocates,
LIRA TIDBITS
Congratulations to our new board members,
Suzanne Loevner, Michelle Louzoun and
Tatiana Green; we applaud your commitment to service, welcome to these powerful women! A special thanks to former LIRA board member Craig Sehlhoff who has embarked on a journey across the country, we wish him well on his path of self discovery.
FAMILIES IN SUPPORT OF TREATMENT (FIST)
Continued to host community educational forums helping to inspire more family members to join a growing, vocal and active group of advocates. Led by LIRA board memberAnthony Rizzuto and Long Island family members with support of many individuals, organizations and treatment providers, the FIST presence is being felt across the state providing a venue for families to speak out about the impact of addiction on lives and local communities. We will continue to work closely with our sister group to address all our common areas of concern statewide.
SUPPORT LIRA
LIRA does not receive any funding; all of our work is done by volunteers including our dedicated board of directors, members of the community, affected families and individuals in recovery. LIRA’s good work is made possible only with the support of our members and friends through various donations. Please consider supporting LIRA by making a 100% tax deductible contribution. Make checks payable to Friends of Recovery LI and mail to LIRA at PO Box 262 Franklin Square NY11010-0262. Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue educational and advocacy efforts and to host community events.
Additional details about LIRA are available on our web site www.lira-nys.org Like us and check out our Facebook page.
Scroll of Honor Sponsors/Donors-2014
Recovery Angel = $2,500
Potential Behavioral Health Advisors
Recovery Champion = $1,000
Seafield Center Inc.
Lakeview Health
Recovery Ambassador = $500
John Haley
Mark Epley
Bridgeback to Life
Long Island Center for Recovery
Recovery Advocate = $250
Karl & Angie Ruhry in Memory of Peter K Ruhry John Buckman
Kenneth Peters Center
LECSA EAP
EAPA LI Chapter
American Addiction Centers
Phoenix House of Long Island
200 Computer Solutions
Gathering of Light Interspiritual Fellowship
Ambrosia Treatment Centers
Joan Phillips
Recovery Friend = $100
Daytop Family Association
Ken Lavery
Backstretch Employee Service
Central Nassau Guidance
Quality Consortium Suffolk County
Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Mary & Joseph Callan
Nancy Beckett Lawless
Jeff & Maureen Reynolds
Al Buckman & Nina Massey
Bruce & Lois Till
Senator Phil Boyle
Seafield Provider Relations Dept
Richard & Doreen Buckman
Patricia Fulton
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Kathy & Paul Lanzillotta
Casandra Willingham
Claudia Friszell
Joseph Ortado
Sober Alliance Inc.
Morningstar Community
Recovery Supporter = $50
Eugenia Karahalias
Nicholas & Marian Karahalias
Sushi Express-North Babylon
Henry Dennis
Ralph Allocco
Ed & Claire Olsen
Jean & Ford Fessenden
Diana Dow Edwards
Robert Swiatko
Cliff Bice
Vanessa Troise
Macon Fessenden
Sheila Gaeckler
Richard Cashman
Thank you all for your generous support of Rock N Recovery VI. Please join us and consider supporting this years event Fri September 25, 2015,7-11PM @ St Peters in Huntington Station

LIRA
Long Island Recovery Association
PO Box 262 Franklin Square NY 11010-0262
Spring 2013
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RESILIENCE IN RECOVERY
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baseline floor in treatment for mental health
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On October 29, 2012 Long Island and our
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disorders and for those with
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neighboring region was hit hard by super storm
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addiction and mental health issues. LIRA was
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Sandy bringing destruction never before seen
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an executive committee member of the
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in our area. Thousands of cars and homes
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Timothy’s Law Campaign.
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were damaged and or destroyed, businesses
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The passage of the Mental Health Addiction
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were shuttered, schools were devastated and
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Parity Equity Act in December 2008 helped to
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12 step meeting places were rendered
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address discrimination in insurance coverage’s
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inaccessible in low lying coastal regions.
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for those with mental health and addiction
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In Long Beach some of our friends recognized
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issues. LIRA brought together 23 different
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the need to act quickly and rallied together
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groups and organizations in NY State to
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donating time, skills, labor and resources to
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galvanize the regional movement. The law now
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rebuild one local gathering space. The local
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requires that these illnesses be treated and
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team effort included the mitigation of mold,
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covered equally, the same as other
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demolition and debris removal, painting and
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physical/medical conditions, without arbitrary,
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the purchase and installation of a new floor,
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discriminatory, deductibles and
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ensuring that those in need would have at least
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We await the final rule from the Obama
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one useable place to meet. This location
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Administration so that enforcement of the
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became the sole functioning meeting place in
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Parity Act guidelines can be exacted.
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town for more then 30 various 12 step
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meetings and helped to provide a much
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Continuing the progress was the rollout of the
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needed outlet for those in recovery.
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Affordable Care Act (Healthcare reform) that
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This action for those familiar with the story of
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will ensure treatment is available (with parity)
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folks on the Salerno Beachhead once again
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for millions more folks nationwide. As it stands
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reinforced that individuals in recovery possess
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>5 million Americans have medical insurance
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the ability to stay the course clean and sober
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that does not provide alcohol/other drug
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while remaining committed to helping others
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treatment coverage. Another 30 or so million
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under very trying circumstances.
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people have coverage that does not offer
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COLLECTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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treatment coverage that is equal to their
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coverage for other medical surgical conditions
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Historically recovery advocates have expended
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and there are yet another 27 million folks
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great energy identifying all that needs to be
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uninsured altogether, who will soon be covered
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done and in recruiting supporters for the
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by Medicaid with full parity; bringing the total of
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various causes. Although several significant
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those with new or improved coverage for
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tasks remain it is helpful to pause and reflect
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addiction treatment to > 62 million people. This
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on how much has actually happened in recent
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represents a full 20% of our nation’s population
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years thanks to the collaborative efforts of
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and the positive impact of this legislation on
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many dedicated individuals, groups and
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addiction treatment coverage is enormous.
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organizations on Long Island, statewide and
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Responding to the federal health homes
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across the country.
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initiative the New York Medicaid redesign team
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Beginning with the passage of Timothy’s Law
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committees included representatives from
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in December 2006; this legislation codified a
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LIRA and
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community in the behavioral healthcare discussions, helping to ensure that prevention, treatment and recovery services are included in the Essential Health Benefits of the developing NY State Health Exchange. Thanks to our friends at the Legal Action Center for spearheading the pro-active EHB efforts.
LIRA continues to be represented on the LI area Behavioral Healthcare Organization (BHO) team and our folks sit on the advisory board and several related sub-committees. The emergence of Friends of Recovery New York (FOR-NY) at the state level combined with the extended reach of Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) on the national landscape has contributed mightily to the recognition and presence of the recovery community. Recovery coaching has become a respected, accepted and reimbursable adjunct to individual recovery efforts. Locally there have been improvements in the sober housing community, an increase in available treatment beds for adolescents, creation of drug specific task forces, the forming of the Communities of
Solution coalition, emergence of the Prevention Resource Center, passage of the Good Samaritan Bill and the I Stop legislation. For the past few years the emergence of Narcan trainings and access to these life saving treatments have reversed overdoses and saved over 100 lives. A renewed commitment to advocacy by the LI Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence under the guidance of
Jeff Reynolds has made a significant impact.
LIRA’s annual Rock N Recovery Celebration has become a local tradition celebrating recovery along with over 200 other National Recovery Month celebrations. The two consecutive Brooklyn Bridge Recovery walks in 2009-2010 drew more then 25,000 participants, including the governor other politicians and celebrities, helping to raise the visibility of the recovery community.
Clearly there is much to be grateful for as we continue to press forward seeking to level the playing field for individuals in recovery, their family members and those still in need of help.
As we all work together again to address the next great challenge of discrimination in
treatment coverage, let us also take time to pause and recognize the many milestones we have reached together along the way.
ROCK N RECOVERY IV
LIRA Members: Anthony R, Joan P, Nicole C, Jeannie A, Debbie T, Bruce T at the 4th Annual Celebration.
LIRA hosted our 4th Annual Rock N Recovery celebration at the Deer Park Community
Center in September 2012. Over 200 attendees partied into the night at our free event, while enjoying a sumptuous hot Italian buffet and celebrating National Recovery
Month. More then $1000.00 in door prizes were given away thanks to many donors. LIRA presented our Friend of Recovery Award to Nancy Beckett-Lawless Director of Provider relations at Seafield. Nancy is a long time
LIRA member and avid supporter of individuals and families in recovery.
Once again the LIRA board opted to present two separate recovery community scholarship awards of $500.00 each to Lisa S & Jeff R.
Congratulations to these well deserving recipients chosen from the pool of nominees.
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Many supporters donated funds, goods, door prizes or resources; valued from $50 - $500.00 and all were acknowledged on our scroll of honor throughout the evening.
You can see the complete 2012 scroll of honor donor list on pages 7-9.
We would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their time and energy, helping to make our annual event a huge success:
Tina Bruzzo, Richard Buckman, Nicole Carey, Jean Fessenden, Gene Foley, Larry Gise, Eugenia Karahalias, Ed Olsen, Joan Phillips, Anthony Rizzuto, Craig Sehlhoff, Bruce Till and Debbie Turkel-Nardozzi,
We had a major contribution from other students in the Chemical Dependency CASAC studies program at Suffolk Community College. Thanks to Kirk Kaplan for encouraging students to join LIRA and participate in our events and advocacy efforts.
ROCK N RECOVERY V
SAVE THE DATE! Our Rock N Recovery V celebration will take place on Friday evening
September 27th 2013 at the Deer Park Community Center. Plans are already underway and will once again include our annual recovery community scholarship award(s) and our Friend of Recovery Award.
STUDENT CORNER by Nicole Carey
The challenge and concern of many students heading into the addiction field is how can we be effective as counselors? Much of our job involves helping others discover a healthier way to live to become productive members of society. We learn that many of these people do not have their own resources to accomplish this, and need help. This is why I became a part of LIRA. As students, there is plenty of training in our daily routines, but for me the real impact came from participating in this organization and learning more about how the dynamics of the government and legislation can impact our career, and the individuals and families we strive to help so much. A lot goes into learning how to deal with chemically dependent people, but there is not enough attention paid to how important advocacy is for them. In my opinion there is a growing need
for families to exercise their full range of insurance benefits to access treatment and to have resources accessible to guide them in doing so. In this growing field however, few students take an interest in this area, which is unfortunate because it is something that they can have a tremendous impact and influence on. I believe part of our responsibility as aspiring addiction counselors is to give a voice to a population that is not yet able to speak for themselves. Most of our clients do not know how to navigate systems or to verbalize their needs which is why they need people like us to help advocate and spend time working on bringing their needs into public view. I believe coursework should be mandatory for this.
Advocacy is a huge part of our responsibly as counselors. Our work is not finished after a session ends.
RECOVERY 2012-13
Friends of Recovery New York (FOR-NY)
Hosted the annual statewide Recovery Advocacy Day in Albany. A busload of LIRA members traveled to Albany on a frigid
February morning to join in the festivities and meet with legislators. Our Long Island contingent included 16 CASAC students from Suffolk Community College and the Outreach
Training Institute who participated in advocacy training and also shared powerful personal stories with their representatives about the impact of addiction on their families.
OASAS Commissioner Arlene Sanchez-Gonzalez & FOR-NY President Laura Elliot Engel with SCCC CD students & others
Recovery Coach training in NY State. The web
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site for-ny.org lists all upcoming training’s and will soon feature additional components for coaches to interact with each other and for access to individual peer to peer services. Best wishes to FOR-NY founding Board member Betty Currier who relocated to North
Carolina to be near family. Thank you for many years of service and meaningful contributions to the recovery community in New York.
RECOVERY HOUSING
The Suffolk Oversight Board continues to meet aiming to help make improvements in housing conditions for individuals in recovery. After several set backs the enhanced rate RFQ for quality housing operators was approved for 46 beds in Suffolk. This pilot project has roots in the groundwork we did years back and is one of the recommendations we suggested to the
Suffolk County Welfare to Work Commission.
OASAS recently issued a housing request for proposals under the Medicaid Redesign Team recommendations. The RFP grant comes with funds for case managers and reasonable per bed unit funding. This is a rare and welcomed initiative and we hope Long Island operators are represented when the funds are awarded.
State Senator Lee Zeldin of Islip proposed legislation (S4697) to create oversight and certification of sober homes in Suffolk. The bill gives responsibility to NY State OASAS for certification and oversight. It remains unclear whether this bill will become law as questions remain regarding several of the far reaching provisions. LIRA remains concerned about the right to privacy for individuals in early recovery living in the community and the bill language that calls for a public listing of the residences.
The location of homes should not become public knowledge as residents would then be labeled by identification as a resident. These vulnerable folks deserve to have their identities protected which should be a primary concern for lawmakers too. We enthusiastically support oversight which was one of our original goals!
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
After groundwork by LI area providers with Assemblyman Saladino set the stage, State
Senator Kemp Hannon introduced legislation
(S4623) that would give treatment authorization decision making ability to
Qualified Healthcare Professionals (QHP). Assembly members Cusick and Saladinohave co-sponsored a same as bill (A7003). For far too long dollar driven insurance companies have denied access to sorely needed treatment contributing to countless tragic deaths and a depletion of vital economic resources. This legislation is a long time coming and we urge everyone to be vigilant and responsive when asked to lend your energy and enthusiasm to support the bill. LIRA also supports (A4799) introduced by Queens Assemblyman Dendekker, which would prohibit discrimination by government employers against people in recovery because of a past problem with alcohol or other drugs.
We will need an all out and persistent effort across the state, matching local efforts in order to put an end to insurance company abuses regarding addiction treatment. Giving decision making authority to addiction professionals will save countless lives and millions of dollars and help to eliminate both blatant and veiled discrimination that has gone on for too long.
Congratulations to Freshman State Senator
Phil Boyle of Babylon appointed Chair of the Senate Alcoholism and Drug Committee. Having a local leader of this committee should be helpful as many of our local groups seek to address a myriad of addiction related issues.
Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to State
Senator Tom Duane who retired from the
Senate after many years of public service. Tom was our biggest ally and well known for his impassioned pleas on the Senate floor. He had served as Health committee chair and was a relentless advocate for New Yorkers affected by addiction and mental health issues, gay and lesbian rights and those impacted by HIV & AIDS. His presence will be sorely missed.
FACES & VOICES OF RECOVERY
Since 2001 FAVOR has been our national leader and the nationwide voice of the recovery community. With our friend Pat Taylor at the
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helm FAVOR has accomplished so much to put the recovery community on the map and ensure that we are represented in all matters related to our people and issues. LIRA has worked closely with FAVOR having co-hosted several trainings. Pat and other FAVOR staff have been presenters and trainers and have participated in LIRA Recovery month events on several occasions. We applaud the FAVOR efforts and pledge our ongoing support.
RECOVERY PAYS DIVIDENDS
More then 23 million Americans are in recovery. Recent survey results from FAVOR in conjunction with researcher Alexandre Laudet supports prior evidence that when people recover the negative impact on various systems improves dramatically saving millions of dollars in costs to society. Some highlights include enormous reductions in emergency room use and criminal justice involvement. You can see the full findings of the report on the web site Facesandvoicesofrecovery.org
It is more important then ever that America invests in recovery as we continue to focus on eliminating discriminatory practices.
ARCO The Association of Recovery Community Organizations is another nationwide initiative, FAVOR launched ARCO which has held two leadership summits. LIRA is a proud charter member and we were represented at the nationwide ARCO Summit in Philadelphia in November 2012. We look forward to continuing to grow this group of more then 75 organizational members.
LIRA MEMBERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Ed Olsen was recently named Program
Director with Bridgeback to Life in Bethpage
Anthony Rizzuto was honored by NASW Nassau Division as citizen of the year.Eugenia Karahalias was recognized with an
Unsung Hero Award at the Caron Breakfast.
Joan Phillips, Craig Sehlhoff & Nicole Careywere all elected to the LIRA Board of Directors.
Joan Phillips & Jean Fessenden landed positions with Project Hope providing disaster assistance to those impacted by Tropical Storm Sandy. Congratulations to these dedicated LIRA members.
Thank you to Jim Devine, Bert Johnson and
Gene Foley for past service on the LIRA board. We appreciate your contributions.
Kudos and best wishes to LIRA supporter Jaci Best formerly of the Suffolk County Division of
Community Mental Hygiene as she begins her new journey as a LI Regional Office Director for NY State OPWDD.
Congratulations to our long time friend and treatment pioneer Jim Cusack who celebrated 60 years of sober living in October 2012. Wow!
Thank you and a belated farewell to our friendBarbara Abrams formerly of the division who came out of retirement to present a proclamation at last years Rock N Recovery! Best wishes to past Friend of Recovery Award winner Mary Silberstein who has taken her passion west to a new position as Program
Director at Central Nassau Guidance Center.
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A big shout out to this talented group of LIRA supporters, all honored at the Caron Awards Breakfast for outstanding contributions to “the field”. Gary Butchen, Ken Lavery, Kirk Kaplan and Jeff Reynolds. Way to go guys!
LIRA TIDBITS
LIRA is a community partner in the upcoming
Families in Support of Treatment (FIST) event to be held on June 7, 2013 at St Frances De Chantal Church in Wantagh. This event is focused on increasing access to treatment for those in need. Please save the date and join the FIST groups on Linkedin and Facebook. This initiative has roots in the well attended event “The Fallen” that took place in
Huntington last September. A crowd of more then 700 people attended the gathering. LIRA and dozens of community programs had resource display tables, provided materials and answered questions at the event, paying tribute to young folks who lost their lives to addiction. LIRA members participated in the Statewide Call to Action Summit, Long Island Region, held in October 2012. FOR-NY, NYSAM, and
ASAP collaborated to address regional community concerns about escalating prescription drug addiction, related criminal justice issues, and the need for increased prevention and improved access to treatment.
LIRA members facilitated two of the breakout sessions covering the Science of Addiction Recovery and Recovery Coaching.
LI Call to Action Summit: Presenters Ed Olsen, Pam Mizzi (Prevention Resource Center) & Richard Buckman
At the summit Massapequa Assemblyman
Joseph Saladino first shared his intention to
sponsor legislation authorizing addiction treatment professionals to certify the need for treatment, the type of treatment needed and the duration. In nearby Pennsylvania, Legislative ACT 106 has been a law since 1989. The law authorizes physicians and psychologists to certify and quantify addiction treatment, not the dollar driven insurance companies. The time is now for New York State to take similar action and empower addiction treatment professionals to help save lives. We implore our state lawmakers to make this law a reality.
Did you now that in 2008 The St. Lawrence ATC in upstate NY was granted a waiver by the OASAS Commissioner to provide inpatient treatment for pathological gambling? This is the only facility in New York that has such a waiver. To make a referral call315-393-6602.
On Long Island help for problem gambling is available at the Thomas Kenny Gampro Program at Pederson Krag call 631-920-8053
SUPPORT LIRA
LIRA does not receive any funding or grants and all of our work is done by non compensated volunteers including our dedicated board of directors, members of the community, affected families and individuals in recovery. In essence LIRA’s good work is made possible only with the support of our members and friends through various donations. Please consider supporting LIRA by making a 100% tax deductible contribution. Please make checks payable to Friends of Recovery LI and mail to FOR-NY LI Chapter
PO Box 262 Franklin Square NY 11010-0262 Your generosity makes it possible for us to continue our educational and advocacy efforts.
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Please remember to join us for the FIST event at St Frances De Chantal in Wantagh on Friday June 7th 7PM-9:30 and at our Rock N Recovery V celebration at the Deer Park
Community Center on Friday September 27thfrom 7PM-11. Additional details are available by accessing the Facebook and Linkedin pages.
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Rock N Recovery Scroll of Honor Donors-2012
$500.00
Seafield Services, Inc.
_______________________
$250.00LICADD
Bridge Back to Life
The Kenneth Peters Center
LECSA EAP
John Buckman
Joseph Ortado
_______________________
$150.00
2000 Computer Solutions
_______________________
$100.00
The Friends of John Kennedy Jr.
Employee Assistance Professional Assoc
J Cornell
Bethpage Federal Credit Union
Mary & Joseph Callan
Rodan Inspection 12-06
Madonna Heights Services
LI Federation of Labor AFL-CIO
Veritas Villa Foundation
Richard & Doreen Buckman
Quality Consortium of Suffolk County
_______________________________
$75.00
Kathleen & James Devine
Patricia Fulton
_______________________________
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Elba & Robert Marmo $ 60.00
Peter Schweitzer $ 50.00
Deborah M. Petry $ 50.00
Gene & Beth Foley $ 50.00
Eugenia E. Karahalias $ 50.00
Sheila A. Rettaliata $ 50.00
Gay & Bill Hartigan $ 50.00
The YMCA of Huntington $ 50.00
Bruce & Lois Till $ 50.00
Kathleen & Paul Lanzillotta $ 50.00
Adele Sacks
$ 50.00
Anthony & Grazia Rizzuto $ 50.00
Mary Kate Schuster $ 50.00
$ 50.00
Kings Park of the KNOW $ 50.00
Ken Lavery $ 50.00
Trios Jours Boutique, Inc $ 50.00
Lisa Crawford $ 50.00
Clarie & Ed Olsen $ 50.00
Bill Solz
$ 50.00
The Bug Stops Here, Inc- Steve Free $ 50.00
Maggie Bloomfield $ 50.00
Maria Morales- Prieto $ 50.00
Larry & Edie Gise $ 50.00
Lori K. Nicastro $ 50.00
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Ricky Mann & Roger Taylor
$ 50.00
Kelly Pfeiffer
$ 50.00
Heather L. Sanderson
$ 50.00
Richard L. Lawless
$ 50.00
Eric J. Sokolowski
$ 50.00
Nicole & Benjamin Carey
$ 50.00
Debbie Turkel- Nardozzi
$ 50.00
Joan C. Phillips
$ 50.00
Steven Rose
$ 50.00
Kalli Kontos
$ 50.00
Jeremiah J. O’Riordan
$ 50.00
Timothy Reid
$ 50.00
Gee Wellikero
$ 50.00
Margery Bloomfield Gari
$ 25.00
Ellen Cooperperson
$ 25.00
Kirk Kaplan
$ 25.00
Jeannie Appleman
$ 25.00
Paul & Barbara Guida
$ 20.00
Tiffany O’ Reilly
$ 20.00
A heartfelt Thank You to all of our supporters!
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