What a wonderful day! On Saturday, October 24, 2009, at the Faith Community Church in Whittier, CA, 61 women celebrated their successful completion of Phoenix House treatment programs at Santa Fe Springs and Monrovia in the presence of their families, friends, our staff, and distinguished guests, including U.S. Congresswoman Grace Napolitano of the 38th Congressional District of California, Stephen Goya, Assistant Regional Administrator for Parole Region III (keynote speaker), and Yvonne Ali from SASCA Region III (guest speaker).
Rep. Grace Napolitano gave each program graduate an individual Congressional Recognition Certificate and expressed heartfelt wishes for their successful and lifelong recovery. Among those honored by Phoenix House and Congresswoman Napolitano was Suzanne Ostermann who played a special role in establishing the Santa Fe Springs and Monrovia programs 11 years ago.
Many thanks to the numerous supporters of our Women and Children’s Services in Los Angeles who were honored during the ceremony with certificates and plaques: Agent Steve Bartholomy, Parole, Pasadena; Dr. Elyse Eskridge, M.D.; Stephen Goya, Administrator for Parole Region III; Agent Dominique Hughes, Parole Pasadena; Shelly Pollard, Santa Fe Springs Parole; Monrovia Fire Department; Monrovia Library Literacy Program, Parole Region III, Pasadena; A & D Transportation; Norwalk Department of Juvenile Justice; Agent Dan Mendez, OSATS; Daniel Ramirez, OSATS; and, last but not least, U.S. Congresswoman, Grace Napolitano, who helped fund our new outpatient program for women at Santa Fe Springs.
