Contact: Karen Sodomick
646.505.2093

62nd Annual Artist and Writers Charity Softball Game Set For August 14

Cheer on your favorite celebrity at the 62^nd Annual Artists and Writers Softball Game on August 14, at Herrick Park in East Hampton when Alec Baldwin, Chevy Chase, Mercedes Rhuel, B Smith, Lori Singer, Gail Sheehy, Mike Lupica, Richard Reeves, Ken Auletta, and many others step up to the plate for three worthwhile charities:

• Phoenix House is the nation’s leading non-profit provider of addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery support services with more than 120 programs in ten states, including the Phoenix Academy of Long Island, a residential high school for teens located in Wainscott and an Outpatient center in East Hampton.  www.phoenixhouse.org
• East End Hospice provides care for terminally ill patients, their families and loved ones. Hospice also offers bereavement counseling and sponsors a summer day camp for children who have experienced the loss of a loved one. www.eeh.org
• East Hampton Day Care Learning Center is dedicated to helping lower income working parents by providing a safe and nurturing environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of preschool children.  www.easthamptondaycare.org

Sponsors to date include HBO, Grumbacher Paints, Shana Alexander Foundation, Regal Theatres, 1010 WINS, Mort Zuckerman, Light Speed Financial, Dan’s Papers, Hollander Design, Snapple, Ronnette Riley Architect, Edward Tyler Nahem Gallery, Sag Harbor Express, East Hampton Library Author’s Night, Lafayette 148, Hampton International Film Festival, and Boulevard Magazine.

For more information go to www.artistswritersgame.org

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New York, NY, July 21, 2010 — Cheryl G. Healton, Doctor of Public Health, President and Chief Executive Officer of Legacy, has joined the board of directors of the Phoenix House Foundation, the nation’s leading non-profit provider of substance prevention and treatment services.

“It is with tremendous pleasure that we welcome Dr. Cheryl Healton, a highly respected public health researcher and advocate, to the Phoenix House Foundation board,” says board chairman Jeffery A. McDermott. “She will be a tremendous asset in achieving our mission of strengthening families and communities affected by substance abuse.”

“Throughout my public health career and through my studies and work regarding addiction, I have long been an admirer of Phoenix House’s efficacy in providing a patient-centered, residential approach to tackling substance abuse,” said Dr. Healton. “It will be an honor to share the knowledge I have gained about addiction through our work at Legacy, with other members of Phoenix’s board and staff. Phoenix House continues to be an innovative leader, and I look forward to helping Phoenix House advance its critical mission.”

For the past decade, Dr. Healton has headed Legacy, a national public health foundation devoted to keeping young people from smoking and helping all smokers quit. As the founding CEO, she has guided the highly acclaimed, national youth tobacco prevention counter-marketing campaign, truth®. According to a study in the American Journal of Public Health, the truth campaign was directly responsible for keeping 450,000 teens from starting to smoke during its first four years. A Johns Hopkins University study also found the campaign not only paid for itself in its first two years, but also saved between $1.9 and $5.4 billion in medical care costs to society.

Dr. Healton, who struggled herself with tobacco addiction for nearly 25 years, lost her mother and several close relatives to tobacco-related disease. Her first-hand understanding of addiction has driven her passion to find real-world solutions to smoking cessation. She has helped Legacy spearhead a national coalition of public and private organizations–the National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation–to launch the first-ever national smoking cessation campaign since the Fairness Doctrine.

As founder of the Center for Applied Public Health at Columbia University, Healton was determined to bridge the gap between science and its real world applications on a timely basis. At Columbia, she brought an interdisciplinary approach to tobacco control and prevention, developing innovative grants linking academic researchers to public health practitioners. She led grant-funded projects for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study the effects of marketing and counter-marketing on youth tobacco use; developed a series of prevention partnerships linking public health researchers with New York State tobacco-health policymakers; and evaluated intervention programs for the state’s largest youth tobacco prevention program.

Among other honors, Dr. Healton received the Secretary of HHS award for Innovation in Public Health for her work to reduce prenatal transmission of HIV through rapid dissemination of culturally tailored education to increase use of medical therapy in pregnancy. She also received the Social Justice Award from the State of Hawaii and the American Lung Association’s Life and Breath Award in 2003. Most recently, Dr. Healton was named a Donald A. Berreth Lecturer by the National Public Health Information Coalition and was the recipient of the Troy R. Westmeyer Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award from New York University in 2008. Dr. Healton holds a doctorate with distinction from Columbia University’s School of Public Health and a master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University in Health Policy and Planning.

About Phoenix House

Phoenix House is the nation’s leading non-profit provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention services, serving more than 5,300 men, women (including women and children), and teens each day at more than 120 programs in 10 states—California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. For more information, visit www.phoenixhouse.org.

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NEW YORK – June 30, 2010 – This past weekend, Phoenix House welcomed 600 guests at the oceanfront home of Michael and Margie Loeb for its annual ‘Summer Party in the Hamptons.’  The event, which kicked off the summer party circuit, was a resounding success and raised nearly $300,000 to benefit Phoenix House programs in the Hamptons community.  Phoenix House is the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention services.

Tony DiSanto and Lauran & Charlie Walk, the event honorees, were joined by event emcee Nick Cannon, honorary event chairpersons Randy Jackson, Brett Ratner and Heide Banks and chairpersons Haley & JasonBinn , Rose Marie Bravo CBE and Andrew Rosen.  Junior chairpersons included Kira Cohen, Brittny Gastineau, Daniel & Derek Koch, Candice Miller and Sierra Winter.  Phoenix House board members, including Nancy Hoving and Brendan Hoffman, also attended the event.  Other notables included Steve Birkhold, CEO of Lacoste, Eric & Gina Hadley of Bing and Glassbaby, and honorary chairperson, filmmaker Brett Ratner.  Real Housewives of New York City’s Kelly Bensimon, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, and Jill Zarin were joined by several members of the cast of MTV’s hit show The Jersey Shore.  DJ Cassidy and DJ Donna D’Cruz provided musical entertainment throughout the evening.

Generous sponsors included Heide Banks, Bing, Kim & Wole Coaxum, Lori & Eric Friedman, HBO, Lord & Taylor, MTV Networks, Ashley & Jeff McDermott, Reveille, LLC, the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Saks Fifth Avenue, Catherine Samuels, Theory and Tiffany & Co.

About Phoenix HousePhoenix House is the nation’s leading non-profit provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention services, serving more than 5300 men, women (including women and children), and teens each day at more than 120 programs in 10 states— California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. For more information, visit www.phoenixhouse.org.

For additional coverage of the event, join Phoenix House on Facebook and Twitter. The official event hashtag is #PHSummerParty.

Contact: Karen Sodomick, 646 505 2093

ksodomick@phoenixhouse.org.

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Southampton, Saturday, June 26, 2010, 6-8 PM

NEW YORK – June 26, 2010 – Today, at its annual summer party, Phoenix House, the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention services, will honor Tony DiSanto and Lauran & Charlie Walk as leaders in public service in New York City and the Hamptons. Mr. DiSanto is President of Programming for MTV. Mr. Walk is the CEO and Founder of CWE Media and Chairman of RJW Collective.

“Every community in this country is affected on some level by drugs and addiction,” says Phoenix House President and CEO Howard Meitiner. “With the support and dedication of our honorees, Tony DiSanto and Lauran & Charlie Walk, Phoenix House continues to be deeply committed to serving men, women, and teens in the Hamptons.”

The benefit will raise money for two key Phoenix House programs serving the Hamptons community: an outpatient center that offers group, individual, and family therapy and the Phoenix House Academy of Long Island in Wainscott, which provides residential treatment to teens along with educational and vocational services.

“Substance abuse is something that can, and most likely has, touched someone you know,” says honoree Tony DiSanto. “That makes support of Phoenix House an absolute necessity. Battling substance abuse is an ongoing struggle, and places like Phoenix House need continuous and consistent support to continue to operate and help people.”

“Phoenix House’s ability to educate, treat and prevent in a timely, no-nonsense way makes the difference,” says honoree Charlie Walk, who recalled a phone call from a friend, seeking care for a father of three in desperate need of treatment. With nowhere else to turn, Walk called Phoenix House. “We helped a family; we saved a family.”

Randy Jackson, event chairperson and emcee believes “the greatest gift a person can give to one in need is an act of kindness, given freely when no one else will help. Phoenix House heals people suffering from drug abuse, at times when they have nowhere else to go.  It’s a haven, a sanctuary, a place to rediscover one’s self.  In a world in which the pain of substance abuse exists, we are truly blessed that Phoenix House exists, too.”

Entertainer Nick Cannon, an event chairperson, adds, “I’ve always believed that when people are provided with the proper care, guidance and love, they will discover how to channel the very best in themselves. Phoenix House represents this for individuals who suffer with the disease of substance abuse. It’s an extremely important institution and the work they have been able to accomplish has been nothing short of miraculous.”

Phoenix House founder, Mitchell S. Rosenthal, M.D. and numerous Phoenix House board members including Carol Hertling, Brendan Hoffman, Jeff McDermott, and Andrew Rosen are supporting this event.  Honorary chairpersons are Randy Jackson, Brett Ratner, Heide Banks, with event chairpersons Nick Cannon, Haley & Jason Binn, Ashley & Jeff McDermott, Rose Marie Bravo CBE, and Andrew Rosen.  Junior chairpersons include Kira Cohen, Brittny Gastineau, Daniel & Derek Koch, Candice Miller, and Sierra Winter.

DJ Cassidy will provide musical entertainment for the cocktails portion of the evening, followed by DJ Donna D’Cruz.

For more information, media inquiries about Phoenix House, or to speak with Howard Meitiner, please contact Karen Sodomick, Director of Marketing and Communications at 646 505 2093 or ksodomick@phoenixhouse.org.

About Phoenix House

Phoenix House is the nation’s leading non-profit provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention services, serving more than 5300 men, women (including women and children), and teens each day at more than 120 programs in 10 states— California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. For more information, visit www.phoenixhouse.org.

For additional coverage of the event, join Phoenix House on Facebook and Twitter. The official event hashtag is #PHSummerParty.

Beverly Hills, CA, April 21, 2010—Phoenix Houses of California, one of the state’s leading non-profit behavioral health organizations, gathered Los Angeles’ top entertainment and business leaders at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on April 20 for its seventh annual “Triumph For Teens” Awards Gala.  The event raised funds to support Phoenix House’s teen residential treatment centers, family therapy and prevention programs and featured special tributes to this year’s honorees—the cast and producers of Fox’s hit drama Bones and Zev Yaroslavsky, LA County Supervisor, 3rd District.

“We are facing extremely difficult times, which is why your support tonight is invaluable,” said Timothy Noonan, Phoenix Houses of California Board Chairman.  “You help Phoenix House continue its treatment programs amidst public funding cuts and, in doing so, safeguard our youth, open the door to their recovery, and help them change their lives in vital and lasting ways.”

Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company presented the 2010 Phoenix Rising Award to the cast and executive producers of Bones, a drama that captures real life struggles portrayed by characters with whom the teens at Phoenix House can readily identify.  Executive Producer Stephen Nathan, who has been a friend to Phoenix House for years, received the award on behalf of the cast and  co-producers Hart Hanson, Barry Josephson, and Ian Toynton.

George Mihlsten presented the 2010 Public Service Award to Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky for his contribution to civic life, long-time commitment to treatment and exemplary leadership in bringing positive change to the lives of at-risk and disadvantaged youth and families in Los Angeles.  Recounting his involvement with Phoenix House, Yaroslavsky called upon guests to continue and strengthen their support of Phoenix House’s unique and effective approach to healing troubled youth and their families.

Actor Charles Shaughnessy hosted the evening’s program, which featured red carpet arrivals, a cocktail reception, silent auction, and dinner.  Serving as event co-chairs were Christina and Timothy J. Noonan, Jeanne and Anthony Pritzker, Kevin Reilly, and George Mihlsten.  Sheriff Lee Baca and former mayor of Los Angeles Richard Riordan joined as honorary co-chairs.  Major sponsors included Timothy J. Noonan of Lockton Insurance Brokers, LLC and Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation as “Benefactors,” and Bank of America, Fox Broadcasting Company & Twentieth Century Fox Television, Neil Kadisha, Lynda and Stewart Resnick, Chris Weitz, Mary Hayley & Selim Zilkha as “Patrons.”

Phoenix House’s annual “Triumph for Teens” awards gala celebrates the victories of young people over substance abuse.  It is an evening of recognition for adolescents who have learned the lessons of honesty, responsibility, and concern for others on their road to recovery.

Previous honorees have included Los Angeles Police Department Chief William J. Bratton, Los Angeles Juvenile Court Judge Michael Nash, Timothy Noonan, president and CEO of Lockton Insurance Brokers, LLC, Lynn Pike, COO of CapitalOne, television anchor, legal analyst, trial attorney, and best-selling author Rikki Klieman, actress and advocate Lorna Luft, Paramount Pictures’ Freedom Writers, directors Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen) and Betty Thomas (28 Days) as well as six outstanding television shows:  ABC’s Brothers and Sisters and George Lopez, Fox’s House, CBS’s Joan of Arcadia, the WB series 7^th Heaven, and Lifetime Television’s The Division.

About Phoenix House

A leader in substance abuse treatment and prevention since its founding, Phoenix House has been the field’s chief innovator, introducing treatment models and methods that have become standard practice throughout the country and the world.

Phoenix Houses of California has touched the lives of adolescents, adults, and their families for 30 years, helping them overcome the problems associated with substance abuse and empowering them with the skills to lead healthy, productive, and rewarding lives.  Nearly 1,000 individuals each day receive treatment through 18 Phoenix House programs in California.  For more information, visit www.phoenixhouse.org.

Attention Editors: Photos of the event are available by contacting Linda O’Hanlon at 818-386-1916.

New York, New York—March 5, 2010—Phoenix House, the nation’s leading non-profit provider of substance abuse and prevention services, today announces the opening of the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center at the Phoenix House Career Academy. A residential treatment program with a fully equipped vocational training center on site, the Career Academy, located in Brooklyn, NY, guides students as they work toward their professional and personal goals. Adding a new track to the Career Academy’s vocational programs, the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center will offer a seven-month cosmetology training course for adult men and women.  As Beyoncé is a spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris, the company is generously providing all makeup, skin care and hair care products.

The pop superstar’s relationship with Phoenix House began when she was preparing for the role of Etta James in the 2008 film Cadillac Records. To play the part of the former heroin addict, Beyoncé met with women in treatment at the Career Academy. Moved by their powerful stories of addiction and recovery, she later donated her salary from the film. A year later, she and her mother and business partner, fashion designer Tina Knowles, who owned a popular hair salon in Houston when Beyoncé was growing up, conceived of the idea of Phoenix House’s new cosmetology program.

“We were thrilled when Beyoncé and her mother Tina approached us about creating a cosmetology center for our clients,” said Phoenix House President and CEO Howard Meitiner. “Their generosity and compassion toward the men and women we serve is extraordinary. With this tremendous gift, they have given our clients a route to achieve successful, rewarding lives in recovery.”

Opening today, the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center will teach students the theory and practical skills they need to pass the NYS Cosmetology Licensure Exam. The Center will also offer complimentary services, using L’Oréal Paris products, to a wide range of community partners, enabling its more advanced students to refine and practice their skills. Phoenix House’s partners in this endeavor are the Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), a division of the NYS Department of Education, and the Bureau of Propriety Schools (BPSS).

About Phoenix House

Phoenix House is the nation’s leading non-profit provider of substance abuse treatment and prevention services, serving more than 7,000 men, women (including women with children), and teens each day at more than 120 programs in 10 states – California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. For information, visit www.phoenixhouse.org or contact Karen Sodomick, Director of Marketing and Communications, at 646-505-2093, email ksodomick@phoenixhouse.org.

About Beyoncé

International entertainer and iconic performer Beyoncé came to fame as a Houston, Texas teenager in the mid-nineties as a founding member of Destiny’s Child, the top-selling female recording group of all-time. In 2002 she embarked on a solo career and has recorded a string of #1 singles, three chart-topping albums, Dangerously In Love (2003), B’Day (2006) and I AM…SASHA FIERCE (2008). As an actress she has starred in six highly successful films including “Dreamgirls,” and served as a producer on her last two films, “Cadillac Records” and “Obsessed.” She has won over 100 international and national awards, including AMAs, VMAs, EMAs, and Grammys. This year she added six Grammy® Awards to her wins, including “Song of the Year” (for “Single Ladies”), breaking the record for most Grammy® Awards won by a female artist in a single year, while bringing her career Grammy® total up to 16. In April 2009, she began her “I AM…” World Tour including sold-out stops in Europe, Australia, Asia, South America and the Caribbean. In São Paulo, Brazil she performed to her largest live concert audience ever, 60,000 fans. According to The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA,) Beyoncé, is the artist with the most total certifications (gold and platinum singles and albums) over the past decade, with a total of 64. In 2005 Beyoncé co-founded House of Deréon and Deréon with her mother and business partner, fashion designer, Tina Knowles. That same year, touched by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Beyoncé and her family formed the Survivor Foundation to help displaced victims in the Houston area. She also partnered with Feeding America during the US leg of her last tour to help deliver meals to local food banks. And in the wake of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti earlier this year, Beyoncé performed on the telethon Hope for Haiti and continues to contribute and support Haiti relief efforts.

About Tina Knowles

Tina Knowles is the co-creative director and co-founder of the House of Deréon, Deréon, and Miss Tina fashion lines produced by Beyond Productions, a partnership with the Knowles family and Kids Headquarters that was founded in 2005. A native Texan, Tina began her career owning and operating one of the most successful beauty salons in the Houston area. She is also an accomplished writer with the debut of her first book, Destiny’s Style, published by Harper Collins in 2002.  Experienced in nearly every aspect of what has come to be known as ‘the lifestyle industry,’ Tina has worked as an interior designer and has served as fashion consultant and costume designer on various film projects that include “The Pink Panther”, “Austin Powers Goldmember”, “Dreamgirls”, and the critically acclaimed film, “Cadillac Records” released in December 2008. She is the recipient of ACE Award from the Accessories Council of America for Excellence in Accessory Design, The VHI/Vogue Fashion Award for Best Costumes, and the Golden Hanger Award – E! Entertainment for Best Fashion. Her philanthropic endeavors include “The Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth located in Houston, Texas, the House of Deréon Media Center, The Survivor Foundation and Knowles Temeno’s Place as community resources assisting those displaced and in need.

About L’Oréal Paris

The L’Oréal Paris division of L’Oréal USA, Inc. is a total beauty care company that combines the latest in technology with the highest in quality for the ultimate in luxury beauty at mass.  The L’Oréal Paris brand encompasses the four major beauty categories – haircolor, haircare, skincare and cosmetics – and includes such well-known brands as Preference, Excellence, Féria and Healthy Look haircolor; Elnett Satin Hairspray, EverPure, EverStrong, VIVE Pro, Studio Line and L’Oréal Kids haircare; Revitalift, Age Perfect, Ideal Skin Genesis, Collagen, Sublime Bronze and Men’s Expert skincare; and the Colour Riche, True Match, Infallible, Bare Naturale and Studio Secrets Professional cosmetics collections, along with a portfolio of mascara including Voluminous, Double Extend and Telescopic among many others.

For more information on L’Oréal Paris and its brands, and to get comprehensive, personalized beauty information from the experts, visit www.lorealparis.com for access to unique content and dynamic interactive features, including the exclusive “Can I Help You” diagnostic tool.

Since 1988, Phoenix Academy San Diego has helped thousands of troubled teens reclaim their lives, establishing itself as a vital county resource for at-risk youth and their families. The Academy, a residential high school for youth with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders is now suffering further declines in the state funding it relies upon to operate, it was announced today by Winnie Wechsler, Executive Director for Phoenix Houses of California. As the program – which offers its services regardless of a family’s ability to pay – seeks out new sources of funding, it has become increasingly dependent upon private donations to meet its operational costs and is issuing an appeal to the community for help.

“Phoenix Academy is one of the few places in our community where troubled teens and their families can turn when all other options have failed. It is a place that has offered hope – and led to remarkable recovery – for countless kids,” says John Davies, a San Diego attorney and founding board member of Phoenix Houses of California. “We are asking the community to join us in our commitment to keep our program healthy during these tough economic times.”

Located in the hills of Descanso, just east of San Diego, the Academy has provided thousands of adolescents struggling with substance abuse, along with their families, a comprehensive, holistic array of services that address medical, mental health, education, and other family needs. Since its founding, the program has been a critical link in the continuum of care that is available to at-risk youth in San Diego County, especially those who could otherwise not afford treatment.

“For more than two decades, Phoenix Academy San Diego has been changing lives by helping young people confront and manage their addictions so they can go on to lead happy, healthy, productive lives,” says Elizabeth Urquhart, Director of Adolescent Services for Phoenix House in San Diego. “Every day youth arrive at the Academy in need of our mental health and treatment services – services that our reach and experience show they need to successfully overcome their problems.”

Says Naveed, a graduate of Phoenix Academy San Diego who is currently studying to become a certified substance abuse counselor, “I have all the tools I’ve learned in the program and I’m using them in the real world.”

To find out how you can help support Phoenix Academy San Diego, please contact Elizabeth Urquhart at 619-445-0405 x4654 or via email at eurquhart@phoenixhouse.org.

For more information, or for any media inquiries about Phoenix House, please contact Karen Sodomick, Director of Marketing and Communications for Phoenix House, at 646-505-2093 or ksodomick@phoenixhouse.org. You may also contact Davia Temin or Allison Bennett of Temin and Company at 212-588-8788 or news@teminandco.com.

About Phoenix House and Phoenix Academy San Diego

Phoenix Academy San Diego is one of several adolescent treatment programs run by Phoenix House nationwide which has been recognized as a model, evidence-based program by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Phoenix House has been touching the lives of California residents for 30 years, helping adolescents, adults, and their families overcome the problems associated with substance abuse and empowering them with the skills to lead healthy, productive, and rewarding lives. With 18 programs located throughout Southern and Central California, Phoenix House currently provides treatment to more than 1,200 men, women, and teens each day.

Phoenix House is committed to protecting and supporting individuals, families, and communities affected by substance abuse (www.phoenixhouse.org).

NEW YORK – September 10, 2009 – A delegation 1,500 strong from Phoenix House, the nation’s leading non-profit alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention agency, will lead the march at the Second Annual A&E Recovery Rally – a key event component of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month – this Saturday, September 12 in New York City.

The largest single contingent at the event, the Phoenix House delegation – consisting of current clients, program alumni, family members, counselors, and other staff from the metro area – will join the more than 10,000 expected to take part in a symbolic walk across the historic Brooklyn Bridge. The rally will follow in Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza Park with a special musical performance by Smokey Robinson.

“The A&E Recovery Rally is a true testament to the growing solidarity among the recovery community – a solidarity which is absolutely vital in our efforts to remove the stigma of addiction and educate the public about the effectiveness of treatment,” says Phoenix House President and CEO Howard Meitiner. “Only in its second year, this rally has already grown exponentially and Phoenix House is deeply honored to be a part of such an inspirational and important event.”

Phoenix House participants will wear t-shirts that will give the world a sneak preview of its new logo – the organization’s first major branding revitalization since its inception in 1967. The official debut of the logo will coincide with an announcement in the coming weeks of several substantive changes underway at Phoenix House.

Howard Meitiner will be in attendance at the rally and available for media interviews.

About Phoenix House

Phoenix House is one of the nation’s leading non-profit substance abuse prevention and treatment service organizations, serving close to 7,500 men, women (including women with children), and teens each day at more than 152 drug and alcohol treatment and prevention programs in 10 states – California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. For information, visit www.phoenixhouse.org.

For more information about Phoenix House or to schedule an interview with CEO Howard Meitiner, please contact Karen Sodomick, Vice President & Director, Marketing and Communications at 646-505-2093. 

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Over 2,000 celebrities and spectators are expected at this well-loved Hamptons rite of summer. This year’s teams will include: Alec Baldwin, Christie Brinkley, Carl Bernstein, Mort Zuckerman, Lori Singer, B. Smith, Dan Gasby, Greg Bello, Ken Auletta, James Lipton, Jeffrey Lyons, Juliet Papa, Edward Nahem, Kim Stolz, Bonnie Bernstein, Mark Ciardi, Rod Gilbert, Mike Lupica, Bert Sugar, Richard Reeves, and many more to come. Bill Clinton, who has served as an umpire at past events, has written a note of welcome for this year’s attendees.

Phoenix House is one of the nation’s leading non-profit drug and alcohol addiction, prevention, and treatment organizations, serving close to 7,500 men, women (including women with children), and teens each day at more than 152 drug and alcohol treatment and prevention programs in 10 states.

In East Hampton, Phoenix House operates an outpatient center that offers group, individual, and family therapy; and in Wainscott, the organization runs the Phoenix Academy of Long Island, providing residential treatment to teens along with educational and vocational services. Students from the Phoenix Academy of Long Island will be selling hot dogs and other concession items at the game. For information, visit www.phoenixhouse.org.

The event is sponsored by HBO, Mort Zuckerman, CNBC, Ultra Motor, Grumbacher Paints, Spanierman Gallery, Lafayette 148, Alfred Dunner, Snapple, Kaufman Allied Patio Furniture, Stu Sleppin, Kimco, 1010 WINS, Walter Bernard Design, Ronnette Riley Architect, Hollander Design, Madison Copy, Shana Alexander Foundation, B. Smith & Dan Gasby, LIRR, Hollander Design, Thinkscan.com, Fred & Lora Drasner, Edward Nahem Fine Art, Robert Kandall, William Salloway, Ocean Vista Resort, Kendall Veenema, Dr. Wayne Winnick, Eric Ernst & David Gamble – for the Artists Secret Society, Javer Family, The Lodge Restaurant, Janice & Alfred Kelman, Alec Baldwin Foundation, Regan Santry, Shevack Family, U.S. Sports Film Festival, John & Jackie Leo, J & M Emporium, Lane Brettschneider & Caroline DesJardins, and Boulevard Magazine.
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“Addiction is on the upswing, fueled by pressures from our economic downturn,” says Howard Meitiner, President and CEO of Phoenix House, the nation’s largest non-profit alcohol and drug abuse treatment and prevention facility.  “Eighty-eight percent of the population feels that drug abuse is at either serious or crisis levels today, reflecting the devastating impact that addiction is having on individuals, families, and communities.”  

Says Mr. Meitiner: “When people lose their jobs, lose their homes, lose their savings, lose their pensions, they can often lose their self-respect, as well.  And they can often escape into substance abuse and addiction.  At Phoenix House, we have been seeing strong signs of an increase in addiction among those who have been hurt in the financial crisis.  This is fueling a secondary crisis in many American homes – the crisis of addiction.“ 

To gauge public perception and awareness of addiction levels since the economy’s sharp turn last fall, Phoenix House commissioned market research firm Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates to conduct a study that analyzed public attitudes toward various aspects of substance abuse. The study, which gathered data from more than 400 respondents, reveals the vast number of people affected by addiction:

• 34% have friends or family members who are currently struggling with a substance abuse problem.
• 40% stated that drugs have been the cause of troubles in their family at some point during their lifetime.

“These numbers demonstrate that addiction is indeed at a crisis level,” says Mr. Meitiner, “but the majority of people surveyed admitted that they know only a little or nothing at all about substance abuse treatment. We know that truly only 1 in 10 individuals with addiction receive the treatment they need.”

The economic downturn is having serious repercussions in the rising use of drugs and alcohol, the study found:

• 29% feel that younger people are abusing illegal drugs more than usual, and 26% think younger people are drinking more in this economy.
• 18% feel their friends and neighbors are drinking more than usual, and 17% say that is true of their co-workers.
• 8% admit they are abusing drugs more than usual, and 7% admit they are drinking more.

“What these rising numbers underscore is a dangerous, and growing, gap between the need for treatment and the community resources that are available. States, local governments, and non-profits are all facing tremendous budget shortfalls – and they are cutting the resources to help this growing group of addicts in trouble, just when they need it the most,” warns Mr. Meitiner.

“We must recognize and address the debilitating effects of addiction on all of us – whether the addict is a family member, neighbor, or co-worker. Re-allocating resources to treatment is vital not only to the well-being of our communities but to our very ability to weather the severity of this downturn.”

Phoenix House has launched a blog on its website (http://www.phoenixhouse.org/) entitled “Rising above Addiction” at http://phoenixhouse.wordpress.com/  The blog will address a wide variety of issues related to addiction and treatment, including news and trends affecting or affected by addiction.

If you would like to speak with Mr. Meitiner, or other experts at Phoenix House, please contact Davia Temin or Suzanne Oaks of Temin and Company at 212-588-8788.

Phoenix House is one of the nation’s leading non-profit substance abuse prevention and treatment service organizations, serving close to 7,500 men, women (including women with children), and teens each day at more than 152 drug and alcohol treatment and prevention programs in 10 states – California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. For information, visit http://www.phoenixhouse.org/.

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