To learn more about his inspiring story, check out the Newsday article.

Many thanks to the event chairs: Linda and Jeffrey Chodorow, Cristina Cuomo, Chris DeWolfe, Peter Ezersky, Liz Lange, Diane and Alan Lieberman, Tatiana and Campion Platt and Lauran and Charlie Walk.  Lauran and Charlie Walk were toasted for their indefatigable work on behalf of the Committee.

Many local businesses lent their support to the event; making contributions including Martha Clara Vineyards, Sparkling Pointe Vineyards, Glaceau and Long Island Vodka, and Kristina Klug from Tiffany & Co. donated lovely gifts in recognition of the Kellners and the Binns efforts on behalf of Phoenix House. Phoenix House Board members came out in full force to support the evening including: Phoenix House Foundation Chairman Jeff McDermott, board members Rose Marie Bravo CBE, Allan Cohen, Eric Friedman, George Friedman, Carol Hertling, Doug Schoen, Jay Snyder, Annette Tapert, and Byron Wien.  And Phoenix House Vice Chairman, George Kellner could not have been a more gracious host.

The star of the evening was a young man named Chris who has been receiving treatment at the Phoenix Academy.  His honesty and resilience moved everyone in the audience, as his mother looked on with pride.

After nearly two weeks of rain, Mother Nature cooperated and the sun shone brightly throughout this glorious evening.

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.
————————————————————————————————————–

 Following a proposal submission, Phoenix House was chosen for the Nassau County Reclaiming Futures Initiative for Adolescent Out-Patient Treatment.  This initiative is currently active and development will begin as Phoenix House works in concert with the Reclaiming Futures team in the areas of Adolescent Evidence Based Practices and treatment development immediately.

 In addition Phoenix House has been selected to participate in Year Two of OASAS’ federally funded FASD Project CHOICES to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies. This project begins July 1, 2009. Phoenix House was one of three downstate providers picked. This new project will compliment our two award-winning OASAS programs – Women’s Treatment and the Mother and Child Programs.

Nick

Good Evening, my name is Nick and I’ve been in Phoenix House on Jay Street in Brooklyn for close to a year now.  I brought myself into treatment, it was time.  I had been drinking heavily for 4 years.  I had all the classic signs of an alcoholic.  My hands shook in the morning and I couldn’t wait for that first drink.  I was proud that I never blacked out …until the day that I did.

I was going into the subway at Bay Ridge Avenue and I felt really unsteady… lightheaded and shaky.  When I reached the token booth I just collapsed, cracked my head against the wall, and was lying there going in and out of consciousness.  I blacked out and the next thing I knew somebody’s hands were coming at me…so I fought back.

When I came to I was handcuffed to a hospital bed.  It seemed I’d assaulted an EMS worker who’d come to help me.

Clearly it was time for treatment.  I realized that without professional help I wasn’t going to have much of a life, or a long one.

Treatment works, I already knew that.   Seven years earlier I had a heroin habit.  I had been using for a couple of years before I realized it was out of control.  I signed myself into a residential program upstate and got the help I needed to recover.

Drinking hadn’t been a problem, not when I was a kid, not after I left college and became a bartender.  I had a strong supportive family and good friends.  My troubles started after my parents sold our house and I decided to see more of the world.  That’s when I started to drink heavily and I ended up doing time for drunk driving in Colorado.
You don’t usually go to jail for DWI but I had three arrests in two months.  When I ended up back in New York the drinking only got worse, until that day in the subway.

For treatment I first tried a 28-day program.  Both I and my counselor there realized it wasn’t going to be enough, so he recommended Phoenix House.

People at Phoenix House will tell you how tough the program is, all the rules, all the expectations, and you do get the dirtiest jobs at first.  But in reality Phoenix House is a simple program for complicated people.  The rules and regulations are there to put structure back in your life.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned at Phoenix House is patience.  That was hard and still is.  I learned the difference between what I wanted and what I needed and how to live life on its own terms.  I came to understand that I was, deep down, a decent guy who had made a mistake, and could get past it.

I came to realize I had to listen to that other voice inside my head.  Because when you’re about to do something dumb but fun, the voice that says ‘go for it’ is your own.  The voice that says ‘don’t do it’ is another, and more mature part of you – the one you have to listen to.

I have spent all my time with Phoenix House at the Career Academy in Brooklyn where I’m finishing the Office Skills Course.  So I will be looking for a job soon and preparing to leave treatment.  Eventually I would like to obtain a college degree.

Life has come together pretty well for me and I’d like to thank the people that made it possible, my friends and counselors at Phoenix House and my family, especially my father who is here with me tonight.

Nancy

Good Evening, my name is Nancy and I’m a graduate of the Phoenix Academy.  I’m also a graduate of Rikers Island.  I did four months for selling drugs in 2005.  Did that stop me?  NO…once I was out…I was back selling crack and smoking weed.

When the cops caught me the next time I faced hard time…in state prison…but the judge gave me a choice.  I could go to Phoenix Academy instead.

That was a no brainer.  Of course I went to the academy.  In my head I was beating a bid; I do my time in the program and then be back on the streets.

I was a good student before I got to high school and never got in trouble…but when I got to high school things changed, I really wanted to fit in…and not with the dorks.  The kids I chose to hang with all smoked weed.  So I did too.  We started smoking after school…and eventually I was smoking instead of school.

To fit in with my new friends…I had to look like them and dress like them and buy clothes we couldn’t afford.  That’s when I started selling drugs and eventually got caught.
The Phoenix Academy gave me a chance to change all of that but was I eager to take it?…NO!  I was not easy to deal with.  I didn’t like all of the rules, all of the chores all they wanted me to do, and I had no trouble telling everyone about it.  I wouldn’t shut up!

Things began to change when I started school.  This was a different kind of school, with different kinds of teachers, and I discovered that I could be a much better student than I ever imagined.

But that was school, it took me longer to get with the rest of the program…and it never would have happened if it weren’t for my counselors. They never stopped bugging me; they always stayed on my back…and finally got me to understand that the academy was my last best chance…to become the person I really wanted to be.

For me, that was the great lesson at Phoenix House, coming to know who I really wanted to be.  I‘m not there yet, but I’m getting there. I finished up at the Academy last December.  I’m making up the credits I need to get into college.  I want to study Performing Arts.  My dream is to become an actress.

I’ve made it to Broadway already…working at McDonald’s and someday I have to be on stage.  I’m grateful to everyone who’s helped me get this far…everyone at the Phoenix Academy who gave me such a hard time…Leslie, Geraldine, Jazmine, Jessica, Tamanda, Tina, Earl, Kenny… and most importantly my Mom who never gave up on me and is always there for me.

Facebook Phoenix House

June 16, 2009: Phoenix House Offers Hope for Addicts in Hamptons Community
March 18, 2009: Phoenix Rising Award Dinner to Honor Lisa Ellis, Partner at Carnival House and Fireman Capital Partners, LLC
November 23, 2008 : Cadillac Records Movie Premiere Benefits Phoenix House
October 29, 2008 : Phoenix House Publishes Words That Free Us: Voices of Recovery
May 7, 2008 : Phoenix House Hosts 40th Anniversary Gala at The Plaza
February 12, 2008 : Phoenix Academy’s Model Recognized by SAMHSA
January 01, 2008 : Hamptons “Polar Bears” Take Icy Plunge into New Year
June 26, 2007 : 25th High School Graduation at the Phoenix Academy of New York
June 5, 2007 : Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman Honored at 2007 Public Service Award Dinner
May 1, 2007 : Phoenix House Honors Burberry and SCOOP NYC Executives at 2007 Fashion Award Dinner
February 20, 2007 : Phoenix House Names John Ralosky to Lead New York Region
February 15, 2007 : Phoenix House Names Howard Meitiner President, Plans Expansion of Services, and Opens the Rosenthal Center to Focus on Critical Treatment Issues
November 10, 2006 : Phoenix House Graduation Ceremony Highlights Hope and Promise
August 17, 2006: Phoenix House Responds to Disturbing CASA Survey: Tips for Parents on How to Keep their Kids Safe from Alcohol and Drugs
July 14, 2006: Cheer for your favorite celebrity at the 58th Annual Artists and Writers Softball Game on August 19th in East Hampton
June 27, 2006: Phoenix Academy of New York Graduates Face the Future Drug-Free
June 14, 2006: The Sopranos Join Phoenix House in Honoring HBO’s Chris Albrecht
April 27, 2006: Phoenix House Fashion Award Dinner Honors Frank Doroff of Bloomingdale’s and Andrew Rosen of Theory
January 20, 2006: Former Phoenix Academy Student Receives Beat the Odds Award from Children’s Defense Fund
January 17, 2006: Phoenix House Medical Director Calls for Enhanced Medical Training, Expanded Treatment Services to Combat Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
November 16, 2005: IMPACT Program Names Tessa Vining As Director
June 27, 2005: Phoenix Academy of Westchester: Commencement Ceremony
June 6, 2005: Phoenix House to Honor NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker
October 26, 2004: Mayor Bloomberg Hosts Reception Honoring Phoenix House
October 19, 2004: Mayor Bloomberg Helps Phoenix House Celebrate Reclaimed Lives at Graduation Ceremony
September 1, 2004: RAND Study Documents Benefits of Phoenix House Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment
May 17, 2004: Phoenix House Hosts Community Fair for Harlem Teens
April 28, 2004: Phoenix House Honors Stephen A. Schwarzman, President and CEO, The Blackstone Group
March 28, 2004: Phoenix House Honors Hip-Hop Giant Russell Simmons

Read more news from Phoenix House regions:

• California
• Florida
• New England
• Texas
• Phoenix House Foundation