With Austin’s reputation as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” building a music program here gives us the unique opportunity to tap professional local talent. Once the project is complete, our clients will be able to create music, learn digital song composition, and experience a healthy, fun, and positive outlet for personal expression. We are excited to house this studio and very grateful to Ms. DioGuardi for her generosity and concern for teenagers in Texas.

“This is a unique opportunity for those of us in public office to pay tribute to the many citizens and businesses who work hard to protect their neighborhoods, companies, and themselves against the devastation of drugs,” said Mayor White of Houston.

Sponsors for this event and award include Houston Crackdown, the anti-drug division of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Houston Office of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Clear Channel Communications.

A special luncheon was held to recognize Phoenix House achievements in Houston toward drug and crime prevention. In addition to the luncheon, Phoenix House Houston received a crystal star award, acknowledgment from the City of Houston, and a grand prize of billboard displays along major freeways throughout Houston and Harris counties to showcase our accomplishment.

We are very proud of our Houston programs director, Marcia Baker, and her team, who have worked diligently to attain this exciting honor!

The Dallas Associates group, led by Laurie Montoya, is heading up this endeavor and hopes the community will donate new or used books (or funds/gift cards toward the purchase of books). The “Library Initiative” is important to our Feinberg clients as a means of education, as well as a positive potential hobby. Presently, the book collection at the Academy is lacking, aside from standard high school curricula and text.

If you or someone you know has new or used books to donate, please contact Laurie Montoya at laurie@shopperati.com.

A big thank you to Chef Andrew Savoie and the Dallas Art Institute Culinary School for generously donating food and their time to serving the kids at Feinberg Academy!

In August, the Phoenix House Dallas Associates kicked off a new Mentoring Program at the Hill A. Feinberg Academy in Dallas. Associates members Dale Scofield and Steve Wolff have enlisted the help and expertise of several local businessmen and women. These industry leaders work in fields that the clients have expressed personal interest in pursuing one day. So far, the kids have enjoyed educational life stories from the likes of a Navy seal, pharmacist, photographer, chef, electrician, among several others. The clients have shown incredible excitement and attentiveness as they listen to testimonies of how the professionals have achieved success in their individual occupations and learn the paths they took to reach their career goals. The Mentoring Program has been a wonderful success so far, and we expect the impact of this initiative to be of great and lasting significance to our clients.

On Sunday, October 18th, the SAE members hosted a BBQ for the Phoenix House Feinberg Academy residents. The kids enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, fun and games as they got to know the fraternity brothers. Both the SAE members, as well as the clients, thoroughly enjoyed the outing and look forward to an ongoing relationship between organizations. For the SMU student newspaper story, please click here.