Fellowship Health Resources raises $75K to aid mental illness, addiction recovery efforts

PROVIDENCE – Fellowship Health Resources Inc. raised $75,000 at its 40th anniversary celebration in early November at Roger Williams Park Casino.
The fundraiser helps boost awareness and support for individuals in recovery from mental illness and addiction disorders. Proceeds from the event will help individuals served by FHR across eight states, enabling the nonprofit to continue providing person-centered care in its residential, educational, clinical and therapeutic services.
Community partners, supporters and FHR’s board of directors and staff commemorated the organization’s 40-year history and the services FHR provides in the community.
FHR provides behavioral health services to improve the quality of life for individuals living with mental illness and addictions.
“FHR opened its first program in Warwick, R.I., in 1975 – the first community residence in the state of Rhode Island [with] six staff [serving] 12 individuals,” said Colin Murphy, secretary of the board of directors. “Our organization has steadily grown since then, and now successfully runs 80 programs which support 4,500 individuals every day.”
The fundraiser included a silent auction and musical performances by Meg Hutchinson, who shared her experiences living with bipolar disorder through song. A Journey of Recovery video was also presented, in which Lisa Boulanger, someone who has both received services and been employed by FHR, spoke about how she was able to overcome major obstacles in her life with the organization’s support.
“Without FHR, I wouldn’t be where I am,” said Boulanger. “I thank them for being an organization that sees each individual for who they are as a person – a person who may have a diagnosis, [though] that [is] not what defines them.”
The $75,000 raised, a fundraising record for the organization, was made possible through a number of community supporters, including platinum sponsor Starkweather & Shepley. A “Board Member Challenge” also drew financial support from FHR’s board members totaling more than $20,000.
“Working together, with all of our supporters, I am confident that FHR will continue to expand the national conversation about mental illness and recovery, assist in educating the public, reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, and counter those that would have you believe that individuals in recovery cannot be productive citizens,” said Debra M. Paul, FHR president and CEO. “We can and will help people everywhere understand that with the right supports and compassion, recovery is possible.”
For more information, visit www.fhr.net.

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