Dear Friends and Family,
We hope each of you are well during these trying times. It feels insufficient to say that 2020 has had a windfall of challenges, uncertainties, and unrest. While we are all navigating a difficult and evolving season, the pandemic has placed increasing pressure and financial strain on those seeking help from addiction. Your support was critical in lending much-needed aid, and we hope this update is a bright spot in a universally difficult year.
Your 2019 giving to The Ben Lucas Foundation added $16,050 to the trust, enabling us to disperse $11,600 to Tulip Hill and $6,680 to The ARCHway Institute in January 2020, and an additional $11,600 to Tulip Hill in April 2020. Our remaining balance of $11,581.22 will allow for another dispersal later this year.
We hope you’re encouraged by the following, powerful testimonials of reconciliation and recovery from our scholarship recipients as well as words of thanks from The ARCHway Institute. From the Lucas family and all of us at The Ben Lucas Foundation, we are continually amazed by your generosity and so thankful for your partnership in Ben’s legacy.
Tulip Hill:
William, 37 years old – “The foundation has provided me with the opportunity to not only improve my life but also take the knowledge I have gained and share with people who are still sick from this disease. I came into treatment with a lot of anger and unresolved trauma that I did not even know was trauma at the time. With the help of Tulip Hill staff, I am able move forward in my life with out needing to use drugs to deal with life on life’s terms. I am currently fully involved in the program of Narcotics Anonymous, including having healthy people in my life and working with a sponsor. As a result, I have become fully employed and am scheduled to complete Tulip Hill’s full programming on 4/7/20. I would like to give my sincere to gratitude to the people that made this possible and I will take advantage by giving back and helping others in my life.”
Isaiah, 21 years old – “I have been arrested many times and all have been related to drugs and alcohol. Before I came to Tulip Hill, I was living in my car, stealing from others, and hurting my family and others so that I could use drugs and provide food for my girlfriend and puppy. I did not care about these things at the time because it was the life that I had been living for 6 months. I came into treatment with a lot of anger and Tulip Hill, as well as the community at Tulip Hill, helped me see that I could have a different life. I had lost hope that there was another way to live my life, and now I want to be able to help others in the future. I have more work that I need to do including getting more vulnerable with the people that are trying to help me.”
Nicole – “Before I came to Tulip Hill Recovery, I wasn’t even sure that I was a human being anymore. I felt like nobody cared about me at all. I didn’t even care about myself. I was living on the streets and selling myself, along with every moral I ever had, to live while killing myself with drugs and alcohol the whole time. I went to Recovery Unplugged Nashville for three weeks and was referred to Tulip Hill Recovery. Tulip Hill not only saved my life but gave me a better one! When I first got here, I had no self-esteem, barely any recovery other than detox, and no faith or hope at all. Tulip Hill has helped me with all of that. My clean date is January 23, 2020. In this short period of time at Tulip Hill Recovery, I have been nursed back to health physically, mentally, and spiritually. I am stable and ready to go back into the “real” world to be a productive citizen. Also, since I have been here at Tulip Hill I have reconnected with my family; father, sisters, mother, and most importantly my children. I will be reunited with them shortly after my discharge. That is something that I have never imagined would happen! During my stay I have been accepted into Colorado Technical University Online. I will be starting classes on May 19th, 2020.”
The ARCHway Institute:
“The ARCHway Team want to send out a note to our friends at the Ben Lucas Foundation letting them know how their generosity is helping ARCHway support others during this COVID-19 crisis. The Ben Lucas Foundation has been one of our longest running partners as well as one of our largest financial supporters. Recently the ARCHway Executive Committee approved releasing $10,000 in Grant money immediately to be used as twenty $500 grants to twenty Structured Sober Living Facilities across the country as sustainability grants.
“We all understand the impact this crisis has had on small business and individuals in the hospitality market. Just take a second and think about the impact this crisis has on a facility of 10 or more individuals helping each other on their journey of recovery where many or most have lost their job. Here is the short list of issues they are facing, which include funding for the clients to pay rent, funding for supplies, funding for food, funding to implement new telehealth services, or funds to continue providing recovery housing and peer-coaching assistance.
“The ARCHway Team cannot thank the Ben Lucas Foundation supporters enough for the support you have shown us over many years. During this current crisis, we want you to know how your support is having an impact right this minute.”