Father's Day

“The day I turned ten, my father was so high on drugs, he didn’t realize it was my birthday,” recalls Charles. For many years, I wanted nothing to do with him because it was obvious he felt the drugs were more important than his relationship with his kids. When my father went to treatment at Phoenix House, I was skeptical. I had been so angry for so long, and it was hard to get over that. One of my most vivid memories is going to Family Day at Phoenix House and for the first time seeing my father clean. When he would talk about his days of drug abuse, I could see the pain he felt and his awareness of the hurt he’d caused but also the determination he had to maintain his sobriety. I began to see the changes he was making in his life, and I realized we’d been blessed with a new beginning. We started to spend time together, and it wasn’t easy, but we slowly began to reconnect.

As Father’s Day approaches, we at Phoenix House are asking you to honor all fathers and families by helping us enable more people struggling with addiction to reclaim their lives and connections with their loved ones.

Today we are closer than I’d ever imagined possible. My dad has been free of drugs for more than ten years. I am so proud of what he has accomplished through Phoenix House – and even more proud of our relationship today.” We at Phoenix House believe that no life need be wasted. Each is worthy of a fresh start and can achieve it, given opportunity and the tools of success – the skills, the will, and social capital. To do that, we need your help. This Father’s Day, we hope you will consider contributing to Phoenix House and enabling us to continue to change lives and mend families. In these challenging economic times, your gift is more important than ever. Learn how you can play a part in helping others like Charles and his family today.