Lot's of Passion, But Cash Always Helps

In 1969 someone, and I'm not naming any names (Bob Barrett) got the idea that addicts could use a place to get clean, learn about Narcotics Anonymous, and start a new life. Period. That it happened to evolve into Impact, a treatment center that has continued to lead the way in addiction treatment ever since then, is the coincidence of the genius and passion of the men and women who came into treatment in those early years, coupled with the extreme need of a community that was and is wrestling with ever-increasing substance addiction problems.

And then in 1973, a small band of passionate men and women entered Impact for treatment who stayed to become the core, the very heart and soul of what we do here. Sadly, only a few remain. One of them is Jim Stillwell, our Executive Director, a man who could have run any of America's top corporations. Watch him today as he handles the mostly bad news of California's economy, a downward sliding affair that very directly affects Impact's income, our ability to treat men and women who daily place desperate calls to us for help. Jim doesn't give up, he doesn't punish the indigent as our politicians do, he makes solutions. Another of our leaders stemming from 1973 is Debi Stillwell (yes, they met here) who is the Human Resources Coordinator. Impact has won awards for its leadership in Human Resources. I'll tell you more about her later.

But what I wanted to talk about really, was the 40th Birthday. Impact was a Grassroots operation. When it was founded by Bob Barrett and another clean addict and a woman who had only recently lost her son to an overdose, they funded the first location by having a dance. They made a couple of hundred dollars. Thy used the money to rent a house in Sun Valley and brought in a few addicts to detox and get clean and go to NA meetings and that is how it started. There were no other programs to imitate. There were no rules. It was a work in progress, and what a work it became.

Who woulda thunk it? So 40 years later. I sent out a letter and asked people for a gift of $40 for 40 years, and we got $7,300! Pretty nice, isn't it? I want to thank all of those people for their gifts. Some people sent in $15. Some sent in $1,000. People do what they can. And we are grateful.

And just so you know, we currently have eight clients who are in treatment who are here for free. No cash, no insurance, no federal, state, county contracts. That is why we are always asking for money. That is how you can help.