HAVRE DE GRACE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Father Joseph C. Martin, S.S., passed away nine years ago but his memory is hardly forgotten and what he accomplished is legendary throughout the recovery industry. A huge celebration will be held Sunday, Sept. 16, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the innovative substance abuse treatment center he co-founded with Mae “Ashley” Abraham. Originally named Father Martin’s Ashley and now called Ashley Addiction Treatment, the center continues to be a focal point for alumni who have seen their lives turn around at Ashley.
In 1983, Martin and Abraham co-founded the treatment center with the goal of removing stigmas that deem addiction a choice, rather than a disease, and encouraging holistic treatment to promote lasting recovery. While most treatment centers fail to maintain ties with former patients, Ashley’s alumni network is vibrant, with alumni gatherings on campus and throughout the region, held frequently during the year.
Homecoming on Sept. 16 will be very special, attracting more than one thousand people to the beautiful campus in Havre de Grace. Open to the public, the day will have something for everyone, from a hot air balloon ride gliding above the sprawling 147-acre campus overlooking Chesapeake Bay to a poignant recommitment ceremony to the annual “Matt’s Race for Recovery 5K.”
Rebecca (Becky) Flood, Ashley’s President and CEO, explained: “Recovering from the disease of addiction can be a long and difficult road. Our ‘homecoming’ day on Sept. 16 has special significance to all of us who have made the journey, along with our family and friends. And we welcome everyone else to come and see what we are all about and meet the people whose lives have been truly transformed. We are proud to be celebrating 35 years!”
As has been the tradition for the last three years, homecoming festivities will start with Matt’s Race for Recovery 5K . “This run is a way to honor the legacy of my husband, Matt, while giving back to the place that meant so much to our family during his struggle with addiction,” shared Holly Gifford, who started the race after her husband, a former Ashley patient, lost his battle to the disease of addiction in August of 2015. “Ashley gave me comfort by showing me that our family is not alone in our struggles, and this race is my way to give that same comfort to other families who are affected by this disease.”
As the 35th anniversary approaches, there have been many honors and tributes. A few highlights:
- Flood received the impressive Lifetime Achievement Award on Sept. 8 in Southern California from Miriam’s House, a nonprofit dedicated to reuniting mothers and children and empowering families with the skills for a drug and alcohol abuse-free future. Recognized for her lifelong dedication to helping people in recovery and being a prominent voice on women’s treatment issues, Flood received her award at the annual Polo in the Palisades event.
- In August, key Ashley representatives traveled to Anaheim, CA and Flood presented two prestigious awards: the Father Joseph C. Martin Professional Excellence Award and the Ashley Addiction Treatment Innovator Award at the National Conference on Alcohol and Addiction Disorders (NCAD).
- At the same NCAD conference, Flood was a key figure on a panel that explored how legitimate treatment centers can overcome and differentiate themselves from the many unethical treatment centers receiving widespread negative media attention.
Learn more about Ashley Addiction Treatment’s 35th Anniversary Alumni Homecoming here.
About Ashley Addiction Treatment
Ashley Addiction Treatment (Ashley), celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, is a nationally recognized leader in the integrated, evidence-based treatment of substance-use disorders. Ashley’s expert staff implements a comprehensive program for patients that integrates a full spectrum of medical, clinical and holistic treatment methods. Ashley’s driving principle – “everything for recovery because recovery is everything” – reinforces its timeless mission to heal each individual with respect and dignity and reflects its ongoing commitment to meet new challenges. Accredited by The Joint Commission and a division of Ashley Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Ashley has treated more than 45,000 patients since its inception in 1983. Ashley’s expansive offerings include inpatient as well as outpatient treatment, sobriety enrichment, community outreach, family and children’s education and specialty programs. For more information, please visit http://www.ashleytreatment.org.