December 2009 Aaron Meyer Foundation Newsletter
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Surprising Financial Donations
The story of Aaron’s House from a seed of an idea to fruition inspires people from coast to coast. In the late summer a Madison family announced their decision to gift the Foundation with $25,000. A few months later, a gentleman in California having heard the story of Aaron Meyer and his idea for what became Aaron’s House sent a note and a check for another $25,000. We are humbled by this generosity.
Building Support
Aaron’s House continues to pass the test of credibility in the area of substance addiction recovery. The Green Bay Packer’s Foundation gave Aaron’s House, the facility and the program, a thorough review and awarded a $2,500.00 grant. We have requested their support again this year and expect to know more after the Packer’s season.
Board Additions
We are in a new phase of operation and we are grateful to past board members who got us to where we are today—Tim Kritter, Judy Walsh, Linda Leonhart, Steve Larson.
We welcomed Cathy Meyer, Nancy Johnson-Cramer, and Bob Dunn to leadership positions on the Foundation Board of Directors. Cathy, Aaron’s mother and legal secretary is our Secretary. Nancy, a school psychologist in the Madison School District and occupational therapist is our Vice President. Bob Dunn, the guiding force of Hammes Company Sports our director of business development.
The Aaron Meyer Foundation is relevant in the substance use recovery solution discussion. A non-profit business, the Foundation has established itself as a respected resource for recovery.
Participating in the Discussion
The University of Wisconsin and Madison College and Aaron’s House have a natural connection and from that we’ve built special relationships with each other. Each year we participate in the UW’s Boys and Girls at Risk conference. Professionals from around the mid-west and the U.S. come here to learn more about the emerging science of gender differences and Aaron’s House is always a sponsor and presenter.
The Wisconsin Challenge Academy invited us to present to their cadet parents at their weekend parent conference in the fall. Two hundred parents heard what Aaron’s House resident parents know. In Aaron’s words: “You gotta do something about you.” We are invited back to speak to the next parent groups in May.
Expansion of Our Mission
Education is a key component to a foundation of sobriety for young men and women in early recovery. Board Vice President Nancy Johnson-Cramer has coordinated basic educational opportunities with the local post-high school educational institutions. Nancy’s objective is to make it easy for the Student-Residents at Aaron’s House to re-establish higher education in their lives.
Become a Friend of Aaron’s House on Facebook
Tessa Vike and Joe Kuehn put Aaron’s House into the social media network on-line. Go to Facebook.com and “friend” Aaron’s House. Tessa and Joe created the 12-26 Fund to raise $5200.00 in the next 12 months to use for educational scholarships for the Student-Residents. Their simple idea involves organizing 200 volunteers to save $26.00 each in 12 months (12 months 26 dollars).
Be a friend and save 50 Cents a week with us. On 12-26-10 make your $26.00 donation at www.AaronMeyerFoundation.org
Third Year
On August 13th, 2009 the House-Mentor, and Clinical-Director started our third school year of operation. We opened again with a full house of four student-residents and this year we had waiting list.
Annual Request—It’s in the mail…
Aaron’s House helps and helps and helps because of you. We host 4 young men at any one time but the help goes way beyond “4”. Each Student-Resident has parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, more family, friends, educators, employers, and on and on. These people all receive the goodness that comes from recovery of one person. Your financial support stays right here in Dane County making the community a little better place.
Student-Residents in Lambeau
New board member Bob Dunn and his firm Hammes Company renovated Lambeau Field. Hammes has 50 yard line box for each game and the Student-Residents were Bob’s guests for opening night against the Chicago Bears. Good times come to those who do the next right thing one day at a time and the guys certainly had GoodTimes watching the Packers get off to a winning start.