by admin on July 17, 2010
Tyler W.
Class of June 2009
Tyler W., along with alumnus Laura W., visited The Family Foundation School on Family Day to watch the Chorus/Show Choir’s performance and catch up with students and staff.
Tyler was sent to The Family School on April 25 of ’07 and put into Family Six. Prior to his enrollment, he did poorly in school, hung out with the wrong crowds, experimented with drugs and in his words was “a disrespectful brat.”
For the first couple of months of his stay, Tyler was mad and thought it was going to be too hard. After finding out he wasn’t going home any time soon, Tyler looked at everything in a pessimistic way. With the help of his sponsor, Dave Ginsberg, and the rest of Family six, he got honest with himself and started to like it here. “Family Six really helped me. I couldn’t be alone for one minute without someone coming over and talking to me,” said Tyler.
Tyler graduated in June of ’09 and went to Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. He goes to meetings regularly. He asks for help whenever possible, and gives help to his family and friends as well.
“Have as much fun as you can before you leave. Some memories you had here can last forever,” said Tyler to the June graduates.
by admin on July 17, 2010
Yoni S.
Class of December ‘08
Yoni S., accompanied by alumni Pat M. and Louis L., visited here on a Saturday to hang out with Betton House students and staff.
Before arriving here, Yoni was heavily into drug use, didn’t go to school, partied habitually and had a bad relationship with his family.
He was enrolled on September 26 of ’06, and was put into Family One with Mike and Robin Ducey. At first, Yoni struggled tremendously with being away from home and hated the rules here, and it wasn’t too long before he landed on many sanctions and blackouts.
After some time, Mike Ducey switched Yoni’s sponsor to Tommy Cummings. With a little willingness, Yoni started to work with him. Through taking direction from Cummings and other staff and students, he began to turn a new leaf. He stuck with the winners and soon was given an RA pin and fully received the benefits.
Yoni graduated in December of ’08. When he left, he experienced a time of loneliness and misery, but quickly jumped into AA, got a temporary sponsor and a home group, and took direction. “I can only live on life’s terms,” he said. Now, Yoni attends Hunter College and goes to meetings regularly. “To the June graduate: take direction and be open to other people and what they tell you.”
by admin on July 17, 2010
Ray C.
Attended in 1993
Ray C. visited The Family Foundation School on a weekday and caught up with some staff that helped him out when he was a student. “This school has changed a lot. The school building used to be on farm land,” said Ray, reminiscing.
Ray was a troublemaker at home. He always caused problems and was a pain to the people around him. “I would’ve ended up in jail if I hadn’t come here.”
He was enrolled at The Family in 1993, and quickly resented it. The Family, at the time, was a farm and had a house where everything happened, including table topics with Tony and Betty Argiros as well as school. Ray still struggled here, but got help from his sponsor, Paul Geer, staff and his peers.
After some time, things didn’t work out for Ray. He wasn’t going to graduate here, so Bob Runge put him on a bus and sent him home. At first, he was very angry that he left, and pushed everything away. It wasn’t too long when Ray realized how important The Family was to him. “Life on my own was really hard,” he said.
With help, Ray continued to do what he had to do. He joined the Navy as an corpesman and went to Iraq. He is now married and has a seven-year-old girl. He still follows the principles he learned here and teaches them to his daughter as well. For fun, he paintballs and plays videogames. “Don’t leave what you learned here behind. AA program or no program, hold onto principles,” Ray says to the June grads.
by admin on July 17, 2010
Patrick M.
Transferred March ‘10
Patrick M. came to visit on a recent Saturday.
Patrick was sent to The Family School on August 31 of ’09. Prior to enrolling here, he used and sold drugs and had a negative outlook on life. His drug use led him to a detox clinic and wilderness, and his relationship with his parents was deteriorating.
Patrick was put in Talbot House and had Scott Cole as his sponsor. “At first I hated this place,” he said to The Family Times. He struggled with being away from home, but the kids in his family, such as Austin C., gave him comfort and helped him when he was in bad mind states.
After six months, Patrick was taken out in March. “Life outside this place is hard,” he said. Murphy, to this day, is sober and is going to college next year. For fun, he snowboards and listens to music. “Stay open and just talk to people. It will make your stay much easier with help,” Patrick says to the newcomer.
My Favorite Year
