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.

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.”

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.

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.

Carmen A.

Class of June 2006

Carmen A., a Family Foundation School graduate and daughter of owner Mike Argiros, is marrying staff member and alumnus Chris S. in October. She currently lives near the school and visits here on occasion.

Before attending, Carmen always wanted to come to The Family School to partake in the music program and to achieve good grades. She started attending school here in 2003 and became a day student. She quickly got involved in chorus, show choir, dance and musicals such as, “Guys & Dolls” and “Grease.”

Carmen graduated in June of ’06. Even though she didn’t live at the school or have major issues, Carmen learned a lot about the importance of principles such as honesty and was grateful for the camaraderie between the girls in Family One. “Family One really pushed me to demand excellence out of myself,” said Carmen.

“To the June graduate: this school may seem like a bubble, but what you learned here will apply in everyday life. To the newcomer: keep an open mind and try to stay positive,” said Carmen.

Chris S.

Class of December 2006

Chris S., a former graduate who interned here for psychology a couple of months ago, is now working here full-time.

Chris arrived at The Family School on February 2 of ’05 and was placed in Family Four. Before arriving, Scott was an angry, arrogant kid with many issues. He suffered with depression and was disrespectful to the people who loved him.

From the start, Chris was very angry about being here. “I couldn’t wait to leave this place,” he said, recollecting. After a while, he began to open up and took suggestions. Along with Family Four’s students and staff, one of the most influential people who helped Chris was Tex Schumate. “You could have a good day, unless you made other plans. That’s what Tex would always say to me when I was down,” said Chris.

Chris began to work a program. He got in touch with his spiritual side, and started to understand the phrase “Let Go and Let God.” He joined performing arts, participating in chorus and show choir.

Chris graduated in December of ’06. Afterwards, he went to a community college, took online courses, and was involved in a DARPA project. He finished his psychology degree and is planning on working in the counseling department here. He is engaged to Carmen A., a former alumnus and daughter of one of The Family School’s owners Mike Argiros, and is planning to marry in October. For fun, Scott likes to sing in barbershop, a type of unaccompanied music.

“Good luck and remember that God is always with you wherever you go,” Chris says to the June graduates.

Terri E.

Attended 2002 -2005

Terri E., along with a couple of Family Foundation School alumni, visited the school to host a Sunday AA meeting.

Terri arrived at The Family School in 2002 as a young girl who did not know how to respect herself and others.  Her careless attitude towards life, drug and alcohol addiction, and harmful relationships landed her at the school for three years.

For a long time Terri didn’t want much to do with the rules, let alone try to give herself to God and the program.  After faking her way to the top, she didn’t want to stay any longer, so Terri decided to walk when she turned 18.  She managed to make her way into the rooms of AA, but eventually relapsed for about five months.

There were many times she thought about coming back to the school, but her pride stood in the way. Terri became so miserable that she decided to make a change, so she got a sponsor and started to open up to God.

Nowadays, Terri attends meetings as often as possible and gives her will up to God each and every day. In stressful situations, she uses the serenity prayer. She is living proof that the program  can work for anyone, and to any newcomers who don’t think it can work for them, Terri says, “don’t give up before the miracle happens!”

Mike O.

Class of June 05’

Mike O., accompanied by other Family Foundation School alumni and friends, visited the school to share his story at a Sunday AA meeting in the gym. Students were enlightened by his experience, strength and hope, and the June graduates took a lot of advice on living life outside FFS from the alumnus.

Mike arrived at The Family School angry, depressed and confused. Before his enrollment, he stole regularly and acted out on his emotions violently. Mike, even months after his arrival, was on many sanctions and was miserable. It took running away and many violent outbursts for him to finally accept help. With the aid of his peers, Mike Losicco, prayer and God as he understood him, he turned it around and began to walk along a better path.

After a couple of years at FFS, Mike graduated in June of ’05. “I was very nervous, but excited and happy to graduate,” he said. After graduating, Mike and a bunch of alumni went with Father Stephen to Lourdes, France to serve the sick and poor. He then attended Betton House with Mike and Roxi Losicco and went to a college nearby.

After a while, Mike developed serious drug and alcohol problems. He began to drink and use heavily, which made him more miserable. “The pain got so bad that I came into the rooms of AA to get sober.” He started going to meetings regularly, found a sponsor and a home group, and started working the steps. Through the fellowship, Mike got back on the road which FFS paved for him, while staying sober.

Mike now works full time, prays to his God every day and lives honestly and happily. “If you’re in need of help, don’t be afraid to ask,” he said as a message to the June graduates.

Nate Z.

Class of August ‘98

Nate Z., along with his wife and one of two children, recently attended the The Family Foundation School Passover Seder to visit with staff and students and to enjoy the feast.

Before arriving at The Family School in March ’97, Nate repeatedly used drugs, had a pessimistic, negative outlook on his life, and treated his family with disrespect. “I was basically a spoiled brat who had it his way all the time,” he said. Nate, after being intaked, was enrolled into Family Two with Bob and Susan Runge. He was quickly welcomed by students and staff such as Jan Cheripko and Paul Geer. But, even with all the positive influence, he didn’t want to fully surrender.

After ten months at the school, Nate still had no real interest in the program and put on another face showing that he did. “I was playing the game,” he stated. After getting sick and tired of lying to his peers, he ran away. Coming back willingly was still difficult, since his parents threatened to disown him and sanctions were piled onto him. Once Nate realized that it was all up to him, he began to pray and do some work with his sponsor and his peers. “It soon began to work.”

Responsibilities, school work, and other activities such as chorus kept him busy and out of his head. For a couple of months, Nate worked with Chris Stein in journalism and eventually graduated in August of ’98. After graduating, he went home to work for a year, and went to college for a year. He worked at The Family School, in time, and soon found his wife-to-be.

Nate now owns a printing company and supplies printing materials to FFS. Nate has two little girls, and he can say openly that his life is amazing. He regularly goes to meetings, and strives to live a life of integrity. “To the seniors graduating in June: hold onto the things that are true. If you’re new to FFS, try talking to someone who you can relate to.”

Megan C.

Class of June ‘98

Megan C. visited The Family Foundation School on a chilly Sunday and hung out with Mike Argiros and other staff. Megan was surprised about how much the school has changed since her graduation in 1998.

Megan arrived at The Family School in December of 1994. Before being enrolled, she ditched school habitually, experimented with substances, hung out with bad influences and overall had a profoundly negative attitude. “I basically ditched my whole ninth grade,” she stated. Her mother passed away while she was still young and she never knew how to cope with her feelings. After a long time of trouble, her father had to trick her into coming to the school.

When she arrived at FFS, there was only one family and about 70 students. She was 16 years old at the time, and she had tremendous anger issues. After a year at the school, she went on a home visit and ran away. After a talk with her father, she came back to the school and was landed on a ton of sanctions. “I was shoveling rocks on Christmas Eve while everyone was inside enjoying themselves, and I realized that I couldn’t live like this,” she said.

After recognizing her powerlessness, Megan began to see the rewards of being honest and unselfish. She turned it around, slowly, and ended up graduating from  high school in June ’98. After graduation, she stayed local and worked at the school for a while. After a short time, she moved to Orange County, NY, got married, and is now working as an office manager at a doctor’s firm.

Megan still practices the principals she learned at FFS and uses the Serenity Prayer as often as possible. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you truly need it. Pride can be a road blocker,” she said. “Life is good once you can be grateful for it.” Megan just recently went to Ireland, and is soon going to England for ten days with some of her friends.