RALEIGH, NC (July 8, 2019) – Healing Transitions is pleased to announce a $1 million pledge gift from the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. The gift marks the beginning of the non-profit’s $11.75 million multi-year capital campaign, Recovery Can’t Wait.
“When we first opened the men’s campus in 2001, the A.J. Fletcher Foundation provided office space and covered our initial start-up costs as our facilities were being constructed. They have been with us since the beginning, and they remain committed to supporting us in this life-saving work. We are thrilled that they are partnering with us again at this critical moment,” said Chris Budnick, Executive Director, Healing Transitions. “We will never turn anyone away, but every day, our staff face the challenge of providing more and more services to people in need, with little to no additional resources. This crucial gift signifies how important and urgent this project is, not only for Healing Transitions, but for our entire community.”
The A.J. Fletcher Foundation works alongside visionary leaders and organizations to improve the lives and well-being of North Carolinians. One of the honorary campaign chairpersons, Barbara Goodmon, announced the donation at a campaign kick-off event for volunteers and supporters at her home recently. Ms. Goodmon serves together with two other honorary campaign chairpersons, Maria Spaulding and Evelyn Barber. Ms. Spaulding is an original founding board member as was Ms. Barber’s husband, Fred. All three honorary campaign chairpersons, along with campaign co-chairs Dr. Robert Bilbro and his wife, Carol Bilbro, have committed their lives to the cause of helping others find health, hope and healing through Healing Transitions’ work.
“Healing Transitions is changing lives every day, and I’ve seen the incredible impact they’ve had on our community over the past 18 years,” said Barbara Goodmon, one of the campaign’s honorary chairpersons and President of the A.J. Fletcher Foundation. “We believe wholeheartedly in the hard work they’re doing every day to help men and women begin and sustain their recovery journeys, and we welcome our fellow community leaders to join us in this fundraising effort.”
More than 20 million Americans are battling addiction and in need of immediate help. Thousands of those men and women live right here in Wake County. As the opioid crisis continues to accelerate, Healing Transitions’ average daily census has increased a staggering 186 percent since it first opened its doors in 2001.
This generous commitment will create significant momentum for the campaign and will help the organization expand its programs and services for hundreds of men and women who want to find recovery, stay in recovery and have the best quality of life in recovery. Specifically, the capital campaign will transform both the men’s and women’s campuses by adding more than 200 beds and expanding the living space, classrooms, dining facilities and community areas for all participants.
For more information about the Recovery Can’t Wait campaign, please visit RecoveryCantWait.org.
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About Healing Transitions
Healing Transitions is a non-profit organization that provides free, life-saving recovery services to more than 300 homeless, uninsured and underserved individuals in Wake County every day. Their innovative, peer-run program is always open to those who need assistance, and they never turn anyone anyway. For more information, visit Healing-Transitions.org.
About the A.J. Fletcher Foundation
The A.J. Fletcher Foundation works with visionary leaders and organizations working to make our state better. We are passionate and honored to work alongside those on the front lines of our most pressing challenges. To learn more, go to AJF.org.