RRP Special Feature: Peter and Julie Attend Fora Health's 50th Anniversary Gala

​This past weekend, Julie and I had the honor of attending Fora Health's Hope and Freedom Gala, celebrating 50 years of transforming lives. The event's theme was "Disco Glam," and as you'll see from the photos, we went all out in full costume to support the cause. It was a night of fun, reconnections, and heartfelt stories from the recovery community, many of whom have been featured on our Real Recovery Podcast.

A Night of Inspiration and Disco Glam: Celebrating 50 Years of Recovery with Fora Health

Dr. Keith Dempsey

Reverend Steve Newton

The night’s emcee, Dr. Keith Dempsey, did an incredible job of keeping the event on track while motivating and inspiring the crowd with his energy. One of the most moving moments came when Reverend Steve Newton, who was DePaul’s first executive director, shared his experiences. DePaul, of course, being the original facility that has since transformed into what we know today as Fora Health.

Harry Wilson

Harry Wilson followed Reverend Newton with a powerful story of his journey to recovery. Listening to these stories of perseverance and transformation was both humbling and inspiring, reminding us why we do what we do through the Real Recovery Podcast.

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Kelly Russell

The night continued with a thrilling auction, hosted by the ever-talented Kelly Russell, who blew us away with her ability to auction off items at lightning speed! The generosity in the room was palpable, and it was wonderful to witness people rallying around the recovery movement in such a tangible way.

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Doyle Smith

After the auction, the prestigious Freedom Award for this year was presented to Doyle Smith, the Executive Director of Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA) of Oregon. Doyle shared his remarkable story of recovery, rising from personal struggles to lead such an impactful organization. His words left everyone in the room deeply moved. You could feel the raw emotion as Doyle recounted his journey to becoming the leader of DDA, a program that has changed countless lives.

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Addison Blackbond

​Throughout the evening, we were treated to several inspiring videos highlighting participants who have started their recovery journeys through Fora Health. One of the highlights was hearing from Addison Blackbond, a Fora Health graduate, who now works as a house manager. His story of overcoming adversity and helping others on their recovery journeys was truly inspiring. 

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Jessica Varga Peterson

Another highlight of the evening was hearing from Jessica Varga Peterson, the Multnomah County Chair, who announced a generous $6.5 million grant to Fora Health to build much-needed recovery housing. It was a momentous announcement, underscoring Multnomah County’s strong commitment to supporting the recovery movement and the individuals whose lives are transformed through these programs.

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Devarshi Bajpai

​As the event came to a close, Devarshi Bajpai, CEO of Fora Health, thanked everyone for their generous support and contributions. We felt incredibly grateful to be part of such a meaningful celebration. We also had the pleasure of running into Izzy Alvarado, Founder and Executive Director of GTD (Go the Distance), and last year’s Freedom Award recipient, which made the night even more special.

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If you haven't already, be sure to listen to past episodes of the Real Recovery Podcast, featuring some of the incredible individuals who continue to make a difference in the recovery movement. We look forward to including more of the inspiring people we met tonight in future episodes. Visit Real Recovery Podcast to hear their stories of resilience and hope.

Peter & Julie - Real Recovery Podcast

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