Utica, New York (March 2024) – The Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. will hold their Annual Awareness Breakfast on Tuesday, April 2nd at 8:30 am at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro, and is open to the public. Tickets are $35 and are available at https://centerforfamilylifeandrecoverycflr-bloom.kindful.com/e/annual-cflr-breakfast-2
This signature event, which coincides with Alcohol Awareness Month, also recognizes the contributions of the community in helping support our agency’s vision to be a leader in creating a world where people have the power to achieve and celebrate recovery. There will also be informational booths from service providers from all over the Mohawk Valley and Central NY providing information on recovery and prevention services.
This year, the Amethyst Award & the Paul Dunn Advocacy Award will be presented to two members of our community who have helped others by inspiring them with the message of hope and recovery in the fields of mental health and substance use disorders.
Tim Foley will receive the Paul Dunn Advocacy Award. The Paul Dunn Advocacy Award is named after long-time CFLR Board member, Paul Dunn as a tribute to his unending commitment to advocacy and recovery efforts in our community. Tim Foley, a practicing attorney who is also a partner with Ward Arcuri Foley & Dwyer grew up in Utica and Old Forge. He has been in recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction for more than 30 years. Tim, an ultimate advocate for recovery, considers it a responsibility to share his story with others whenever given the opportunity as he genuinely believes that when there is help there is hope.
Megan Flanders will receive the Amethyst Award. Megan received multiple nominations this year. One of her nominators said, “Megan is a staple in this community for people in recovery as well as people still battling active addiction…. She will go to the ends of the earth to make sure every human being [is] getting the services and resources they deserve. She is a lead for the harm reduction movement as well as anti-stigma in Oneida county.” Another nominator said, “I have personally seen her help people at all stages of recovery, and she goes way beyond her job title to help.” Megan works for ACR Health.
“We want to recognize all our partners who play a role in the recovery community, whether it’s inpatient or outpatient, support groups, peer services, life skills, or advocacy,” says CFLR’s CEO Cassandra Sheets. “The Mohawk Valley is fortunate to have strong, community-minded leaders. For the friends and loved ones who are rebuilding their lives in recovery, the support they find locally helps to increase their chances of success. This area has numerous resources to help individuals and families get clean, sober, and achieve long-term recovery,” Sheets said. “This year our focus of the event is on peer advocacy and peer services, in lieu of one keynote speaker this year we will have several Peer Advocates sharing how this program has supported them in their recovery journey. As a key stakeholder and supporter of the peer program in Oneida Country, we are also thrilled to have Anthony Picente, the County Executive as our Master of Ceremonies.”
Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. is proud to be the area’s leading expert in advocacy, prevention, counseling, and employee assistance programs. Along with supporting individuals and families struggling with addiction and recovery, mental health, and behavioral issues, CFLR’s goal is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness, and transform lives. To learn more, visit www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com
