“The only

person you are destined to become is the person you

decide to be.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Winter/Spring 2016 www.power-recovery.com

a resource to educate the community & empower

women on their journey of recovery

With her mentor’s support Lea was able to

work through her feelings about a childhood and

adolescence filled with trauma. When she was

11, her step-father, a good parent, moved out

and was replaced by her biological father, an

alcoholic. While her father drank every night, her

older brother was using drugs. “It made him a

Jekyll and Hyde,” Lea says. Another brother

was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and

when Lea was 13, he stabbed their mother.

She survived, and helped Lea through two

miscarriages followed by the birth of Lea’s first

child at age 19. Five months later her mother,

whom Lea called her best friend, died.

Lea turned to drugs to deal with the difficulties

in her life. She started experimenting with

cigarettes when she was 11, marijuana when

she was 12, and crack — supplied by her

brother — when she was 13. She got married,

had three children, and continued to use

for 13 years.

After an inpatient treatment stay, Lea stopped

smoking crack for nine years. She managed a

convenience store and received certification to be

a nursing assistant. Her marriage was stable and

she had a fourth child. But she didn’t have recovery;

she relapsed and started using regularly again.

Three years later, Lea entered a second inpatient

program and a caseworker connected her with a

POWER mentor. That relationship changed Lea’s

life. “My mentor was so kind and patient with

me,” Lea says. “I don’t know why, because I was

really rebellious in treatment. I was just so mad

at myself.” Her mentor helped Lea acquire the

tools she needed to deal with the trauma she’d

experienced and to

work on her recovery.

“We’d sit in her car

and talk for a long time

and then she’d tell me:

‘OK, we know what the

problem is. How do

we get to the solution?’ I hear her voice saying

that in my head all the time. Now I say it to other

people. It’s one of the ways I give back.”

Giving back is Lea’s main goal. She has four

years clean, is working as a home health aide,

and plans to get a degree in social work and

go on from there for her master’s. Ultimately,

she hopes to open a center to teach life skills to

young people — and to believe in them just like

her mentor believed in her.

Success Story

People who go to 12-step meetings are advised to find one person

who believes in them — for Lea, that person was her POWER mentor.

Lea

“My mentor was so kind and patient with me.”

If you were highlighted at POWER Promises or the POWER Luncheon and Fashion Show, please contact Karen Clark, kclark@power-recovery.com, 412-243-7535, x214 about your possible participation in this year’s event. Thank you!

Alums!

Board of Directors Erin M. Felix, President Sherree R. Goldstein, Vice President Susan S. Everingham, Secretary Eileen Simmons, Treasurer Steven Alschuler Emmie Calland Tina Flowers Judith Griggs, PhD Christine Hoover Nancy Kurdyla Judith R. Owen Mary Prezioso Margaret Sitko Virginia Volponi John Wilds, PhD

Advisory Council Arthur M. Scully, III, Chair Jan Bleier Paul E. Block Candi Castleberry Singleton Darieth Chisolm Christopher Dunn Dr. Andrea Fox Judge Livingstone M. Johnson Gayle Manning Grant McLaughlin Terry Miller Tom Murphy Boyd Murray Raj Narendran Jan Pagliari Norma Raiff Kristi Rogers Cindy Shapira Mindy Shreve Lora Sigesmund Joy Starzl Jim Turner Dr. Abraham Twerski Mike Walsh, PhD Sheila Washington Brenda Joyce Waters Karen Farmer White Lois R. O’Connor, Emeritus

Administration Rosa Davis, MSW, ACSW Executive Director

Madelon Edelstone, MEd Associate & Development Director

Debra Raubenstrauch, MPM Director of Finance & Operations

Olivia Zitelli, MSW, SPHR Director of Human Resources, HR-C

POWER welcomes questions, comments, and suggestions from our readers about programs, services, and topics discussed in our newsletter. Please send all inquiries to:

Editor Karen Clark Volunteer Coordinator 412.243.7535, ext. 214

Contributing Writers Rosa Davis, Executive Director

Madelon Edelstone, Associate & Development Director

Design by: SJH Design

dear friends,I can hardly believe that we’re celebrating POWER’s 25th anniversary!

Or that I’ve been with POWER for 24 of those years! Where does the time go?

While I wish with all of my heart that we worked ourselves out of business, that is

sadly not the case. And so I am left with feeling grateful that we’re here for women

who need us, women who have made the difficult decision

to face down their disease and do the hard work of learning

to live in recovery.

I often tell a true story that means a lot to me and that continues to motivate me

even though it happened early on in my tenure as POWER’s Executive Director.

A supporter wanted to treat the women at our residential treatment site, POWER

House, to a lunch out and I went along with the women and staff. The conversation turned to birthdays

for some reason and we went around the table giving our birth dates. When one woman said that her

birthday was February 2, I said that was my birthday too and asked ‘Linda’ where she was born. When

she responded that she was born in Rochester, New York, I could hardly believe it. ‘That’s where I was

born,’ I said. ‘What hospital were you born in?’ To my amazement, we were born in the same hospital,

on the same day and year, and could have been side by side in that hospital nursery! Every time I tell the

story, I get choked up because I think of the vicious nature of addiction and how easily I could have been

the one burdened with it. Who would have thought that one of those babies would grow up and become

addicted to drugs and the other would lead the agency where she sought help?

What I realized then is that no one chooses to grow up and find herself at the mercy of the

devastating disease of addiction. No one chooses to lose children, family, work, and perhaps even

her life to addiction. And that is exactly why POWER has been doing this lifesaving work for 25 years

and why we will continue to do it for women like ‘Linda’ who find the will and the courage to walk

through our doors.

Happy Birthday POWER!

Rosa Davis, MSW, ACSW Executive Director

• Judy Acheson, POWER Therapist, completed the Sexual Orientation

and Gender Identity Expression “Train the Trainer” program in October.

• Katie O’Brien, POWER Therapist, became a Licensed Clinical Social

Worker (LCSW) in October.

• Alessandra Almeida, POWER Therapist, received her credential

as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) in November.

• Kristen Vehar, POWER Mentor, graduated from Carlow University

with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology last fall.

Kudos

Drinking too much — including binge drinking — results in about 23,000 deaths in women and girls each year. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Celebrating 25 years of helping women build a strong foundation for their recovery from addiction.

Scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, May 18, at the

Westin Convention Center Hotel, music, food, silent and live

auctions, and, as always, cheering for POWER graduates,

will combine to create an extraordinary experience for our

guests! We are delighted that this year’s event will also

feature an art sale, curated by Jeffrey Jarzynko, that includes

works by some of this area’s leading artists.

Honorary Chair Leslie C. Davis, UPMC Senior VP, states

“I believe wholeheartedly in the lifesaving work that POWER

is engaged in and I hope that the community will join us

on May 18 to celebrate women in recovery. It will be a

remarkable and inspiring evening.”

David Hickton, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of

Pennsylvania, will be a featured speaker. KDKA’s Brenda

Waters, also a member of POWER’s Advisory Council

and a former member of POWER’s Board of Directors,

will emcee the festivities with former Mayor Tom Murphy

in the role of auctioneer. Music will be provided by

DJ Kelli Burns.

As Executive Director Rosa Davis remarks, “POWER has a

proud history of helping women build a solid foundation for

their recovery and this event will honor the women who have

come to POWER and changed their lives.”

POWER Promises, A Night of Hope, will celebrate POWER’s 25th anniversary in a grand manner!

2009 2013

2013

2012

2010

2014

2015

MAY 18, 2016 / SAVE THE DATE

volunteer newsThank you POWER

volunteers!

Southbrook Middle

School gift wrappers

“People at POWER loved me

when I didn’t know how to love myself.”

~ Lisa

Carol Jeffrey, Marie Guerra, Sandie Stuart, & Dawn Getty were at POWER’s farewell tea for GlaxoSmithKline volunteers.

Shadyside Presbyterian Church held an exhibit of art by POWER clients. Here are POWER Outpatient supervisor Brandi Gurcak with Shadyside’s Eileen Flaherty and one of the client’s pieces.

POWER clients’ artwork

Former volunteer Michelle Campbell

returned to help staff the outpatient

reception desk.

Kaska Komosinski does clerical projects and organized donations of holiday gifts.

Laura Baird assisted Kirsten DeStefano when she brought her dog Snoop to visit House residents.

Linda Kleiman started crocheting afghans to get her through an illness. Now she continues to make afghans and donates a lot of them to POWER clients.

Pastor Melissa Morris, Santa Jim Smith, JoAnn Mospan, & Terry Luterancik of Swissvale Presbyterian Church delivered Christmas in July donations to the POWER House.

Valerie Bacharach invited Erin Dansevicus to do a presentation on Spoken Word in Valerie’s poetry sessions.

Linda Perkins, Marcia Smith, Ernestine Myrick, Gaye Fifer, & Carolyn Burgh walk with House residents at 7:30 am.

Marion Hunt and Rosemary Harris joined the Factory’s staff of volunteer receptionists.

“Volunteers are unpaid not because they’re

worthless, but because they’re priceless.” ~ Erma Bombeck

holiday volunteers!

To become a POWER volunteer, please contact Karen Clark at kclark@power-recovery.com or 412.243.7535, ext. 214

An estimated 2.7 million women abuse drugs or alcohol. Source: Federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, 2012

Discovery Christian Church held a holiday High Tea for POWER House residents.

Discovery Christian Church high tea volunteers gave every House resident a fascinator; here they are wearing their own.

Rosemary Hulsman (center, in green) recruited volunteers to donate and wrap holiday presents for POWER clients for the 24th year in a row.

Karen McCue held a special exercise and Mary Kay pampering session for the holidays.

Jamie Grimes helped Holy Wisdom’s Gail Buchman load gifts for clients’ children.

GlaxoSmithKline staff Sandie Stuart, Anita Lioi, Vicky Clancy & Dawn Getty helped House residents bake holiday cookies for the second year in a row.

Lora Rutkowski delivered 28 hoodies donated at the holidays by St. Louise de Marillac Church.

Pitt’s Campus Women’s Organization members Abby Meinen, Mili Patel, Suzy Hinkle, Max Chis & Katie Kienbaum visited with House residents at the holidays.

POWER staff Linda Perkins and Cheryl Werber help Becky Studer and Betty Duquesnoy unload holiday gifts from the First Unitarian Church’s Women’s Alliance.

Recognition is based on cumulative gifts, including United Way pledges, made from

January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Thank you for your generous support

throughout the year! A full list of donors can be found at power-recovery.com.

Donor Honor Roll

Please report any errors or omissions to 412.243.7535, ext. 223 — thank you!

“Understand and be confident that each of us can make a

difference by caring and acting in small as well

as big ways.” ~ Marian Wright Edelman

Garden of Promises ($1,000+)Allegheny County Conservation DistrictSteven Alschuler & Hannah ArnoldAmcom Office SystemsJan BamfordBNY Mellon Community PartnershipCitizens BankCitizens Bank of PennsylvaniaCochenour Law Offices PCCornell University FoundationKathy D’AppoloniaJames D. Darby, Jr.Gen & Hugh DavidsonPatty DevlinChristopher DunnDuquesne UniversityElsie H. Hillman FoundationErin FelixFirst Commonwealth BankFISA FoundationTina FlowersGateway Rehabilitation CenterGiant Eagle, Inc.GlaxoSmithKline Consumer HealthcareSherree GoldsteinGymkhana Inc.W Clark Hagan TrustHighmark Blue Cross Blue ShieldAnna HilliardChristine HooverJohn R. McCune Charitable TrustLivingstone M. Johnson &

Lee Brun JohnsonLab 8 Designs, inc.Mike & Diana LarsonRobert Levin & Dr. Kerry BronLevin FurnitureLocal Goodness LLCDepartment of Counseling &

Development, Slippery Rock UniversityGayle ManningMassey Charitable TrustLynn McCarthyAnonymousMary McKinneyTom & Mona MurphyJudi & Ron OwenNicholas Payiavlas & Mary PreziosoPNC BankPoint Legal LLCAnonymousRichard King Mellon FoundationRoy A. Hunt FoundationSchneider Downs Wealth

Management Advisors, LPArthur M. Scully, III & Debbie ScullyShadyside Presbyterian ChurchEileen SimmonsMargaret SitkoSitko Bruno, LLCSoroptimist International

of Pittsburgh Inc.Square CafeCarole King & Chip BurkeThe Pittsburgh FoundationThe Wilson Group, LLCThomas Marshall FoundationDean Thompson & Lauren SchneiderUniversity of Pittsburgh

UPMC, UPMC Health Plan & Community Care Behavioral Health

Virginia VolponiJohn Wilds, PhD

Benefactors ($500-$999)3 Rivers Combined Federal Campaign

& FriendsValerie & Paul BacharachBobby Rahal Automotive GroupCelerity LLCChatham UniversityMetLifeDiscovery HouseBob & Barb DunkelmanFred EldridgeFair Oaks Foundation Inc.Drs. Kenneth Thompson & Andrea FoxMarlayna GehrkingGlaxoSmithKline FoundationJean Haller & Henry Haller, IIIKevin HayesJulie HeckerKennon Insurance Consultants Inc.Liberty Insurance AgencyGrant McLaughlinTheresa M. MillerSuzanne ParksSteve & Debbie PaschallTerri I. PatakPerLoraDebra RaubenstrauchSandra & Sam ReimanRevive Marketing GroupKristi RogersMindy J. ShreveWesley Sowers, MD & Sara C. HamelStudio BoothDean Thompson & Lauren SchneiderDavid TownleyTyphoon LightingMr. & Mrs. David B. YatesMiriam M. ZimmerOlivia Zitelli

2015 In-Kind Donors4moms84 Lumber Company/Nemacolin

Woodlands Resort & SpaAdina Mills DesignhouseAllison McGeary Florist, Inc.AllureAnnex CookeryArtist & Craftsman SupplyBaron BatchBella Christie & Lil’ Z’s Sweet Boutiquebig Burrito Restaurant GroupBig Y GroupBistro 19Body Harmony Massage TherapyKaryn BradleyBuzzy PhotographyBYS YogaCaesar’s Designs Fine

Jewelry CreationsCapristo Salon & Wellness SpaCarabellaMaria CarliniCatherinaChildren’s Museum of Pittsburgh

Kathleen CleaverClifford’s RestaurantNancy L. CochranColor Me MineCarol ConstantineContemporary ConceptsAmber Coppings DesignsVivian Lee CroftDave & Buster’sGen & Hugh DavidsonRosa DavisDaviea DavisDiane Cleaners Inc.DinetteSarah DitkaAcoustic DiversionDonato’sEast End Food Co-opMadelon EdelstoneEuro Concepts InternationalEyetiqueFairmont PittsburghFeathersTerry FedeleLyn FerloFrick Art & Historical CenterGeno Levi SalonGiant Eagle, Inc.Kate GrannemannHandcrafted PortraitsFranco HarrisHenne JewelersHepaticaSusie HernishinKaren HowardIzzazu Salon Spa & SerataJames Floral & Gift ShoppeKate JoyceLaVerne KempJoe KingLa FeriaDorothy Samuels LamplLarrimor’sKaren LarsonLegumeLinaBagsAngela LongoMichael LoteneroManchester Craftsmens GuildGayle ManningMansions on FifthMario’s Family Italian RestaurantMaxaltoMax’s Allegheny TavernJenny MenhennetJared MillerTom MosserTom & Mona MurphyShirley NovakOmni William Penn HotelJudi & Ron OwenP.F. Chang’sPamarPamela’s P & G DinersPanera Bread CompanyPatricia BoutiquePerLoraPhilip Pelusi Inc.Marian PhillipsPhipps Conservatory

and Botanical Gardens Inc.

Pittsburgh CLOPittsburgh Opera

Pittsburgh PlayhousePittsburgh Public TheaterPittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Symphony OrchestraPittsburgh Zoo & PPG AquariumPosyJudith PreziosoPursuitsRachel’s Cure by DesignKatie ReardonSandra ReimanMartine RelisRivers ClubRiverside Design Group + Plates with

PurposeBill RizzoSherri RobertsKristi RogersBonnie RubinJudith RuszkowskiSavoy Restaurant & LoungeKeith SchmiedlinJames SchusterScribeSea Glass Fine ArtSerendipityShadyside Variety StoreShannopin Country ClubKathy SickelsSisters Floral DesignsMargaret SitkoSocial @ Bakery SquareSociety for Contemporary CraftSognatoreNina SowiskiSquare CafeKathryn StankoKathy StewartStudio BoothTallulah’s CateringTen Thousand VillagesTennis VillageThe Chocolate MooseThe Picket FenceTrader Joe’sChristine TumpsonVictoriaBrenda J. WatersWildCardWildwood Golf ClubWilliam Penn Jewelers & WatchmakersJonathan WinslowOlivia Zitelli

In Honor of…Winifred Bagley

Gen & Hugh Davidson

Joan BirdDavid Townley

Genevieve DavidsonHugh Davidson

Karen & Alan Waggoner

Erin FelixStephanie Garbe

Sherree GoldsteinJean Comber

Tracey Stayduhar

Ann HarrisGeorgia & Bob Hernandez

Christy HatfieldMegan King

Patty HimesGen & Hugh Davidson

Dorothy IngersollBarbara S. Moore

Valery KeiblerLeslee Keibler

Patty LiljaGen & Hugh Davidson

Theresa MillerGen & Hugh Davidson

Susan MoneyDonna P. Leone

Kristine NipaverGen & Hugh Davidson

Lois O’ConnorDolores Barber

Susan Cramer

James D. Darby, Jr.

Lois Mikus

Norma Raiff

Arthur M. Scully, III & Debbie Scully

Mary PhillipsGen & Hugh Davidson

Jan RochezJacqlyn Stein

Charleen RolandAnonymous

William & Jeannette Smith

Joyce SerratoreBeverly Banovatz

Mindy ShreveJerry Rabinowitz

Margaret SitkoMichelle Bisno, Ed. D

Tina VerbaGen & Hugh Davidson

Karen WaggonerGen & Hugh Davidson

The death rate from drug overdoses is climbing at a much faster pace than other causes of death, jumping to an average of 15 per 100,000 in 2014 from nine per 100,000 in 2003. Source: NY Times.com

Terry spoke recently with Associate and Development Director Madelon Edelstone about

her reasons for including POWER in her planned giving portfolio:

“I’ve loved POWER since before it existed, when it was still a dream and an idea that took

hard work and commitment on the part of many people over a quarter of a century ago. I

couldn’t be more proud and gratified to see how POWER has grown, thanks to past and

current leaders both lay and professional, with Executive Director Rosa Davis at the helm.

When POWER was founded, it consisted of one program — residential treatment

also known as POWER House. Today, it is a comprehensive continuum of services

designed specifically to meet the unique needs of women in recovery from addiction.

I’ve watched, and on occasion played a more active role in, POWER’s steady growth

into an organization which helps more than 1,000 women each year.

I am delighted and honored to be a member

of POWER’s Legacy Society. I want POWER

to be a viable resource for years to come

because women will continue to need

specialized care and treatment. While I wish

that weren’t so, I’m convinced that POWER is

the place where women will get the best care possible. I encourage others who care about

women in need of help as they begin their recovery from addiction, to consider joining me

as a member of POWER’s Legacy Society.”

Terry MillerTerry Miller is a

POWER Founder,

our first Executive

Director, and a

current member

of the POWER

Advisory Council.

Legacy Society Member Spotlight:

If you’re interested in learning more about planned giving, please contact Madelon Edelstone, Associate & Development Director, at 412.243.7535, ext. 215 or medelstone@power-recovery.com to discuss the full range of planned giving options.

“I’ve loved POWER since before it existed, when it was still a dream.”

In Memory of… Eugene Bamford

Elmira BaileyLaura BargerBill BoedekerKenya BoswellLori BrennerJeep BryantKathleen CharochakLily CornelySylvia CrawfordRosa Davis & Madelon EdelstoneAniko DelaneyDawna DelaneyMaria D’ErricoRegina DesbrowHelen GarbowskiRon GruendlLarry HarrisKevin HeineDave Hogg & Jackie Kalocay-HoggDaisey HolmesBobbi KellarStanley KoGeraldine LutzelLeann NigutMargaret SitkoJohn SchanoDonna Schneiderman

Herbert FleckMadelon Edelstone

Haley HigginbothamMichael & Debra Ignelzi

Cindy KolendaAnonymous

Sally LevinRobert Levin

Michaela McBride-Bradley Stephen & Alicia Arbuckle

Theresa McGladeJack & Agnus Berenato

Susan MoneyTimothy BakerCynthia FloresDale Ketcham GravesGary W. Kochanowski, Jr.Lynn Pettyjohn

Thelma NovakShirley Novak

Victor NovakShirley Novak

Lecia ParisBarry Gerber

Robert ParkerMadelon Edelstone

Molly ParksSherree Goldstein

Susan SchmidtJack Buncher FoundationJanet J. EarleNancy S. Hazlett, MDKara LarewChristine ParkerCathy RaphaelFranklin & Ellen Toker

Debra WeignerMindy J. Shreve

Our Mission

Helping women reclaim

their lives from the disease

of addiction to alcohol and

other drugs, and reducing

the incidence of addiction in

future generations

The official registration and financial information of Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Administrative Office 7501 Penn Avenue • Suite 8

Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Phone 412.243.7535 Fax 412.243.8711

www.power-recovery.com

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See more volunteer news inside!

Thank you POWER

volunteers!

During her internship at Met Life, Erin Dansevicus filled her cubicle with donations from co-workers

of items for POWER’s welcome bags.

Susan Leech updated information on all of POWER’s referral sources.

Darlene Notte & Mary Prezioso staffed the Sunflower POWER reservation table.

Cheryl Werber, Menna Abaye, & McKenzie Sauder staffed Sunflower POWER registration.