McAlister Institute, an East County-based center for addiction recovery in San Diego County, is hosting its 8th Annual Miracles of Recovery Luncheon on Tuesday, May 20, at 11:15 a.m. at Coasterra on Harbor Island. This special fundraising event supports McAlister Institute’s mission to break the stigma surrounding alcoholism and drug addiction, while also providing vital resources to individuals on their recovery journey.
The luncheon allows McAlister Institute staff, donors, individuals in recovery, and community advocates to come together and celebrate the organization’s ongoing mission of providing critical alcohol and drug treatment services to those in need. This year’s event will also commemorate a significant milestone, as it marks the introduction of McAlister Institute’s new Chief Executive Officer, Marisa Varond.
Varond said she hopes that this year’s event will be very special because it is her first year as CEO.
“Jeanne [McAlister] and the Board passed the torch to me last year. But it was very ceremonious and as of August I have been in this role and looking forward to sharing about my vision of where we hope to be in the coming year and years ahead. To connect with our community, and not only beat the stigma of addiction, but raise awareness of our treatment as well,” she said.
Varond said this event tries to cater to people that have very busy schedules.
“For two hours we have mingling and a short program, as well as an opportunity to give at the end,” she said. “We usually have about 220 people, which actually feels quite intimate, and gives the opportunity for people to talk to other people who are leaders in the field, see what they do, and are part of the fabric of the community helping us fight substance abuse.”
“We are the largest nonprofit provider of substance abuse treatment in San Diego,” she continued. “This will help me articulate our vision for the future and be a place to start your journey if you call about anything that is impacting your family member that you could use more support on. More specifically, this coming year we just purchased a new facility [in the El Cerrito neighborhood], and we are also working to open a call center so that we can have a true and physical single front door to treatment to increase access.”
Hosted by NBC 7 anchor and reporter Omari Fleming, the luncheon will feature a keynote address from Scott Wahl, the 26th Chief of Police for the City of San Diego.
“We are excited to invite the community to our 8th Annual Miracles of Recovery Luncheon to celebrate the progress we’ve made and the work still to come,” said Varond. “With less than 6% of people ever receiving the treatment that they need, it’s critical to continue the conversation to let people know that help and hope are available. We all know someone who’s on the road to recovery, and at McAlister Institute, we are committed to meeting them where they are and offering the support they need. This event will help us raise the necessary funds to continue our vital work across our 23 programs and create lasting change for those in need.”