Summary box
More than $38,000 was raised at Overdose Lifeline’s Freedom to Rise Breakfast to support families affected by substance use disorder across Indiana. Speakers from Heart Rock Justus Family Recovery Center, Camp Mariposa Aaron’s Place, and the Indiana Department of Child Services highlighted the lasting impact of community-centered recovery programs on children, mothers, and families navigating addiction.
This year’s Freedom to Rise Breakfast raised over $38,000 to directly support Overdose Lifeline’s family-serving programs: Heart Rock Justus Family Recovery Center and Camp Mariposa Aaron’s Place. The lifesaving funds were raised through a combination of sponsorships, ticket sales, donations, matching gifts, and merchandise sales, reinforcing the community-minded approach that these programs offer.
Speakers from Overdose Lifeline, Camp Mariposa: Aaron’s Place, the Heart Rock Justus Family Recovery Center, and the Indiana Department of Child Services reflected on the power of community in supporting recovery for both those dealing with substance use disorder and their families. This event helps humanize the impact of Overdose Lifeline’s work, reduce stigma commonly associated with substance use, recovery, and family trauma, showcase the power of community and support, inspire action and hope, and highlight healing and resilience.
The Heartfelt Impacts of Supporting Addiction Recovery
Justin Phillips, CEO of Overdose Lifeline, began with remarks on how the children affected by addiction are often overlooked, and how helping these children creates a long-standing impact that can heal the trauma substance use disorders leave behind and reverse the trend of generational addiction.
“Too often, addiction is treated like a divide, something that separates us from them. A gap filled with shame, stigma, and silence. A belief that struggle is a choice, and setbacks are a failure. But what if we chose to see it differently? At Overdose Lifeline, we reject that divide. We recognize addiction for what it is: a chronic brain disease. We respond with the level of care that other chronic diseases deserve: compassion and connection. We walk alongside individuals and families offering tools for recovery and healing. We support women at Heart Rock as they rebuild their lives with strength, dignity, and the support they deserve. We create spaces like Aaron’s Place Programming where young people lean on mentors and know that they didn’t cause it, they can’t control it, and they can’t cure it. They can take care of themselves,” said Phillips.
Providing a Safe Space for Children Affected by Substance Use Disorder
Keynote speaker Jennifer Dorfmeyer, Acting Director at the Indiana Department of Child Services, spoke about the impact substance use has on children and families. She shared how programs like Camp Mariposa Aaron’s Place give children language, connection, and stability during difficult times, drawing on both her work at DCS and her personal experiences.
“At any given time, between 12,000 and 14,000 children are involved in our system. Two-thirds of those children have experienced substance use in their families. That’s a startling statistic, and I think we can do better. And when I say we, I don’t mean just DCS. I mean all of us as a community,” said Dorfmeyer.
This point of community action cemented the day’s theme. It takes a village when it comes to supporting addiction recovery. We have to check our egos, shed the stigmas associated with substance use disorder, and show up for individuals and families left in the wake of addiction.
Camp Mariposa: Aaron’s Place’s Impact in the Home
Cassie Wonnel, Camp Mentor and Doctoral Candidate at Indiana University, spoke about how occupational therapy increases harm prevention by transforming education into everyday routines. For example, she highlighted the creation of Camp Carry On, a take-home toolkit that helps families continue practicing prevention skills after Camp Mariposa weekends end.
“Prevention becomes something that families can practice together, not something kids are expected to manage alone,” said Wonnel.
Addiction Recovery Program Success Stories
The breakfast rounded out with a fireside chat led by Dr. Leah Van Antwerp, Occupational Therapist at Heart Rock, alongside Avery Brough (IU student), Ashley Bennet (Heart Rock graduate), Malacia Poole (Heart Rock resident), and Shannon Hodges (Heart Rock resident).
“My favorite part of this work is seeing moments of growth when a baby reaches a new milestone or when a mom realizes she can do something she once doubted. Those moments remind me that healing is possible not because the past disappears but because we support each mother and child in building something new,” said Dr. Antwerp.
Ashley spoke about her positive experiences at Heart Rock and how they helped her surface from one of the worst times in her life, shedding the guilt and shame she felt and, through her recovery work, turning those feelings into gratitude and a desire to do things the right way for both her and her child.
“Heart Rock played a huge role in helping me rebuild. It gave me a safe place to grow, not just as a person but as another. I was able to learn new parenting skills, work on myself, and have people around me who believed in me even when I was struggling to believe in myself,” said Bennet.
Acknowledgment of Supporters
Thank you to the 205 attendees for showing up for those affected by substance use disorder. Freedom to Rise would not be possible or effective without the generosity of our community. We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors, board members, partners, and individual donors who made this morning possible. Your invaluable support fuels the work we do to help families across Indiana have access to the compassion and care they deserve in pursuing addiction recovery.
We’d like to especially thank our Platinum Sponsor, James Babcock, Inc., our Gold Sponsors, The Justus Companies, The Nick Lackey Foundation, and Pat Corsi & Friends, and all of our Table and Advocate Sponsors.
Continuing the Mission
There is still time to give, and we encourage you to share these stories of impact with others, especially those who may need to hear that they are not alone. Together, we are creating a brighter, more hopeful future for individuals and families affected by substance use.
If you’re looking for ways to support Overdose Lifeline, there are several meaningful ways to take action and make an impact.
- Support by sharing what you’ve learned and helping raise awareness around substance use disorder, overdose prevention, and recovery support
- Advocate in your community to reduce stigma and educate others about addiction and pathways to recovery
- Volunteer by mentoring youth through Camp Mariposa: Aaron’s Place, supporting events, or assisting with outreach efforts
- Donate to fund overdose prevention programs, naloxone distribution, and family recovery services at Heart Rock Justus Family Recovery Center
- Help expand access to care and connection so individuals and families impacted by addiction can find support, stability, and second chances 💛
