Title
Proclamation recognizing Dawn Farm's 40th Anniversary
Memorandum
PROCLAMATION
Dawn Farm's 40th Anniversary
September 3, 2013
WHEREAS, Dawn Farm is a grassroots organization that helps addicts and alcoholics recover. They provide widespread services for those suffering from addiction in Washtenaw County, the State of Michigan, and across the country. In 2013, Dawn Farm is celebrating 40 years of success in helping our most vulnerable citizens; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Farm was founded in 1973 by Gary Archie and Jack Scholtus, both recovering addicts, who pooled their incomes to found their recovery program. Using the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and borrowed ideas from Spera, they rented an old farmhouse on Stony Creek Road in Ypsilanti, Michigan and began to take in young people; and
WHEREAS, with donations and support exclusively from the local community, Dawn Farm grew and developed a strong local reputation for success. In 1982 the 74 acre parcel was saved from becoming a housing development when the Farm raised the needed $118, 000 to purchase the Stony Creek farm property; and
WHEREAS, in the mid-1980's Dawn Farm began to significantly expand, purchasing and renovating properties in downtown Ann Arbor to be used as residential facilities. The organization now has more than a dozen sites throughout the Ann Arbor /Ypsilanti area, including two long term residential facilities, an 18 bed detox and many other support services; and
WHEREAS, in 1988, Dawn Farm's Trustees raised $805,000 to build a new 15,600 foot Farm facility with a grant from the Kresge Foundation. Ypsilanti Township contributed by writing new zoning code allowing Dawn Farm a permanent home; and
WHEREAS, beginning in 1990, Dawn Farm launched an international outreach program. In 1998, Dawn Farm opened its first transitional house at 112 Chapin Street. Their outreach now has more than 170 units and has helped to house more than 3,000 men and women in safe and sober housing. Since 2003, Dawn Farm has offered Outpatient and adolescent services, as well as numerous community outreach programs, despite reductions in public funding; and
WHEREAS, None of these achievements would have been possible without the guidance of founding Executive Director Gary Archie, subsequent Executive Directors Jack Scholtus and Steven Housewright, and Dawn Farm's President, Jim Balmer, who has led the organization for close to 30 years.
NOW THEREFORE, I, John Hieftje, Mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan, in recognition of their wonderful contributions to the community, do hereby proclaim a celebration of Dawn Farm's success and compassionate care for thousands of people who suffer from addictions.
I hereby set my hand and seal
This 3rd day of September, 2013
____________________________
John Hieftje, Mayor