Rosecrance recently hosted its Honoring Recovery event at the Rosecrance Harrison campus. With nearly 100 staff, donors, clients and alumni in attendance, the event celebrated recovery with an evening ceremony on the patio, followed by dinner.
During the ceremony, Rosecrance staff presented the John Mink and Donna Gillette scholarships to four young alumni seeking higher education. The John Mink Memorial Scholarship, presented by George Bates of Bates Financial Advisors Inc., is given in memory of John Mink, a long time Rosecrance Board member who exemplified extreme compassion and commitment to the organization. The Donna Gillette scholarship honors the memory of Donna Gillette, who worked as a nurse at Rosecrance for decades. Both scholarships will support Rosecrance alumni as they attend classes at Rock Valley College.
Three of the four scholarship recipients attended the event and shared their transformative, inspiring stories and hopes for the future.
“Rosecrance believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” said one recipient, as he expressed his gratitude. “Without the tools and support Rosecrance has given me I wouldn’t be standing here today. I used to just exist, but I’m actually living now.”
Additionally, nearly 20 newly installed commemorative bricks were on display. Each brick featured personalized engravings, ranging from brief messages like: “We surrender to win” and “It works if you work it,” as well as names with dates to honor and memorialize those who’ve lost their lives to substance use and mental health disorders.
Bricks are currently on sale and the next installation will take place at the Honoring Recovery event next summer. Please contact The Rosecrance Foundation at 815.387.5695 or smagnuson@rosecrance.org, or visit rosecrancehs.wpengine.com/bricks to leave a legacy, support recovery and reserve your brick today!