Livengrin Foundation is dedicated to personalized rehabilitation treatment for those struggling with addiction, and the Philadelphia-area nonprofit has been able to thrive thanks in part to those who choose to pay-it-forward, those who understand the experience of recovery first-hand — the Livengrin Alumni Association.
Members use their own rehabilitation through the Livengrin Foundation as a basis to help, to create new pathways for those in need.
Alumni Association President Lorraine Cooper, who served in that role since 2023, has worked in Livengrin’s front offices for ten years. And, before that, 21-years-ago, Cooper became deeply acquainted with the Foundation as a participant in rehabilitation.
“I got the best education that I’ve ever had at Livengrin when I was here as a patient,” she told Metro. “It led me to wanting more: learning more about recovery, learning more about myself, learning more about other people and that, just because we’re different, doesn’t mean we’re not the same.”
Successfully coming through the program, as well as her own work at Livengrin within the rehabilitation-counseling field, helps Cooper understand what new patients might want.
“I learned to be more confident, and that it’s OK to express your own opinions, your own thoughts, and be understanding of what other people are going through.”
Such patience and insight is the hallmark of those stalwarts in Livengrin’s Alumni Association. Because once any patient goes through treatment at Livengrin, it is their Alumni Association who are there to help all to “bridge the gap” — to be a safe, often-spiritual haven for those in treatment and recovery.
Through its program “Together,” the Livengrin Alumni Association interacts with the Foundation’s current group of recovering patients so to prove that there is “life after you leave the facility,” explained Cooper. “That they know there are fun things to do all the time, and that they’ll never be bored.”
Cooper’s own weekend schedule of meetings, trivia parties, breakfasts, workshops, parties and more – “manicure and pedicure included” – is living proof of what it means to be busy, and stay busy.
“If you’re bored in recovery, just follow me around for a month and you’ll see just how busy and rewarding your life can be,” said Cooper with a laugh. “Most people think that when they get out of treatment, there’ll just stay home watching Jeopardy. But it is like we say it in recovery – the clarity of it all means a life beyond your wildest dreams, with so much to offer.”
Currently building membership through regular Alumni Association meetings every third Sunday, and AA meetings attended by her and her husband, Cooper says that once patients see recovery and assistance in action, they want more.
“I always bring up speakers from Livengrin to say and show how that program works. And, the more you hear, the more you get and stay involved and stay active in the program, the more you wish to engage and have your own ideas for engagement,” she said.
Looking forward to this October’s Back to Livengrin event at its Bensalem campus — a fundraiser geared toward aiding Livengrin’s nonprofit status — Cooper said those who come along should prepare for family-oriented costume contests, silent auctions, and Trunk-or-Treat games.
“You have to include fun in your recovery,” said Cooper.
If you want to become part of Livengrin’s Alumni Association, the doors are always open. Along with the start of a Facebook group for anyone who wishes to be part of the association, Cooper stresses that this site is called the Alumni Association and Friends.
“Friends, family members, those who have and those who haven’t gone to Livengrin are invited. So many patients that we talk to in recovery who come to our meetings say they wish they had gone to Livengrin, that Livengrin has the best programs. Maybe, this is a way for everyone to be a part of what we do here.”
For additional information, visit livengrin.org
Sponsored content created in partnership with Livengrin Foundation
