NH Restaurateur Issues $100K Substance Abuse Challenge

With New Hampshire ranking 49th in access to treatment for substance addiction, and heroin use at epidemic proportions, Common Man Family owner and founder Alex Ray has issued a $100,000 matching gift challenge to Granite State residents to improve options in our state for friends, family and neighbors seeking recovery, according to a press statement.

All gifts received will help increase the number of treatment beds at Easter Seals NH, which has been on the front lines of this battle and is committed to supporting people in need, through substance abuse treatment programs at the Farnum Center in Manchester and Farnum North in Franklin.

Ray announced the challenge—that if met the end of October, will bring in a total of $200,000—at the recent Easter Seals NH Farnum North groundbreaking of Barlett Cottage in Franklin.

Once the renovation of this building is completed in February 2016, Bartlett Cottage will house 20 co-ed treatment beds. Additionally, Easter Seals is in the process of licensing roughly 42 existing beds for residential treatment at Webster Place at Farnum North.

”I believe New Hampshire deserves better and has the means to be better. It will take all of us to accomplish this,” said Ray. “There are record numbers of people dying from overdoses in New Hampshire and we must respond. I will match every dollar donated to this campaign from now until Nov. 1.”

Ray was instrumental in preserving and restoring the historic Daniel Webster homestead and Civil War era orphanage into an alcohol and drug recovery center in 2007 that Easter Seals purchased earlier this year. Easter Seals NH recently received the first gift of $10,000 toward the Alex Ray $100,000 Challenge for Recovery from an anonymous donor. That leaves only $90,000 left to raise to reach $200,000.

The funds will be used to increase the number of treatment beds available and make an impact by decreasing the length of time people battling the disease of addiction need to wait for help. Gift may be made in memory or honor of a loved one and those $10,000 and over will receive a naming opportunity at Farnum North. All donors will be recognized for their support and generosity with their name on a plaque at Farnum North.

”Expanding treatment options, in addition to prevention and recovery support, is critical to combat the state’s growing substance abuse problem. Alex’s gift sets a high philanthropic bar for the State in tackling this problem together,” said Easter Seals President & CEO Larry Gammon. “With the renovation of Bartlett Cottage, the addition of 42 licensed residential beds at Webster Place, and the eventual renovation of the entire Farnum North campus, we will change and save lives.”

To make a gift to the Alex Ray $100,000 Challenge for Recovery by Nov. 1, 2015, please visit easterseals.com/nh. You may also contact Easter Seals Vice President of Major Gifts & Planned Giving Courtney Smith at 603-621-3456 or casmith@eastersealsnh.org.