Joel Schumacher And Allison And Howard Lutnick Honored At Annual Hamptons Phoenix House Party

The Phoenix House Annual Summer Party in the Hamptons, Triumph For Teens, celebrated the nonprofit’s life-saving services on Saturday, June 28, 2014, during an event that honored film director, screenwriter and producer Joel Schumacher and Allison and Howard Lutnick. Guests enjoyed stunning views at the house of Robin and Fred Seegal, delicious bites by Olivier Cheng Catering and music by John Forte of The Fugees. WNYW’s “Good Day New York” co-host Rosanna Scotto served as emceed for the evening, which was co-chaired by Pete Peterson and Joan Ganz Conney.

Phoenix House supports at-risk youth, struggling mothers, veterans and those suffering with mental health problems through extensive treatment to help overcome their circumstances and achieve long term recovery. As drug addiction rates continue to grow, services to prevent death and overdose and to preserve the lives of innocent people suffering from drug use have become more important than ever.

“The plague we confront today is bigger, badder and more frightening than anything we’ve faced before,” Phoenix House founder, Dr. Mitchell Rosenthal said. “Abuse has moved out from the inner city and spread through the suburbs and devastated rural communities, it has crossed color lines and class barriers putting everyone’s kids at risk, but as our challenges have grown so have our resources.”

Many of these modern resources are offered through services at Phoenix House. The funding raised through Triumph For Teens will allow for enhanced prevention, treatment and support facilities throughout the nation which will be offered to thousands of young people and their loved ones.

“Phoenix house continues to adapt and expand the range of services that we provide, we don’t treat just the people, we treat the whole person,” President and CEO Howard Meitiner said.

The recovery services offered through Phoenix House were described in an emotional speech by former patient and addict, Sarah Levithan, who overcame immense struggle to find success and fulfillment and eventually open her own business, Save The Day Consulting. “They taught me how to harness my energy for good, not for self-destruction, how to surround myself with people who were interested in progress and positivity and stay away from those who weren’t, how to deal with pain and difficult emotion and how to sustain loving relationships,” Levithan said.

With nearly 17 years of sobriety, Levithan is living proof of the power of Phoenix House. The evening’s event helped to continue and to develop support to maintain the magnificent power that Phoenix House has had since its founding in 1972.

Following cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, guests enjoyed a private dinner and a night of music and celebration.

For more information on Phoenix House, visit www.phoenixhouse.org.