Honoring Hazelden

Sara Glassman, Star Tribune

Jim and Kathryn Ramstad with Nick Motu

By Story and photos by sara glassman, Star Tribune

Last update: October 24, 2009 - 6:45 PM

Print this story

At a reception celebrating Hazelden's 60th anniversary, guests schmoozed, shook hands and chatted enthusiastically in the reception hall of the Depot in downtown Minneapolis, just as they would at any other bustling party. Instead of champagne and wine, they toasted the occasion with water.

"It's remarkable the people who have been affected," said Mark Mishek, Hazelden president and CEO. "Tonight is a night of gratitude, thanking everyone who made this a great institution."

The guest speaker was Christopher Kennedy Lawford, who wrote about his own struggles in "Symptoms of Withdrawal: A Memoir of Snapshots and Redemption." While he never attended Hazelden himself, he knows of its reputation. "It was the Mecca for treatment," he said.

His current focus is on public policy. "How do we find dollars to effectively treat people with this illness?" Kennedy asked, noting that most have to take 90 days off from work for treatment.

The event was all about celebrating the Minnesota-based substance abuse treatment center, which has been a leader in the recovery community. "There have been six decades of experience, strength and hope," said William Moyers, the son of Bill Moyers and vice president of foundation relations, who chronicled his own experiences in "Broken." "This is the heart and soul."

Sara Glassman • 612-673-7177

Recent Style + People stories

Travolta extortion case ends in mistrial - October 24, 2009

Travolta extortion case ends in mistrial - A judge in the Bahamas has ordered a mistrial in the case of an alleged extortion attempt against John Travolta. More

Nine deaths now linked to women's robes sold by Blair; recall expanded - October 24, 2009

Nine deaths now linked to women's robes sold by Blair; recall expanded - Highly flammable women's robes sold by Blair LLC are now linked to nine deaths, and the company is expanding a recall to include more products imported from the Pakistani manufacturer. More