On Tuesday, February 9, we honored three individuals that have gone above and beyond to help our community at our annual Faithful Friends Gathering. We are humbled to receive the support of Vince Collins, Diane Tomhave and Anne Frantilla. Thank you to everyone that came to celebrate these three amazing people! Please read how each has contributed below:
Vince Collins is an ally, visionary partner, funder and trusted friend of Recovery Café. As the Washington State Director of Access to Recovery (ATR) for the past 10 years, Vince is a shining light in the progress towards making places of healing recovery a “new normal” in Washington State. Under Vince’s leadership (and successful federal grant writing), ATR’s history in Washington includes 10 years of discretionary grants totaling almost $50 million. Here at Recovery Café, Vince has been much more than an investor of ATR funds—Vince was instrumental in creating a collaboration among Recovery Café, Washington State and King County to bring Recovery Coaching to WA State. With Vince’s help Recovery Café hosted the first training in September 2013, which included a Train the Trainers module. Since then, hundreds of Recovery Coaches have been trained throughout Washington State. In 2014, we continued our state-wide efforts by hosting a Recovery Summit of Recovery Champions. Vince helped identify and invite the participants and underwrote the travel and lodging costs. Out of this initial gathering the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA) was born, and on January 26th of this year, the WRA held its first Recovery Advocacy Day in Olympia with over 70 participants. Vince has been a fearless advocate for the Café’s model, and with his encouragement and financial support we began writing the program manual that will be used by aspiring Recovery Cafés all over the country who engage in our Recovery Café Network. It is not an exaggeration to say that Vince’s life and work has and will continue to benefit hundreds of thousands of people.
Diane Tomhave’s steadfast and resilient voice has been an integral part of Recovery Café’s story. For more than 8 years, Diane has committed her time and energy to Recovery Café in numerous capacities. Diane helped us navigate our move to the new building we now call home, serving as a Recovery Café “ambassador” as we met our new neighbors. Diane’s heart for this healing work has been evident in her roles as the Chair of the Board, Bridge Builder, guide for Recovery Café’s staff diversity training, volunteer with the Capital Campaign, and much more. Diane’s wisdom has been invaluable at many critical decision-making moments of the Café. Thanks to her heart and advocating efforts, Diane has secured speakers for special events and asked for the resources necessary to support Recovery Café during Standing in the Gap. Her compassion, humor, and commitment to Recovery Café is a true gift to our community.
Anne Frantilla’s dedication and commitment to Recovery Café’s healing work is both inspiring and contagious. Anne began serving here in 2008 after hearing about the Café from her daughter. Since then, Anne has been a pillar of our community. In 2012, with her daughter, Anne made the ask at Standing in the Gap (SIG). Through Anne’s perseverance and guidance, a support group for parents of children struggling with addiction was created and now gathers here every Thursday night. Anne’s service includes supporting the Safe Place Writers circle on Fridays, participating in the Running Club, being a Bridge Builder, helping with SIG set-up and registration, and being a Minister of Presence. It was Anne’s idea to create scrap books documenting the Café from its earliest days until now. These collections of Recovery Café’s history captures our journey including Café event fliers, early brochures, awards and pictures. Today, they are a priceless gem of the people and events that have helped shape this healing community over the years. Anne’s faithfulness, gentle spirit and pragmatism are a treasured resource for which we will always be grateful.