The Women’s Auxiliary of Nexus Recovery Center Spring Luncheon at the Dallas Country Club featured heartfelt testimonies of recovery from alcoholism, addiction and the hard-fought road to sobriety experienced by luncheon chairs Lauren Gillette and Lindsay Billingsley, Nexus Recovery Center client testimony from Audrey Crouch and the one that brought the house down, or rather a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd, was keynote speaker, Will Bracken Evans.
The event began with a welcome by Lauren who recognized honorary chairs Cai and Robin Glackin and Liz Pasquinelli, president of the Women’s Auxiliary of Nexus. Lauren has been sober for over fifteen years and said that today, she is thankful to have learned about the disease of addiction and how it manifests itself in so many ways. She an active member of the recovery community and supports several 12 Step programs along with her involvement on the board of Nexus and other nonprofit organizations. Married to her best friend, Jason, she is a devoted mother of four and is eternally grateful for how her recovery has positively impacted every relationship in her life.
Following the invocation by Reverend Laura Barnes, Audrey shared her story of drug addiction, through the humiliation of her family intervening and taking care of her son at only six months old, then of her treatment at Nexus Recovery Center. Even better news is, as a Nexus Alumni, she is 13 years sober and is now employed there as the Adult Women’s Program Director.
Lindsay welcomed the crowd and shared her personal battle with alcoholism. She has been in active recovery since January 2015 when she went to a 45 day treatment program at The Meadows in Wickenburg, Arizona, which she said totally changed her life. She works in the real estate industry, which is how she met Will Bracken Evans. She is a member of Dallas Assembly, a graduate of Leadership Dallas and sits on numerous boards. She and her husband, George have two children, a son Davis and a little girl, Gracie, named after God’s unwavering Grace, which she believes is the cornerstone of her recovery.
Will Bracken Evans said he would not be alive today if it wasn’t for rehab. He was born in Houston, though he spent his idyllic childhood in Tyler, Texas on his family’s ranch. While in middle school, he moved with his siblings and mother to Highland Park. While still in high school, Mr. Evans joined the Marine Corps and after serving his country, returned to Dallas to spend more than 25 years in the commercial real estate business. It was during his successful career in real estate when he began his downward spiral into addiction. On October 5, 1989, Will walked into a treatment center for drug and alcohol addiction, which would ultimately save his life. After almost three decades of sobriety, Will continues to actively participate in his own recovery by working with others and sharing his story of hope. He is married to Mary Elizabeth Evans and has two sons and two step- children. He currently spends his time between Dallas and New York City. The Women’s Auxiliary of Nexus is honored to have Will share his story.
GRATITUDE, COMMITMENT, BLESSING, ANGEL, HOPE— these are the words the clients of Nexus Recovery Center begin to recognize in themselves and others every day, as they recover from trauma-based alcohol and drug addiction. Support from the community, underwriters and sponsors for this luncheon enables the Auxiliary to continue to serve these women and children in crisis.
All proceeds benefit Nexus Recovery Center in Dallas, where 2,091 women and 305 children were served last year. This integrated program has a continuum of care that includes prevention and intervention, detoxification, residential recovery treatment, early childhood and high school education onsite, afterschool and summer programs for school aged children, life and parenting skills training, outpatient care, transitional housing and alumni programs.
For more information, visit the web site at www.nexusrecovery.org or call 972-322-8416.
* Photos by Jan Osborne and Dana Driensky.