Recovering addict knows value of grants

Jamie Crane is living proof that the true value of those grants is priceless.

"The Haven was a huge turning point for me. It was pretty much life or death. If I hadn't gone there I would have ended up back in prison or dead for sure," said Crane, who entered the women's residential rehabilitation program in December 2008 to overcome a 20-year addiction to methamphetamine.

Now Crane, who turns 34 in two days, is drug-free, has held a job for 14 months, and has joint custody of her 2-year-old son, Alex.

She also is a guest speaker at the 2010 Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona Luncheon Wednesday at the Tucson Convention Center.

For Crane, it is an opportunity to reflect on the foundation's support of The Haven's programs and commitment to allowing mothers to rehabilitate from drug and alcohol addiction with their children.

"Having my son in my life played a huge factor in my recovery," she said. "There are not a lot of rehab programs where you can do the program and have your children with you."

The Haven serves women and mothers with children and is licensed for 54 beds; clients stay a minimum of 90 days and receive individualized behavioral and life-skills therapies.

Long-term transitional housing is also available. The organization also offers therapies and housing specifically for Native American women as well as counselors for Hispanic women.

"We try to address the needs of the community, whether it is for Native women, middle-income women, low-income women or women with children," said Margaret Higgins, The Haven's executive director.

"We recognize that addictions are 50 percent genetically caused - there is very solid research to this effect - and therefore addiction hits the full spectrum of women."

Affecting a broad spectrum of women directly and indirectly through diverse organizations throughout Southern Arizona is a priority for the Women's Foundation, according to Executive Director Laura Penny.

"Women are disproportionately affected by many of the issues we face in our society. They are more likely to be poor, more likely to be victims of domestic and sexual violence and they tend to be primary caregivers for children either as single moms or in two-parent households," she said.

"Our belief is that if women are thriving, then their families are thriving and the community is thriving."

In addition to The Haven, 2009 grant recipients included Youth on Their Own, Arizona's Children Association, Planned Parenthood Arizona, the Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault, the Northwest Fire Rescue District Fire Camp for Girls and BIO5 Institute BioLink, a science education program for girls.

New Beginnings for Women & Children and the Primavera Foundation were both awarded three-year grants for "exemplary work" in pulling women from poverty.

At Wednesday's luncheon, $130,000 in grants will be awarded to nine Southern Arizona nonprofits.

The grants are the result of donations from individuals, family foundations and corporations and will help sustain programs vital to community health and safety in the face of cuts in government funding, Penny said. She hopes an eventual economic recovery will restore government funds so foundation grants can be used to expand programs.

"It is not about the money; it is what the money does. It is about the changes that can happen in people's lives because of the funding," she said.

As she continues her recovery, Crane sees examples of that change every day.

"I absolutely love being a mother. Every day my son does something different that makes my heart melt over again and makes everything I do today so worth living," she said.

If You Go

• What: The 17th Annual Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona Luncheon.

• When: 11 a.m. Wednesday.

• Where: Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.

• Cost: $60 per person.

Festivities include a Grantee Expo, highlighting accomplishments of 2009 Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona grant recipients, along with lunch and the MIXfm Woman of the Year Awards.

Tucson philanthropist Marjory Slavin will also be honored.

• For more information or reservations, or to make a donation to the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona, go to www.womengiving.org or call Kesha Dawson at 622-8886.

Contact Loni Nannini at ninch2@comcast.net