Freedom Institute Holds Awards Dinner In Manhattan
May 13, 2008
The Freedom Institute held the Mona Mansell Awards dinner at The Pierre Hotel Monday night.
The institute is the pre-eminent alcohol and drug out-patient rehabilitation center in the city.
"What we're trying to do here is prevention to try and teach children that they don't need to drink and drug in order to have fun," said Jessica Ambrose, daughter of the institute's founder, Mona Mansell. "They don't need to have issues with self-esteem. They don't need to have issues with eating disorders. What we want to is have the school councilors go in and talk to them and teach them to be the people that they are destined to be without drugs and alcohol."
Lyman Ambrose is the third generation of the family to support Freedom.
"[With Freedom Institutes school program], volunteers come in and they talk to the children at the school and teach us about drugs and alcohol and the effects and all the problems that can come along with them," said Lyman Ambrose. "GW: "At first people didn't really understand and really didn't believe it, so you just kind of sat along, but now as people have gotten older they started to really value it and take it in."
Judy Collins is a long-time supporter of the charity. She lent her voice to the cause, performing "Amazing Grace."
"I knew I was an alcoholic," said Collins. "I was certainly clear about that. There wasn't any doubt in my mind. What to do about it? Who knew?"
The evening raised over $250,000 to help support drug and alcohol education in New York City schools.
- George Whipple
May 13, 2008
Freedom Institute Holds Awards Dinner In Manhattan
George Whipple
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