A Davenport-based residential recovery and empowerment program recently received a $10,000 donation from Royal Neighbors of America.
The gift was presented to One Eighty during a ceremony Friday, Oct. 24. One Eighty has been helping women and men rebuild their lives after incarceration, addiction, abuse, and homelessness since 2010.
The $10,000 donation is part of Royal Neighbors’ Nation of Neighbor program, which has awarded more than $1 million in grants since its inception to women-led nonprofits across the U.S.
Through this program, Royal Neighbors helps empower community leaders by recognizing and supporting their work to serve women through a nonprofit, business or program, according to information from Royal Neighbors.
One Eighty equips people to find freedom from crisis, poverty and addiction through its year- long residential recovery program, sober housing, and youth outreaches. Last year, One Eighty helped 117 people in recovery to land a new job, sheltered 40 recently homeless individuals, and saved $10.1 million in taxpayer dollars through judicial partnerships.
The organization provides housing, basic needs, career training, mentorship, life skills and spiritual formation to about 200 people seeking to change their lives every year. Individuals graduate the program with 12 months of sobriety, gainful employment, financial independence, and a support system to live more stable, productive lives, according to information from One Eighty.
“This award is affirmation of the important transformations taking place in the lives of women while they are at One Eighty,” said Jenny Halupnik, One Eighty director of engagement. “Our women are not just getting sober. They are doing the deep internal work that allows them to work through trauma, lay down their pasts, and embark on a whole new way to live – a life filled with purpose, healthy relationships and opportunities. Royal Neighbors sees the need for women to have transformational opportunities like this and is investing in the process.”
Expand family care
According to Ms. Halupnik, Royal Neighbor’s grant money will support some of One Eighty’s existing initiatives, a robust mentoring program. Through the program, she said “our women are matched one-to-one with a mentor while in our program – someone who can walk alongside them as a friend, share their burdens, and encourage them in making the next right choice.”
“We also are looking to expand the care we provide to the families of our recoverees because kids, spouses and parents suffer significant fall-out when someone lives in active addiction,” she added. “We want these family members to receive the support and renewal they need to be a healthy participant in their loved one’s recovery journey.”
Based in downtown Rock Island, Royal Neighbors of America offers life insurance and annuity products to its members and is driven by its mission of supporting women and serving communities. The organization’s employees, members and chapters across the country drive the mission through localized volunteerism and philanthropy programs making social impact the cornerstone of their work.
For more information, go to royalneighbors.org.
