SAFFORD — “Her persistence and generosity, turned a conversation into a reality.”
With those words by John Howard, the House of Hope was rededicated as the Marge Schade House of Hope Sober Living Facility, in honor of the woman without whom the facility would just be an idea.
Howard said Schade’s dream of a facility to help those dealing with addition continues to grow.
“So much stuff has branched off of this house, like Recovery Angels, where they’re helping people get help immediately after overdosing,” Howard said.
And the Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition said it’s starting talks on fund-raising to develop a sober living facility for women.
Howard also praised others who contributed to the development of the Marge Schade House of Hope Sober Living Facility, including Ted Prina, the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, Boulevard Glass, Cox Construction, Valley Furniture, JD3 Fitness and numerous private donors.
In addition to celebrating what would have been Schade’s 100th birthday on July 4, the house celebrated the graduation from the program of three men.
“The success that I have today is unexplainable,” said Cedric Arrellin. “I owe it all to them. They’ve helped me every step of the way and continue to help me, even though I graduated.”
