Denis Crespo-Fernandez, Philadelphia, said one of his life's greatest achievements has been learning to live without dependency on drugs and alcohol.
At a special event in Pottsville on Saturday saluting such recovery efforts, Crespo-Fernandez said for him the trick was learning to do what seemed impossible 11 years ago: "For me, it was learning to let it go."
"I didn't have a drug of choice. I was trying everything. That was many years ago. If you would have told me that this or that would get me high, I would have tried it. I ended up in prison," Crespo-Fernandez said.
Crespo-Fernandez, 44, has been clean 11 years and today, he's a certified peer specialist trainer for the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He was one of four people honored at the first "It Is I" Award Gala. Sponsored by Global Development Foundation, Friedensburg, in a partnership with Recovery Edge Inc., based in Pottsville and Mahanoy City, the event was held at the fifth-floor ballroom at The Masonic Building, Pottsville.
"This is a celebration of the lives of four people who represent excellence in their efforts to support the limitless human potential in the lives of those they encounter and in their personal and professional lives," said Ed Perhonitch, the founder of Recovery Edge and its chief operations officer.
"Recovery Edge Peer Support and Forensic Peer Support is the only free-standing, consumer owned, developed, delivered and operated provider of forensic peer support in the State of Pennsylvania," Perhonitch said on the organization's website, www.recoveryedge.org.
Recovery Edge's staff includes 13 certified peer specialists.
Perhonitch also started up a website for the "It Is I" Award Gala at www.itisi.us.
"For anyone who has been through, or is currently going through, a difficult time in life, as well as the individuals who support and encourage those who are struggling, we want to inspire hope for tomorrow by creating limitless power for today. It is about coming together and finding the strength inside to persevere. We would like to offer to you an opportunity to stand up, find empowerment, shine and say "It Is I. It is I who represents the limitless power of human potential inside of myself, and all others," Perhonitch said.
Prior to starting up Recovery Edge, Perhonitch started Global Development Foundation at 1312 Long Run Road, Friedensburg. It's a contracting firm which offers services to homeowners and communities. Today, Perhonitch is its president of operation. Its website is at globaldevelopmentfoundation.info.
Perhonitch said he and Robert Porter, the co-founder of Global Development Foundation and its president of management and finance, picked the first recipients of the "It Is I" awards.
Four people were honored at the Saturday's Gala. They were:
- Crespo-Fernandez was given the first "Voyager of Existence" award.
- Lloyd G. Wertz, vice president for policy and program development at Family Training and Advocacy Center for Serious Mental Illness, Pottsville, was given a "Human Achievement Award." Wertz, 58, said he's been working in the mental health field for 34 years.
- Vivian Spiese, a county affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lancaster, was also given a "Human Achievement Award." NAMI is "the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need," according to the NAMI website, www.nami.org.
- Shelley Bishop, Landisburg, president at Support the Journey Inc., was named an "Honorary Inductee." "Support the Journey provides products and services that help people understand, embrace and support the human potential for growth, discovery and recovery," according to Bishop's profile at linkedin.com.