SSF Fall Luncheon Serves Up An Ace With Murphy Jensen

Stout Street Foundation’s events always feel like the nicest of family reunions—we’re talking lots of hugs—and the 2018 “Cooking Up Hope” Fall Luncheon was no exception. What is amazing is that even as SSF gatherings continue to grow, newcomers are always embraced into the camaraderie with ease. This year, with 1993 French Open doubles champion Murphy Jensen on hand as keynote speaker, Denver’s tennis community attended with gusto and all new guests, tennis players or not, were warmly welcomed into the SSF fam.

Nate Hamilton and Whitney Mielke at the silent auction

On Friday, Nov. 9, supporters kicked off the weekend at the Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel with a reception and silent auction, and music by Michael Hornbuckle. This year’s auction netted $16,000, doubling last year’s total. During a fast-paced lunch program, every person who took the podium had a personal story of recovery to tell. Speakers included: Christopher Conway, president and CEO; resident Christina Anderson; tennis player Art Turnbill; and VP of Development Teri Smith. Guests also had the opportunity to watch a video detailing Stout Street’s Cooking Up Hope Capital Campaign that focuses on the need for kitchen and dining renovations at the facility. Not only is the kitchen used for vocational training and for providing nutritious meals for residents, but speakers also brought home the concept that the kitchen/dining area is a gathering place…the heart of the house.

Murphy Jensen took the stage after a video presentation of his story from tennis champ and celebrity to addiction and recovery. Going off script, addressing audience members by name, he had high praise for the success of Stout Street Foundation. Jensen also talked candidly about his own journey of addiction recovery that has been augmented by co-founding WEconnect, a web app that helps provide accountability, structure and support for those in recovery.

Stout Street residents

Stout Street Foundation helps people help themselves. Its mission: to provide the necessary services and support in a totally structured therapeutic community environment to assist addicts and alcoholics to help themselves in rehabilitation, recovery and transition in returning to society as productive and responsible citizens. SSF operates as a not-for-profit, self-sufficient organization without primary economic dependence on municipal, state or federal funding. Within the structured environment, Stout Street Foundation will provide for food, lodging, and specific programs and treatment for residents.

For more than 40 years, Stout Street Foundation has been a service leader in and around the Denver community. From humble beginnings at a house on Stout Street in Denver to completely refurbishing a 168-room hotel in Commerce City, the organization has grown by leaps and bounds, and continues to be one of the most successful therapeutic communities in Colorado. Stout Street Foundation has helped thousands of individuals over the years and continues to treat more than 300 individuals annually.

For more information, call 866-722-7040, or go to: www.StoutStreet.org. To donate to the kitchen/dining room renovation project, please click the “Cooking Up Hope” icon.