Supporting communities through addiction recovery 2

Supporting communities through addiction recovery

681 Votes
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Thanks to Bouvier Insurance reaching their goal of 500 votes + shares, Community Speaks Out won a $10,000 donation from Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance to further their mission of providing support and opportunities to individuals and families accessing recovery. Congrats to the team and thank you for supporting them!

While nearly half of all Americans have a close friend or family member who’s struggled with drug addiction*, drug addiction remains a stigmatized topic. And with the continued rise in drug overdose deaths, of which opioids now account for more than six-in-ten, the situation is urgent.

A family with a mission

The nonprofit Community Speaks Out was started by a family in crisis who needed support. “When we found out about our son’s addiction, we could not keep it quiet,” said Tammy and Joe de la Cruz, who co-founded Community Speaks Out alongside Linda Labbe and Lisa Cote Johns in 2016. The de la Cruz family made it their goal to help other families start healing from the disease of addiction, noting “it is fundamentally human nature – people helping people.”

“It is fundamentally human nature – people helping people.”

-Tammy and Joe de la Cruz, co-founders of Community Speaks Out

Supporting communities through addiction recovery 1
Ashley Wallace, of Bouvier Insurance, and Community Speaks Out board members Linda Labbe, Cheryl Biekert, Joe de la Cruz and Tammy de la Cruz table at a community health awareness event.

We’re in this together

Community Speaks Out’s mission is to improve the community by providing support and opportunities to individuals and families to access recovery. This includes grief support for families who have lost a loved one to addiction, certification programs for sober living training specialists, helping people get into treatment facilities and more.

Bouvier Insurance first got involved with Community Speaks Out in 2019 after Ashley Wallace joined the team as a personal lines account manager and shared her passion for the amazing organization. Wallace, whose own recovery story is an inspiration, helps with community outreach in local schools and serves as president of The Christopher Johns Sober Softball Tournament, an annual event that brings healing to grieving families and awareness to the community.

Supporting communities through addiction recovery
Ashley Wallace teamed up with Avery Points Interdisciplinary Learning Community to create an educational panel called The Faces of Addiction at Avery Point UConn. This open discussion with students and staff included risks and prevention of addiction, as well as signs to look for in people struggling with addiction.

Leading with compassion

Today, over a dozen Bouvier Insurance employees volunteer at the annual Sober Softball Tournament, and the agency plays a big part in the annual gala as well. From overfilling a gala table to donating monetary support and gift baskets for the event, Bouvier helps Community Speaks Out meet their goals and raise awareness in the community.

When asked why Community Speaks Out is so close to her heart, Wallace highlighted a strong desire to help others – a desire she saw exemplified by Joey Gingerella, the son of Tammy and Joe de la Cruz. “Watching the changes Joey was making in the community through Community Speaks Out inspired me to do the same,” she said. When Joey unexpectedly lost his life to gun violence in 2016, it was important to Wallace that she help carry on Joey’s vision for awareness and change.

“That day, Community Speaks Out possibly saved that man’s life.”

Ashley Wallace, personal lines account manager at Bouvier Insurance

Supporting communities through addiction recovery 3
Wallace and Joey Gingerella at the first Community Speaks Out’s Christopher Johns Memorial Annual Sober Softball Tournament in 2016. Joey was the first president of the tournament and Wallace took over to continue the event in 2017 after Gingeralla's passing.

One of the many memorable moments of Community Speaks Out helping others happened at an annual Sober Softball Tournament when an attendee arrived under the influence. One of the participating teams, a group of people from a recovery treatment center, spoke to the attendee with compassion, offered him help and ultimately accompanied him to a treatment program at the end of the day. “This moment showcased what Community Speaks Out does by providing a safe compassionate camaraderie within the community,” Wallace said. “That day, Community Speaks Out possibly saved that man’s life.”

Supporting communities through addiction recovery 4
Tammy de la Cruz and Johnny Pascarelli at the Community Speaks Out office in 2020. Johnny is one of the amazing individuals in recovery and a recipient of services through Community Speaks Out.
The Third Christopher Johns Memorial Annual Sober Softball Tournament, a video montage created by Wallace for the nonprofit in lieu of being able to hold the event in 2020.

Your vote is much more than a simple share or comment. It will get Community Speaks Out one step closer to a $10,000 donation, which could provide as many as 50 people with the opportunity for sober living housing in addition to assistance with therapy, recovery coaching, expenses for traveling and a stay at a treatment facility. Visit Bouvier Insurance and Community Speaks Out to learn more.

*Pew Research Center, 2017; http://pewrsr.ch/2gFsr5b

681 Votes
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Ali
3 years ago

Got my vote!

Niki Bouvier
3 years ago

You have my vote!

Rachel Holt
3 years ago

I vote for Community speaks out

Rich Bouvier
3 years ago

Community speaks out gets my vote.

Jodi Guenther
3 years ago

You have my vote!

Anthony Maurizio
3 years ago

Community Speaks Out holds the passion to heal, educate, and support those struggling with addiction and their families. I vote for CSO. Without question, a life-changing organization!

Elaine Jones
3 years ago

You have my vote!

Sue Moyer
3 years ago

CSO gets my vote!

Pierre A Mathieu
3 years ago

Community Speaks Out gets my vote.

Heatehr Baton
3 years ago

Here is my vote:)

Bobbi-Jo Matthewson
3 years ago

CSO does great things for many people. A great combination with Bouvier Insurance!

Bobbi-Jo Matthewson
3 years ago

CSO will always have my vote, it makes a difference in so many lives!!

Yvette Fournier
3 years ago

I vote for Community Speaks Out!!!!Thank you for being a light in so many lives and the continue work you are doing.

Heidi King
3 years ago

Community Speaks gets my vote!

Veronica Arroyo
3 years ago

Thank you for all you do! Definitely have my vote!

Pat Murphy
3 years ago

You have my vote, thank you for all you do!

Nina
3 years ago

Such amazing caring people helping so many families. Such a vital need in the community.

Chris Milton
3 years ago

Community Speaks Out supported be when my son passed of a dry induced homicide. Helping our community in this pandemic of fentanyl. Please consider CSO!

Ben Whittemore
3 years ago

I am proud to cast my vote for the exceptional people at Bouvier!

Susan L Carocari
3 years ago

They get my vote. What an awesome organization!

Amie Nix
3 years ago

I vote community speaks out

Alyssa Siegel-Miles
3 years ago

I vote for Community Speaks Out!

Carol Cahill
3 years ago

Vote me in

Alycia Kneeland
3 years ago

How wonderful ! Definitely gets my Vote

Sam
3 years ago

I vote CSO

Jessica Biekert
3 years ago

Community Speaks Out!!

Annette Eldridge
3 years ago

You get y vote

Kathy Harrington
3 years ago

This is such a worthwhile organization and the work they do is important and they do it with love. CSO is very deserving of any funds they receive. I know many of the folks involved in it and they work hard to make this organization as good as it is,

Donna Waniak
3 years ago

Great work Bouvier and Community Speaks Out. Thank you. You have my vote.

Ken Smith
3 years ago

Thank you Bouvier and Community Speaks Out. You have my vote.

kristine Barry
3 years ago

They have my vote!!

Nathan Lapointe
3 years ago

CSO has my vote!

Nathan LaRose
3 years ago

CSO and Bouvier are amazing! They have my vote!

Nicole LaRose
3 years ago

CSO has my vote!

Nikki
3 years ago

CSO rocks!

Dineen Pfeiffer
3 years ago

you have my vote!

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