Imbibing in the spirit of the holiday in a different sort of way, about 65 celebrants toasted in the new year without alcohol at “The Have No Fear New Year’s Bash,” sponsored by Highland Park Hospital.
Held in the gymnasium of the Green Bay Pavilion in the north shore suburb, the mood was casually eclectic. Balloons swayed above tables laden with what is traditionally picnic fare-fried chicken, sloppy joes, potato salad and cans of non-alcoholic libations. The idea was to give people a New Year’s party free of alcohol.
On stage, a deejay beckoned a mixed bag of dancers to the floor. Attire at the $24-per-person soiree ranged from tuxedos to sweaters and jeans. In the background, volunteers sold raffle tickets, $1 each or $10 for a dozen, while others eyed the silent-auction items ranging from a poster to an autographed Walter Payton football donated by Athletes Against Drugs.
Coordinated by a core group of six former patients of the hospital’s Chemical Dependent Services, the event soon encompassed volunteers from the whole recovering community, becoming a “labor of love” as they pounded the pavement for contributions from 50 area merchants, according to Marcey Friedman of Northbrook, a counselor at the center.
One of those volunteers, Paul from Highland Park, said he has been an alcoholic “most of my life” and attributes his two-year sobriety to the program at Highland Park Hospital.
“I have a life now,” he said, “because I found the program through Highland Park Hospital.
“I do volunteer work. I talk to others. I do whatever I’m asked to do. You’ve got to give it back to keep it,” Paul said.
The brainchild of Dr. Stephen Cann, medical director of Chemical Dependent Services at the hospital, the party raised an estimated $3,200, earmarked for continued outpatient treatment of individuals crippled by chemical dependency.
“I thought it was a blast,” Cann said.
“We hope next year to have it expanded,” he said, “so it’s the cool place to be no matter who you are.”
