Hansen Foundation Concert to Benefit Recovering Addicts

After the Hansen family struggled with addiction for nearly a decade, they decided to form The Hansen Foundation and to open their first residential recovery house in Galloway in 2004.

Now, after opening a second women's facility, The Hansen Foundation is also affiliated with Serenity House in Pleasantville and the Randy Scarborough House for Men in Somers Point.

"What we do is provide a supportive, structured environment that has zero tolerance for using," said Hansen House Resident Support Manager Terri Burns. "It's a safe environment that still gives the benefit of recovery based on a twelve-step philosophy."

The residents at the houses attended Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous programs as part of their responsibilities.

They also pay rent and many work or seek jobs while living at one of the facilities, but because rent is not enough to cover all of Hansen's costs and because the foundation receives no tax dollars, the organization also needs to raise funds to keep the houses open.

One of the biggest fundraising events they hold is an annual concert at Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City.

This year's concert features 40 performers, with such featured local and regional performers as Bob Fowler, Bob Sterling, CiBon Jackson and Charlene Holloway, as well as many others, who will be performing a Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston tribute. The event will be hosted by Eddie Bruce. All of the performers have agreed to donate their talents for the event.

The organizers, including the producers of the event, Melanie Rice and Bob Fowler, are also volunteers who donated their efforts, working to organize the event and bring musicians together. Harrah's donates the venue, as they have since The Hansen Foundation's first concert in 2005.

"The talent that's involved is absolutely amazing," said Hansen Foundation's Executive Director Nina Soifer. "They do it because they believe in the cause."

Tickets for the May 16 concert are still available on The Hansen Foundation website. General admission is $25 and VIP admission, which includes a chance to meet the performers and hear from people who have lived at Hansen House and Serenity House, is $150. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. that evening.

"It's back to the old adage of it takes a village to raise a child," said Burns. "Rather than having a community pay to have someone back to treatment or back to jail...the community can instead support through donations."

Burns said that Hansen is not your average addiction treatment facility, saying that the majority of people make it through the program and that the majority stay clean after leaving. At the house where Burns works, she often helps members find jobs and reunite with family or children.

"It's not a treatment center," she said. "It's a home. There's 30 residents total, and all of them will tell you it's their home."

For more information on the Hansen Foundation or the Street Life Fundraiser Concert, see the Hansen Foundation website or call Nina Soifer at 609-965-3700, ext. 16.