Dick and Marianne Drogosz, as well as Daniel Schmitt, Executive Director of the Freeport Community Foundation, enjoyed a visit September 1 to the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus to see the fitness center, which will benefit from a generous donation from the John M. Drogosz Memorial Fund.
The donation will provide new fitness center equipment for the adolescent clients undergoing substance abuse treatment at the facility. Clients are able to use the fitness equipment throughout the week to work on their physical strength, which plays an important role in the recovery process.
“There are a lot of studies that show incorporating fitness and exercise into the treatment process produces better outcomes,” said Abby Nelson, recreation specialist for Rosecrance. “The 12 Steps are built upon the concept of support. Recovery is very community-driven and you have to support others. One way for our clients to do that is through fitness; learning how to support someone else with a different skill set.”
The John M. Drogosz Youth Substance Abuse Prevention/Treatment Memorial Fund was established in December 2010 by Dick and Marianne to honor the memory of their son.
The fund, which is administered through the Freeport Community Foundation, aims to help nonprofit organizations with educational, prevention and/or treatment of substance abuse programs focused on helping youth ages 21 and younger.