Gratitude in Action
At High Watch and Alina Lodge, gratitude isn’t just a feeling—it’s part of the healing. It lives in the quiet moments between peers, in the steady presence of staff walking beside each guest, and in the breakthroughs that remind us all that recovery is possible.
These moments—some subtle, some life‑changing—become the heartbeat of our communities. They shape families, strengthen connections, and rebuild lives. That is Gratitude in Action.
We invite you to join us in reflecting on the people, programs, and experiences that made a profound difference during your time with us.
Who lifted you up? What helped you heal? What left an imprint you still carry?
Your expression of gratitude—no matter how big or small—is powerful. It reminds us that none of us walk this journey alone.
Please share your message of gratitude and become part of the living story of hope, healing, and transformation at High Watch and Alina. This is Gratitude in Action.
A Legacy Rooted in Family and Gratitude
Have you ever stopped in the moment to embrace the actual physical feeling of being grateful?
…Perhaps it could be described as your heart swelling to the point you can feel your chest expand.
…Perhaps the feeling overwhelms you and brings you to tears.
…Perhaps it is accompanied with immense joy and has you wanting to leap with excitement.
…Perhaps it is humbling and brings you to your knees.
On our Connecticut and New Jersey campuses, gratitude fills the hallways. It can be heard in soft whispers of reassurance, witnessed in gestures, and visibly seen on faces. Every day brings moments—some quiet, some life‑changing—where the impact of recovery becomes unmistakable. In small gestures or profound breakthroughs, in whispered prayers or hard‑won Steps, we see the living evidence of all that has been learned, all the work that has been done, and all the people who have walked alongside us.
Gratitude fills these spaces. Gratitude for those who trusted us with their healing. Gratitude for the staff and peers who show up with compassion and courage. Gratitude for the Steps that anchor us, guide us, and shape the people we become.
What happens here—every insight, every shift, every transformation— reaches far beyond the individual. It shapes families. It strengthens communities. It rebuilds lives. This is the work. This is the impact. This is Gratitude in Action.
Just as gratitude is a lived practice, Gratitude in Action is designed to be the cornerstone of long-term recovery. With the deepest respect to you and a heart filled with immense gratitude,
JANA OLSLUND,
VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY
When Hope Comes Home
Every day at High Watch and Alina, we witness something extraordinary: families finding their way back to one another. Moments of forgiveness. Moments of truth. Moments when a loved one who once felt lost looks into the eyes of the people they cherish most—and hope returns.
Your generosity makes these moments possible. You have sustained a Family Program that has held thousands of parents, children, spouses, and siblings through some of the hardest chapters of their lives. Because of you, families are not just supported during treatment—they are given the tools to reconnect, rebuild, and stay united long after leaving our campuses.
Your compassion has brought us to the threshold of a new era—one filled with deeper healing, stronger connections, and brighter futures for every family we serve—and one we are very excited to share with you.
Because of You, Healing Happens
At High Watch and Alina, countless lives are changing every day because of you. Your generosity removes one of the greatest barriers to treatment: cost. Across the country, financial hardship remains a leading reason people never receive the care they desperately need.
And yet, your compassion makes sure someone’s story doesn’t end there.
Thanks to you, individuals who arrive frightened, exhausted, and out of options find safety, dignity, and a path forward. Your gifts fund the scholarships that keep doors open, families together, and hope alive. You make it possible for both of our campuses to say yes—even when insurance or finances say no.
Every scholarship you provide is a lifeline. Every gift is an expression of love. Every transformed life begins with your generosity. And we are profoundly grateful for you.
The Answer is Yes. What is the Question?
Together, High Watch and Release bring miracles within reach. Side by side, we meet people in their most vulnerable moments—stepping out of treatment, entering supportive housing, returning for care, or calling out in crisis. And together, we help turn those moments of fear into beginnings filled with hope.
Our partnership is powered by two shared promises: to open the doors to recovery through scholarships for those who might otherwise never receive care, and to expand the resources that help families reunite, heal, and grow, creating legacies of hope for generations. Recovery may start with one person, but its ripple touches entire families and entire communities. That is the miracle we witness every day.
What binds High Watch and Release is trust, compassion, and an unwavering willingness to say yes—to show up, shoulder to shoulder, when someone needs us most.
We are deeply grateful for Release Recovery and the Release Foundation—their belief in our clinical and medical mission, their relentless advocacy for long‑term sobriety, and their devotion to helping families build lives beyond their wildest dreams.
GENERATIONAL GRATITUDE
High Watch and Alina stand today as enduring symbols of hope because of the foresight, compassion, and generosity of those who came before. Our shared story began in 1939, when Sister Francis offered Joy Farm to Bill W., creating what is now the High Watch campus. Alina’s legacy was strengthened in later years by Ina Travis and Mrs. Delaney, whose forethought ensured that the healing work at Alina would continue for generations.
These acts of generosity were more than gifts of land or resources—they were transformative statements of faith in recovery. As Sister Francis is remembered to have said, “If this place can bring even one soul back to life, then every gift is worth giving.” Her spirit continues to guide us.
With profound gratitude, we are honored to introduce the Marty Mann Society—the first joint legacy society ever established in the long, proud histories of both High Watch and Alina Lodge. This landmark initiative recognizes those who choose to include High Watch or Alina in their estate plans and, in doing so, take a decisive role in securing the future of recovery for generations to come.
The creation of the Marty Mann Society marks an extraordinary moment: a new tradition, a new foundation of support, and a powerful testament to the enduring hope our mission inspires. If you have already done so—or wish to join our inaugural group—we would be honored to hear from you and share our appreciation.
High Watch is a non-profit organization under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
