The "attitude of gratitude" was prominent on May 2-4 in Center City as about 300 people participated in the 29th annual Alive and Free celebration of recovery. Jane Nakken received the 22nd CARE Award, and Judy Vitrano earned the Ree Lasker Award.

The CARE Award, which stands for Consistent Activity in Recovery and Education in the field of addiction and recovery, recognized Nakken for her 34 years of dedicated service to the field, including 25 years at Hazelden. Nakken held many positions at Hazelden, including manager of Treatment Service at Pioneer House from 1981-1987, director of the Center for Public Policy in the early 1990s, and vice president of the Hazelden Institute, where she was a leader in developing the Women Healing conferences and Hazelden's 50th anniversary celebration. She has also authored 17 pamphlets and books, several anonymously.

Judy Vitrano was gracious in accepting the Ree Lasker Award, which recognizes outstanding volunteerism to Hazelden and the recovering community. Vitrano has been a faithful volunteer to the Alive and Free celebration and to the Older Adult Program and medallion ceremonies of the Hanley Center (formerly Hanley-Hazelden) in West Palm Beach, Fla. "This award is very special to me, because I met Ree Lasker in 1988," she said. "Ree taught me two things: how to laugh and how to be of service to people."

Published Summer 2008, The Voice