"Hazelden was founded, in large part, because of the generosity of a few individuals who recognized the need for treatment," Mishek said. "Donors continue to be our partners in providing the best opportunity for lifelong recovery to those still suffering from the disease of addiction. It's critical that we stay in touch with our loyal supporters. I'm glad to have this opportunity to connect with these important members of the Hazelden community."

Donors submitted questions that Mishek answered during the live session. One donor asked about opportunities for involvement beyond financial contributions. "Is big money required to help Hazelden? Can recovering alcoholics with limited means give back to Hazelden in other ways?"

Mishek said that Hazelden benefits from a wide range of contributions of time, talent, and treasure. He asked listeners to consider a financial contribution or to volunteer, but also to seek opportunities to share their own stories and refer people to Hazelden when appropriate. "Hazelden has been around for almost 60 years and, with your help, we plan to be helping addicts and alcoholics here for another 60 years," he said.

Participants called in for the audio portion of the program and had the opportunity to log into a Web portion that consisted of informational slides and photos of Hazelden facilities.

"Like all of us, our donors are being affected by the economic downturn and, in many cases, are unable to give as much as they might like," said Appel. "In times like these, we know it's more important than ever to maintain and strengthen our relationships with donors. The Web conference call is an innovative and cost-effective way for us to involve and communicate with our donors. We'll be seeking feedback from the donors who participated last weekend and look forward providing more opportunities like this in the future."

Listen to the audio portion of the Web conference.