People & Places: Martin Sheen featured at 12 & 12 fundraiser
BY DANNA SUE WALKER World Staff Writer
Sunday, December 30, 2012
12/30/12 at 4:08 AM
"Be of service to whatever you believe in because it comes back to you ten-fold," Academy Award-winning actor Martin Sheen told some 100 guests at an exclusive Tulsa fundraising dinner at Sky Forty-One, which raised money for the 12 & 12 Center for Addiction Treatment and Recovery.
Best known for his performance as President Josiah Bartlet in the television series "The West Wing," he also achieved fame with roles in many films, including "Apocalypse Now," "Wall Street," "Gettysburg" and "The Departed."
An activist for addiction treatment, Sheen mingled and spoke personally with many during the reception and talked openly about his own recovery from alcohol addiction, as well as sharing stories about his experiences in acting.
He has assisted 12 & 12 over the years to help raise awareness of the center and the services it offers to Tulsa and communities across the state. 12 & 12 has been providing substance abuse and addiction treatment services since 1985 and currently provides services to more than 5,000 individuals and their families in a residential setting each year.
Sheen was the featured speaker at the event, which was held in honor of the late Carl Young, a former 12 & 12 board member who came up with the idea to hold the celebration on the date of Dec. 12 - 12-12-12. He died in a tragic horseback riding accident in August 2012.
Reuben Davis noted, "Carl was a great businessman, civic and church leader, board member to many charitable organizations and ... an entertainer. The world was his audience, and his humor and love for life was an inspiration for his family, friends and co-workers. He cared about this community and showed it through his volunteer and financial support to not only 12 & 12 but many others. And because it was Carl's idea to have a celebration on 12-12-12, how fitting it is that we pay tribute to him tonight."
Davis, a good friend of Young's and fellow board member, also introduced a video about Young, produced by his grandson.
The evening also included a dinner prepared by Justin Thompson, chef and owner of Juniper and Prhyme.
For the auction, Chef Thompson also donated a dinner for eight at his newest restaurant, Prhyme, and has been providing advice and assistance in updating the kitchen, which provides three meals each day, year-round for the approximately 200 people who reside in the facility while in addiction treatment.
Other area restaurants providing dinners included Polo Grill's Chef Robert Merrifield's tasting dinner for six; partners Gene Mozingo and Chef Austin Terry's dinner and wine tasting for eight from Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar; and a multi-course dinner for eight from owner Shannon Palazzo of The Chalkboard.
Sheen donated four of his personal scripts from "The West Wing." Jay Litchfield led the auction.
The evening raised more than $70,000 to purchase needed commercial kitchen appliances and other kitchen repairs at the center's facility, 6333 E. Skelly Drive. Donations are still being accepted.
Among those attending were Carl Young's widow with their son, John Young, and daughter, Lizzie Oliphant; Mary McMahan and Lon Foster; Lisa and Paul Mesmer; Alan Staab; Sharon Voskuhl; Pam Schloeder; Linda Bridges; Danny Tuttle; Ann Malick and her sons David and Michael; William Hanks; Sylvia and Bobby Nelson; Susie Collins; Dave Hentschel; Betsy and Bob Nash; Marcia and Mike Kimbrel; Pat and Clayton Woodrum; Lacy and Al Whitehead; Barbara and John Turner; Tom Seymour; Jan and Dwight Creveling; Besty and Wally Bryce; Phyllis and Steve Anderson; Marcia and Bill Barnes; Donnie and Bryan Day; Ann and Bill Lissau; Sharon Wright; Patsy and Eddie Sutton; Tom and Ellen Robertson; Dr. Greg and Connie Williams; Dr. John and Mei-Chien Fucci; Richard Koenig; Terry Magro; Patty and Rob Laird, and mother, Dorothy Laird; Cece and Jim Gifford; Lindsay and Ted Reed; Valarie Andrews; Karen Walker; Stevi Harper; Josie Winters; Bruce Guthrie; John and Elaine Burkhart; Candace and Reuben Davis, and their sons and daughter-in-laws Clay and Elisa, and Hayden and Sarah; Dr. William Yarborough; Dr. Brian Van Doren; Chris Bucek; Nita Dunbar; Jill and Laurence Pinkerton; Janet and Ed Cizek; Jennifer and Ron Wilburn; Barbara Bates; Dr. Bernard and Marcy Robinowitz; Sheryl and Sarah Boone; Cindy Coman; Mark Rooney; Lora Larson; Paula Hall-Collins; and James and Julie Higgins.
Event sponsors included the Lorene Cooper Hasbrouck Trust, Karen Young, The Fulton and Susie Collins Foundation, David Hentschel, Alexander Memorial Fund, Wally and Besty Bryce, A.J. Gallagher, Marsha and Michael Kimbrel, and Par and Clayton Woodrum.
Committee members were Richard Koenig, Ann Malick and Paula Hall-Collins.
The Appassionatta Duo provided music during the reception, and Toni's Flowers created the florals.
The Ambassador Hotel was the official hotel for Martin Sheen and his guests. Ace Cuervo provided the photography for the evening.
12 & 12 is one of the largest treatment facilities in Oklahoma, offering a full-range of services including medically supervised detoxification, residential treatment, residential treatment for the dually diagnosed, transitional living, independent living and outpatient treatment services.
The organization purchased the current facility at 6333 E. Skelly Drive in 1993 and operated for several years in only a small portion, as most of the space did not meet city codes.
12 & 12 completed a capital campaign in 2002 raising nearly $5 million for renovation of Phase 1, which included client living and treatment service space.
The renovations were complete in 2004, more than doubling the residential capacity.
Due to economic conditions of the time, Phase II of the renovation was put on hold as the agency began to concentrate on developing partnerships to fund the treatment of clients in the additional beds.
There is a need now for new commercial-grade appliances for the kitchen, which have not been replaced for more than 20 years.
For more information, contact Paula Hall-Collins at 918-779-7181; or visit tulsaworld.com/12and12
Original Print Headline: Sheen appears at 12 & 12 fundraiser
Associated Images:
Martin Sheen (left), Karen Walker and Wally Bryce pause at the 12 & 12 fundraising dinner at Sky Forty-One in First Place Tower in Tulsa on 12-12-12. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
|
