Nicasa celebrates 50 years of serving those who need it most
Nicasa Behavioral Health Services held its 50th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, Sept. 30, at the DoubleTree in Mundelein. Nearly 150 partners, donors, current and former staff, board members, volunteers, former clients and friends offered well wishes and celebrated Nicasa's 50 year history and a look into the next 50 years.
"We wouldn't be where we are today without our supporters," said Nicasa CEO Bruce Johnson. "We can't thank everyone enough for coming to this special event."
The evening included remarks from Nicasa staff and Board Members, "red carpet" photos, a testimonial wall, and wishes for the future. Nicasa's supporters came and snapped some photos with props and a photo wall, visited with friends and neighbors, and shared their stories and future wishes for Nicasa.
"May Nicasa continue to touch the lives of those who need it most," said a former board member. "Because this organization is a critical piece to the fabric of our community."
"This celebration was a fun way for us to show our support for Nicasa and how its many accomplishments have impacted so many people's lives" said Nicasa Board President Jim Snow.
Nicasa has directly affected more than 200,000 lives over the last 50 years. Some major milestones include:
• 1972: Nicasa opened Bridge House as Lake County's first coed residential recovery program for men and women recovering from dependence on drugs and alcohol.
• 1994: Nicasa opened the Judy H. Fried Center to provide on-site child care and transportation and to help families overcome addiction.
• 2002: Nicasa started after-school programming to help struggling students academically.
• 2010: Nicasa started its Family Advocacy program to provide Lake County families with counseling, crisis management, linkage with community resources, parental support and emergency financial assistance.
• 2013: Nicasa began offering mental health services in response to a shortage of affordable mental health services in Lake County.
Additional support for Nicasa's next 50 years of behavioral health services to Lake County can be given at www.nicasa.org/50th.
Nicasa is a not-for-profit behavioral health services organization that is helping build brighter futures for vulnerable and at-risk children, adults and families in Lake County and northern Illinois. Nicasa was founded in 1966 by members of a local Alcoholics Anonymous group as a one-employee organization. Its original mission was to provide advocacy and a more humane approach to the issues of recovering alcoholics and their families. Since then, Nicasa has grown to become a leader in the field of substance abuse and mental health services with eight Lake County locations including Round Lake (headquarters), Mundelein, Waukegan (two locations), Highland Park, Buffalo Grove and North Chicago. For more information about Nicasa, visit www.nicasa.org.
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