Sally’s House Honors the Late Ruthann Genoni’s Service

By  //  August 29, 2014

Ruthann Genoni passed away July 10

THE SALLY'S HOUSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCLUDE LEFT TO RIGHT: Jason Wieseler, Tina Descovich, Angela Braid, Darcia Jones Francey, Rita Moreno, Liana Hotusing, Curt Smith and Cmdr. Paul Drinkwater. (Nancy Lundell image)
THE SALLY’S HOUSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCLUDES, LEFT TO RIGHT: Jason Wieseler, Tina Descovich, Angela Braid, Darcia Jones Francey, Rita Moreno, Liana Hotusing, Curt Smith and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Paul Drinkwater. (Nancy Lundell image)

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BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Eau Gallie Yacht Club dining room was filled recently with friends and supporters of Sally’s House for a luncheon in honor of Ruthann Genoni, a leader and long-time supporter of this home for recovering addicts and their children.

Ruthann (“Ru”) Genoni passed away on July 10, 2014. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
Friends and supporters of Sally’s House hosted a luncheon in honor of Ruthann Genoni, a leader and long-time supporter of this home for recovering addicts and their children. Genoni passed away July 10. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

Members of the Genoni family was in attendance.

As part of the program, JoAnna O’Keefe, a poet and inspirational speaker, reminisced about Ruthann’s lifetime of generosity, kindness and contributions to Sally’s House and other local charities.

Darcia Jones Francey presented the remembrances of Christine Lance, who worked with Ruthann on many local causes. Mrs. Lance was unable to attend.

The luncheon speaker, Agent Cindy Young of the Brevard County Sheriff’s office, spoke about the complexities of domestic violence and its links with alcohol and drugs.

Sally’s House was established to offer a safe, comfortable environment for women seeking to achieve and maintain recovery from addiction. The 15-bed facility assists pregnant women as its first priority and women with young children as its second priority.

Sally’s House is the only residential facility in Brevard that allows women to keep their children with them as they complete program requirements.  Clients may stay in the House for up to two years if needed to be successful in their recovery.

The cost of services is $29 per day, about one third of what comparable programs cost, according to Jason Wieseler, a program director for Circle of Care, which manages the house.

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To date, 950 women have been through the program provided at the house, achieving an 80% success rate, he said.

Participants are expected to contribute a portion of their income for treatment.

Originally named Robin’s Nest, the house was rededicated as Sally’s House in honor of Sally Lloyd, a women’s intervention specialist, whose dedication and personal commitment were greatly responsible for the establishment of this program when very few, if any, treatment options existed for women.

PHOTO GALLERY BY NANCY LUNDELL

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Curt Smith, Tina Descovich, president, Sally’s Friends, Darcia Jones Francey, Angela Braid and Jason Wieseler. (Nancy Lundell image)
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LEFT TO RIGHT: Jerri Figueroa and Myra Haley. (Nancy Lundell image)
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LEFT TO RIGHT: Brevard County Sheriff’s Agent Cindy Young, speaker, Susan Hammerling and Donna Witek. (Nancy Lundell image)
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LEFT TO RIGHT: Micki Genoni, Mark Jenssen and Christine Rogel. (Nancy Lundell image)
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Julie Mallak, Vivian Kendall, Lani Dorrell, Evelyn Young and Pat Kolo. (Nancy Lundell image)
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LEFT TO RIGHT: Paula Tucker and Camden Gooch. (Nancy Lundell image)
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LEFT TO RIGHT: Dorothy Russell, Sally’s House founder, Carlie Rogers and Maureen Anstay. (Nancy Lundell image)
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LEFT TO RIGHT: Mary Nickle, Cmdr. Paul Drinkwater and Marilyn Dobson. (Nancy Lundell image)
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LEFT TO RIGHT: Marilyn Dobson, John Genoni, Dorothy Russell and her daughter Jana Hoppe. (Nancy Lundell image)
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LEFT TO RIGHT: JoAnna O’Keefe, Robbi Gray, Peggy Murphy, Karen Fulton, Pam Gillespie, Louise Jones and Anna Neve. (Nancy Lundell image)