Stepping Stone celebrates 10 years mapping the road to recovery
By Jessica Hudgins
SDUN Publications Assistant
Ten years ago Stepping Stone, an Uptown alcohol and drug treatment agency that caters mostly to the LGBT community, built a state-of-the-art facility to help people recover from their harmful addictions. The site is called Cheryl’s Stone in honor of Cheryl Houk, who single-handedly raised the $2.6 million needed to build it.
June 4-6, Stepping Stone will honor Houk’s achievement with a 10th anniversary gala weekend celebrating Cheryl’s Stone.
When Houk, Stepping Stone’s former executive director, first told people about her plan to build the facility, everyone told her she would never be able to do it.
“Cheryl really persisted and was able to pull together the right organizations and the right people to get the funds,” said John De Miranda, Stepping Stone’s president and CEO.
Those who have found a temporary home at Cheryl’s Stone during their recovery are still thriving, he said.
“In the past ten years, so many people have walked through our doors and managed to enter into long-term recovery,” De Miranda said.
The 10th anniversary celebration isn’t just a party – it’s a fundraiser that will raise money for the nonprofit organization’s many services. De Miranda said the national economic downturn and cuts to the state budget have affected Stepping Stone.
“Right now our major goal is just to survive the next few years,” he said. “A few years ago we had dreams of expansion, but all that is on hold.”
Stepping Stone aims to raise around $50,000 during the anniversary weekend through a series of activities.
On Friday, June 4, there will be a free open house at Cheryl’s Stone. This is an opportunity for the community to explore the facility and see what it offers. The open house begins at 3 p.m. with a 30-minute teatime before the proclamation ceremony featuring numerous city officials at 3:30 p.m. Houk will be on hand to talk about the importance of having a facility such as Cheryl’s Stone available to the Uptown community.
The next day, families and friends can enjoy a day of fun in the sun at a Balboa Park picnic. For $10 guests can compete in tennis and volleyball tournaments and a karaoke contest. The event starts at noon, and hamburgers and hotdogs will be available until around 4 p.m.
That evening is the main event: “A Celebration Under the Sky.” The gala will be held on the Porto Vista Hotel’s rooftop from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Showtime comedian Poppy Champlin will entertain, and DJ Sandra Ware will be at the turntable, heating up the dance floor. Tickets are $100 per person or $800 for a cabana that seats 10.
The anniversary celebration’s finale will be a Sunday morning pancake breakfast at Cheryl’s Stone, 3696 Central Ave. The breakfast starts at 9 a.m. and costs $10 per person.
