By Avery Cotton
On August 27, a crowd of over six hundred visitors gathered at the 9th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil. Hosted by the New Canaan Parent Support Group (NCPSG), the Vigil featured three guest speakers, live music, and a candlelit ceremony – all of which worked in harmony to dissolve the taboos often associated with addiction.
The Vigil is the brainchild of NCPSG founder Paul Reinhardt, who founded the group in tribute to his son Evan in 2016. Year after year, Paul has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to produce a successful program. This year’s tagline – “Sharing Stories Saves Lives” – is a testament to the power of sharing and listening in helping loved ones overcome addiction.
As Paul asserted, organizing the Vigil was no small feat. “We spent around four to five months preparing, organizing a group of representatives who were concerned about the addiction epidemic and wanted to help.” These ambassadors hail from a variety of local organizations, including Silver Hill Hospital and The Lighthouse, both of which provide recovery services for rehab patients.
Thanks to the NCPSG’s hard work, the Vigil has grown immensely, attracting an increasingly diverse array of visitors. “Many people come from neighboring towns like Wilton and Stamford, with others from Westchester County, New York, and even further away,” Paul said. “The Vigil has now become the largest recovery event in the state of Connecticut – its reputation keeps growing.”
Besides the NCPSG, the New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF) is instrumental in supporting the Vigil. According to NCCF President and CEO Lauren Patterson, the Foundation has been a partner and co-sponsor of the Vigil since 2017. Additionally, the Foundation is a fiscal sponsor of the NCPSG, providing back-office support for Paul and his team. This allows them to use their time more efficiently, delivering important programs and services as community leaders.
As a result of this long-standing partnership, NCCF has focused increasingly on addiction-related topics. “Mental and behavioral health has been a focus of our work dating back to around 2018, shortly after we started partnering with Paul and the Parent Support Group,” Lauren said. “The Vigil has done a tremendous job of highlighting the issue of addiction in our community and how it has a ripple effect,” Lauren said.
On Wednesday evening, visitors poured into downtown New Canaan well before the Vigil’s 7:00 pm start time, enjoying classics like Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” by New Haven band Musical Intervention. Neatly arranged white chairs faced the podium, behind which the Hope and Remembrance Wall memorialized those who had lost their lives to addiction. Volunteers, town officials, and families mingled with one another, celebrating the hard work that went into planning the event.
Under darkening skies, Paul stood at the podium, delivering his opening remarks to a silent crowd that had long since exceeded the seating capacity. “We’re all here, united, to increase our understanding as we listen to and honor each other,” Paul said. Emcee John Hamilton also spoke, asking the audience if they were in recovery or knew loved ones grappling with addiction. In response, nearly every hand went up.
Following Paul and John’s introductions, three speakers – Alex Smith, Gina Frazier, and Pete Thumen – shared their stories of recovery. Each of them was introduced by their parents, whose pride for their children shone through powerfully. All three speakers were originally from New Canaan, making their stories close to home for much of the audience.
Alex’s story began in college, when he was introduced to drugs and found them as a way to cope as he lost his sense of identity. His addiction worsened as his substance use escalated: “I wasn’t living, I was surviving, and barely, at that,” Alex said. In a pivotal moment, his brother gave him a moment of clarity and inspiration, reversing the tide of his addiction. “No matter how far gone you think you are – no matter how dark it is – change is possible, and I’m living proof of that.”
Before Gina’s recovery journey, she had lost her job, apartment, marriage, and filed for bankruptcy. “I didn’t recognize the person I had become,” Gina said. Thanks to a detox program in Bridgeport and the kindness of a stranger, Gina’s course was corrected. “I’ve coached more than 1,000 individuals struggling with substance use disorders,” Gina said. “My goal is to always plant the seeds of hope and possibility. Today, my life is full.” In September, Gina will reach five years of sobriety.
Pete, too, became acquainted with drugs and alcohol at an early age. Despite being sent to a wilderness therapy program and a therapeutic boarding school, his sobriety did not last. “Drugs and alcohol solved an internal malady that had existed my whole life, and I wanted that solution forever,” Pete said. After getting a DUI in 2019, Pete took action. With the support of his parents, he went to treatment and began working toward spiritual growth. “I am profoundly humbled and eternally grateful for the hope and the love in which I live today.”
Each of these three stories highlighted tremendous resolve, providing wisdom and inspiration for a crowd intimately familiar with the addiction epidemic. The impact of the speeches was not lost upon New Canaan local Jennifer Walsh: “I’ve been to many summits, and I always enjoy hearing the speakers – I find their testimonies very moving.”
Jennifer also attested that in modern times, people are more open about the addiction epidemic. “There’s less stigma talking about addiction now, and fewer taboos about sharing things with a therapist or counselor,” Jennifer said. “There’s more awareness among peers about struggles, which is important.” That echoes the sentiment that the Vigil strives to promote – talking about one’s experiences with a trusted figure can save lives.
Following Alex, Gina, and Pete’s speeches, New Canaan clergymen led a candlelit ceremony. The RAM Council distributed candles to the audience, and for a few moments, hundreds of candles flickered in the still night air, honoring the lives of those lost to addiction. A sing-along and Community Pledge also accompanied the ceremony before the Vigil drew to a close.
As we look ahead to the Vigil’s 10th anniversary, one thing’s for certain: Paul Reinhardt is more dedicated than ever to spreading his message to a broader audience. “We’re going to do something bigger and better – next year, I’ll aim to have a crowd of 1,000 people,” Paul said. I, for one, believe him wholeheartedly.
