Projects
Grants and Improvements 2023
United Way – Hamilton County Non-Profit Relief Program - $30,000.00
The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners allocated American Rescue Plan funds for a new round of nonprofit grants administered by United Way of Greater Cincinnati. Nonprofit organizations with annual revenue of $500,000 or less, providing eligible services to residents who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 were eligible for funds. Serenity Recovery Network received funding towards our program costs for a 6 month period, September 2022 – March 2023.
Anonymous Unrestricted Use Grant - $25,000.00
A friend of Serenity Recovery Network blessed us with funds to support our mission of helping any addict or alcoholic build a foundation for lifelong recovery.
An Anonymous Kick Start Donation for the SRN Foundation - $10,000.00
With an eye to the future, in 2022 SRN started aggregating funds to invest separately from our operating budget with the vision of establishing a Foundation to provide a continuing stream of income for SRN, in perpetuity, to preserve the founder’s work in the creation of SRN and to ensure the continuation of our mission, to help build a strong foundation of lifelong recovery in a structured residential setting for addicts, alcoholics, and their families suffering from the disease of addiction. This generous gift from an anonymous benefactor, combined with donations from other benefactors, has allowed us to establish an investment fund this year.
2023 Purchases, Improvements and Updates
SRN purchased the empty lot to the left of Angie’s House of Freedom and Miracles. The acquisition of this property will allow us to expand our campus to include additional housing for residents, parking and updating and expanding the Carriage House, including Community Meeting space, and so much more!
Extensive Roofing and Gutter repairs were completed on all 4 buildings, and two new furnaces were installed at our independent living facility, Bassett House.
The back porch of Angie’s House of Freedom and Miracles was rebuilt, including new steps and railings.
We were recertified by Ohio Recovery Housing as a Sober Living Facility meeting their standards at their highest level.
The security system servicing Angie’s House of Freedom and Miracles was expanded and improved to keep our residents safe.
Grants and Improvements, 2021-2022
Serenity House - The Spaulding Foundation Grant - $25,000
Through a generous grant from The Spaulding Foundation, we were able to complete the badly needed renovation of the kitchen at Serenity House. This involved taking the room down to the walls, installing new flooring, plumbing, electrical work, new cabinets, counters, appliances and fresh paint. This renovation has rounded out other projects improving and updating Serenity House.
With good stewardship of our grant award, we had $4000 in remaining funds, and The Spaulding Foundation authorized us to use these funds to replace a failing safety railing at the back door of Serenity House.
Serenity House - The Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation Grant - $15,000
Through this generous award, SRN was able to make updates and improvements to the common spaces of Serenity House. We were able to repair water damage to plaster walls, fix trim/doors, and paint common areas and hallways, ceilings, as well as all the men’s bedrooms. This was a much-needed improvement which served to unify, refresh and brighten the space.
Renovations in common rooms enable the men to gather for meals, relaxation, and meetings (including NA & AA 12 step meetings and meditations), computer access and resources and staff has observed a new sense of pride and ownership among the residents. Meetings, friendships, and the fellowship within recovery are key elements to reduce feelings of isolation and build a support system for the addict, and empowers the addict to live in a structured home environment without the use of alcohol and drugs.
Bassett House – Messer Construction $25,000
Serenity Recovery Network received this Grant in 2016 for the construction of a Career Center and Communal Space in the ground floor space of the Carriage House at AHFM. We were unable to break ground, as we ran into easement issues with the City of Cincinnati and approached Messer to reallocate these funds in 2020. Messer Construction allowed us to transfer this award to the replacement of the retaining walls at Bassett House. The old walls were deteriorating badly and were going to start causing structural and foundation issues at Bassett House. This work was completed in April 2021.
Angie’s House of Freedom and Miracles - $27,250 Capital Improvement
Our fundraising efforts have allowed us to address many items of deferred maintenance, one of them being the driveway and parking lot behind HFM. The existing, original driveway and lot were asphalt, and were deteriorating badly. They were crumbling and filled with large potholes and low spots, which impeded drainage and were especially troublesome in the winter. Also, there was a handicap access ramp that had been angled into the driveway at the front of the house, creating a significant barrier entering and exiting the driveway. This summer we undertook the project of removing and grading the driveway and pad, pouring new concrete, and repositioning the handicap ramp so that it no longer impeded the driveway. This improvement will benefit us for years to come.
George B. Riley Trust Estate Grant - $30,000.00
The George B. Riley Trust has been a steadfast patron of Serenity Recovery Network, awarding grants to our organization since 2008. Each year, the trust selects worthy charities that serve the poor and needy in Hamilton County. These funds are used solely for the benefit of residents in our men and women’s houses. We are grateful to have been chosen again in 2022.
United Way – Hamilton County Non-Profit Relief Program - $30,000.00
The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners allocated American Rescue Plan funds for a new round of nonprofit grants administered by United Way of Greater Cincinnati. Nonprofit organizations with annual revenue of $500,000 or less, providing eligible services to residents who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 were eligible for funds. Serenity Recovery Network received funding towards our program costs for a 6 month period, September 2022 – March 2023.