Mr. Frank Barker has spent the better part of his life-giving back to his community and to those in need. In 1984, the Barker family purchased Roanoke Sand & Gravel. Under Mr. Barker’s leadership, the company has emerged to become a premier resource for the construction and transportation industries on Long Island and beyond.
A longtime parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Manorville, Frank Barker attended church on Sundays, where he first heard a young missionary priest discuss the crisis of addiction and homelessness in the late 1990s.
That priest was Fr. Francis Pizzarelli, a Montfort Missionary and founder of Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson.
Mr. Barker was amazed to learn that Fr. Francis was pursuing his master’s degree as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Substance Abuse Counselor. He asked to meet and offered to help raise funds to support the newly formed nonprofit.
“Mr. Barker told me he wanted to help raise money for Hope House but that he had a few conditions. Specifically, he didn’t want to do a black-tie dinner, golf tournament, or fancy dinner dance. Instead, he envisioned an event whereby 100% of the proceeds would go directly to the ministry. So, Mr. Barker, myself, and Monsignor Thomas Hartman, the CEO of Catholic Faith Network, set about brainstorming the idea of a Breakfast Club that would cost participants $2,000 to participate. Mr. Barker donated the venue and continental breakfast, and we raised $50,000 that first year. The rest is history,” according to Fr. Pizzarelli.
Now, 27 years in the making, The Breakfast Club has raised over $6.3 million to support the many programs of Hope House Ministries.
Held typically in June, The Breakfast Club gathers interested businessmen and businesswomen from around Long Island for breakfast at Oheka Castle. The early morning event features testimonies from individuals whose lives and families were once trapped by addiction but who now enjoy successful lives founded on sobriety and sound mental health.
For years, Mr. Frank Barker has known that the source of this restoration of the human person can be found in the mission of Hope House Ministries.
The Need
Each year, thousands of men, women, children, elderly individuals, and veterans experience addiction and mental health issues in our community. Some live with the debilitating disease of alcoholism or the life-altering entanglements of opioid and drug addiction. Others are escaping an abusive partner or some other unacceptable living situation that has led them to paralyzing depression and suicidal ideation. Still, others face incarceration, homelessness, or even deportation.
With every life crisis a person encounters, a corresponding mental health issue arises. In many such circumstances, those who are wounded and in need of healing and restoration become overwhelmed and lost.
Hope House Ministries offers compassionate, competent, and professional services to those experiencing brokenness and does not ask for anything in return. Ten programs make up the agency’s response to urgent needs within the community.
New York State Support
For the past 44 years, the State of New York has recognized Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson as a key leader in Suffolk and Nassau Counties addressing addiction and mental health services. In that time, the State of New York has invested millions of dollars in Hope House Ministries via contracts aimed to support Hope Academy, Montfort Therapeutic Residence, and Pax Christi Hospitality Center programs. The Office of Family and Children, the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance, and Suffolk County’s Department of Social Services all attest to the successful track record of its programs.
Hope House Ministries has provided critical services for the Family Courts of Suffolk and Nassau Counties, the District Attorney’s Offices, law enforcement, and hospitals. As part of the solution to the crisis of addiction, Hope House Ministries has saved the region millions of dollars each year in tax dollars, dramatically reducing current dependence on publicly funded shelters, detox programs, jails, emergency room visits, and outpatient healthcare. Most importantly, Hope House Ministries has helped thousands of men and women obtain sobriety, restoration of sound mental health, and independence in the community. Today, these men and women are productive voting citizens of Suffolk County.
Bi-Partisan Support
Hope House Ministries has received bi-partisan support throughout the years. In September of 1991, Hope House Ministries was named President Bush’s 555th Point of Light. In March of 1996, President Clinton appointed Fr. Francis Pizzarelli, SMM, to his White House Task Force on Youth, Drug Use & Violence.
Proven Models of Recovery
Various treatment models developed by Hope House Ministries in the 1980s have been duplicated elsewhere in New York State and today are widely accepted as best practices in the field of addiction and mental health care for those experiencing homelessness because of their addiction.
Unconditional Acceptance
Atheists, agnostics, and believers alike now lead productive lives as tradesmen, doctors, lawyers, first responders, social workers, teachers, accountants, politicians, and entrepreneurs as a direct result of having achieved sobriety and sound mental health while at Hope House Ministries. No matter one’s race, ethnic background, gender, socio-economic background, or political stripe, everyone is welcomed at all our programs.
Founder and Executive Director Fr. Francis Pizzarelli, SMMs, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), and a member of the National Registry of Clinical Social Workers. He received his Diplomate in Clinical Social Work in 1998. His degrees include Sociology, a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work, and post-graduate training as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. He has received honorary degrees from St. Joseph University and St. Michael’s College for his work.
Since the early 1980s, Father Pizzarelli has been aggressively involved with drug and alcohol education on Long Island and throughout the Eastern United States. He has spoken in over 3,000 high schools and colleges on the theme of human wellness, drug and alcohol addiction, and suicide prevention and awareness.
In addition to being the full-time Executive Director of Hope House Ministries, Father Pizzarelli is a Professor of Sociology at Suffolk County Community College and a Professor of Social Work at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, as well as St. Joseph’s University.
Unrelenting Volunteers
The volunteer base at Hope House Ministries is driven for success. Thousands of volunteers donate countless millions of dollars each year in time, talent, goods, and services. From the Board of Directors to entrepreneurs, from certified NY State teachers to individuals of every walk of life, profession, and political persuasion, volunteers respond. They are, in fact, the backbone of Hope House Ministries.
Governance
Anyone connected to Hope House Ministries will not only attest to the efficacy of its programs but to its fiscal responsibility. The governing body that makes up its Board of Directors and Advisory Board provides diverse expertise in a multitude of fields and professions.
Not only does the Board of Directors lead fundraising efforts, but they rely on their extensive reach to provide employment opportunities for graduates of programs.
Their commitment to excellence over the years has allowed for housing and supportive counseling services to be made available free of charge to those in need.
“Mr. Barker’s commitment to the mission of Hope House Ministries is a testament to his life of service to others. What one person can accomplish to make the world a better place is profound. Mr. Barker’s influence and commitment to those in need has made a tremendous impact on countless lives. His legacy is one of profound love. I consider him one of the most humble and generous men I know, and I feel blessed to call him a friend,” said Fr. Pizzarelli.
For more information about Hope House Ministries, visit www.hhm.org. To learn more about joining The Breakfast Club, call 631-473-8796.