Together Magazine Winter 2023 - 11

A
cross the country and around the world,
First Lady Betty Ford is an icon of courage
and compassion. She transformed her pain
into healing and hope for so many-first, by
openly seeking treatment for addiction when
" I love this place. I love the desert. I love the mountains, "
says McDonald. " I'm excited to support the expansion of
trails and natural spaces around campus, because I love
the outdoors and I know that movement is medicine.
Movement and nature help people feel better. "
quietly doing so would have been so much easier and, then,
by co-founding a treatment center so others could find what
she found: New life in recovery.
As the Betty Ford Center embarks on its fifth decade,
plans are underway to expand and advance Mrs. Ford's
groundbreaking work on behalf of patients, families and
the nation. At the heart of those plans are four trailblazing
women-Susan Ford Bales, Maria McDonald, Cini Robb
and MaryPat Woodard-who carry the healing legacy
forward. Through their philanthropic collaboration,
each has taken a leading role in helping to transform the
beloved campus to meet emerging and evolving needs for
generations to come.
The four recently met on campus to celebrate the Betty Ford
Center's 40th anniversary and share their excitement for
what's ahead.
EMBRACING PATIENTS WITH COMPASSION
AND DIGNITY
Susan Ford Bales, Trustee
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
From the start, the Betty Ford Center was envisioned as
place of profound empathy, personal transformation and
exceptional care-and no detail was left to chance. During
construction, Mrs. Ford visited the campus every day to
check on progress. She personally selected fabrics, furniture,
carpeting and artwork, and even tested beds before the
Center opened to experience every aspect from the patient's
perspective, recounts Susan Ford Bales.
" Mother made sure everything was welcoming and
comfortable for patients. Accommodations were very nice
but not plush. Her priority above all was [attentiveness to]
the dignity and humanity of patients. I'm proud to carry my
mother's legacy forward. "
The campus transformation will expand access to treatment
and recovery support with an emphasis on fostering the
sense of belonging and connection vital to recovery.
CREATING NATURAL SPACES
FOR REFLECTION AND CONNECTION
Maria McDonald, President
Betty Ford Center Philanthropy Council
The Betty Ford Center is a place of " miracles " for Maria
McDonald who was introduced to the world of treatment
and recovery as a Family Program participant in 2001. She
wants other families to feel the same healing embrace.
Designed to give patients and visitors more places to enjoy
being in nature, tranquil outdoor gathering areas and
expanded walking trails are prominent components of the
campus transformation.
EXPANDING TREATMENT OPTIONS
AND ACCESS
Cini Robb, Trustee
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
As an alumna of the Betty Ford Center, Cini Robb recalls
an extraordinary moment when she had the opportunity to
personally thank Betty Ford. " I told her she saved my life,
and she said, 'No, Cini, you saved your life. I just provided
the home for you to do your work,' " Robb recounts.
" When I heard about the campus transformation, I said, 'I'm
in!' " Robb shares. " [The expansion] is all about the patient
experience, just as it was for Betty Ford-centered on the
treatment experience, respect and camaraderie. "
A new residential pavilion will significantly increase the
Betty Ford Center's capacity, giving patients more options for
on-campus care and creating additional space for flexible
treatment options.
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
IN HEALING AND HOPE
MaryPat Woodard, Trustee and Vice Chair
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
The remarkable friendship between her mother and
Betty Ford gave MaryPat Woodard a sense of the spirit of
recovery. " Their example showed me what recovery was
and that it worked, " Woodard shares. She later learned about
recovery first-hand, as a Betty Ford Center patient-and
has championed the cause ever since as an advocate and
philanthropist, including her instrumental role in expanding
Mrs. Ford's pioneering Children's Program.
" We are all aware of the destruction this disease causes
across every aspect and level of society, but there are a lot
of people who don't understand what addiction is, " says
Woodard. " If we can carry that message through technology
and in-person services, I have tremendous hope for the
healing that can take place. "
A new auditorium will serve as a central gathering place
for patients, families and the recovery community, with
state-of-the-art technologies providing a global reach for
programs and events.
TOGETHER WINTER 2023 HazeldenBettyFord.org 11
https://www.HazeldenBettyFord.org
Together Magazine Winter 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Together Magazine Winter 2023
