Amity Foundation to break ground for Dragonfly Village children and family center

The public is invited to attend the official Ground Breaking Ceremony for  Amity Foundation's state of the art children and family center, Dragonfly Village. The event will take place on Thursday morning 8:00 a.m. sharp August 19, 2010. The site is located on the campus of Amity's Circle Tree Ranch 10500 E. Tanque Verde Road, Tucson, Arizona 85749 (just east of Houghton Road.) The event will proceed indoors by 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. for more information and refreshments.

Invited guests include elected and appointed officials as well as other dignitaries. Invited Amity donors include Jim Click; Shamrock Foods; Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco; and Emerald Foundation. Naming opportunities for new donors will also be available.

Amity Foundation is facilitating a capital campaign and providing five acres of real estate for Dragonfly Village, a father's residency, a swimming pool and other amenities. Dragonfly Village will feature twelve children and women residences and a community center with dining, daycare, study centers and classrooms. Amity Foundation's Circle Tree Ranch, as a teaching community, helped pioneer services for children and families with problems of addiction, abuse, and neglect.

Research studies conducted by Dr. Sally Stevens, Executive Director of the Southwest Institute for Research on Women at the University of Arizona, show that when women are able to bring their children into treatment with them they are far more likely to, a) complete treatment, b) stay clean and sober, and, c) retain custody of their children.  By providing treatment for families, Amity is providing the most effective prevention services for the children, and insuring that these families stay together.

Dragonfly Village is an innovative alternative for the growing number of homeless families in need of residential substance abuse treatment services. Dragonfly Village will provide a safe, home-like environment for children; and stability for families to bond while recovering from the often traumatic existence they have led. Also included are medical and nursing services for pregnant and post-partum women, daycare services for infants and toddlers, and counseling and academic support services for older children that will attend school in the nearby Tanque Verde School District.

Amity Dragonfly Village President, Ray Clarke, stated, "We understand that addiction is more than substance abuse; that is why all of the aforementioned services are important, plus nutritional meals, a fitness center, and other comprehensive services provided in part through the generosity of our supporters."