Bridgeway Rehabilitation 50th

Cory Storch The Heart and Soul of Bridgeway These excerpts from interviews with Cory over the years tell both Bridgeway’s and Cory’s story. “I grew up in the 60s, so I always had this belief that I had to make a difference in the world. I just wasn’t always sure what that difference would be. When I applied to work at Bridgeway, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but it turned out to be the perfect opportunity. I really attribute my passion to the field to the people I serve -- the fact that you can really recover from mental illness seems to be a well-kept secret, and our society doesn’t understand that, so working here gives me a great opportunity to carry that message to more people.” “I learned that in addition to all the ways people with mental illness were different from me, they were similar in more ways. They wanted from life just what I wanted – respect, opportunity, a good job, friends, a girl friend, a boyfriend, husband, wife, a family.” “Bridgeway quickly became more than a job for me. It became a mission – to bring hope to the people I was assigned to work with. Getting beyond learned hopelessness is the first step in recovery from a mental illness. You need hope in order to want help. That is especially true at Bridgeway where we serve people facing co-occurring challenges: poverty, substance abuse, chronic medication conditions and of course stigma and discrimination.” “People battling severe mental illnesses aren’t statistics. They’re our parents, our siblings and our friends. They deserve the opportunity to live in dignity, to become part of the workforce and engage in the pursuit of happiness.” “Stigmatizing beliefs and language lead to discrimination – in the workplace, in social situations, in school settings. The discrimination against people who have a mental illness causes social isolation and lost educational and career opportunities. This is part of the reason so many people with a mental illness are living in poverty and spending time in hospitals, prisons, and jails.” “Mental illnesses can be devastating to a person and his or her family. Such illnesses can be managed and people can lead lives worth living –if they get the help they need. Bridgeway offers that help.” People with mental health disabilities have the potential to recover, be self sufficient and contribute to their communities. CORY AND PETER POGANY, DISTINGUISHED VOLUNTEER AWARD HONOREE, CHAIRMAN’S DINNER, APRIL 2017 6