Have you ever heard someone share their life goals? Maybe their list was long or their aspirations sounded cliche. They want to hike up a large mountain. Or, they want to have a building named after them. Don and Jeanne Blackburn never sought after that goal for themselves, but on May 16th, 2024, our nonprofit facility and after-care residence was dedicated in their honor. An even more virtuous life goal that many boast is to do something that makes a real difference in the world. Whether or not the Blackburns ever voiced that desire, their actions over 25 years ago paved the way for the life-changing opportunities we now offer men in recovery every day.  When this couple took the first steps to found an after care program, it was because they simply wanted to walk alongside their son on his biggest climb of life over a mountain of addiction and onto a new path of sobriety! By immortalizing their legacy through the dedication of our building, we honor their profound impact and ensure their contributions continue to inspire and guide our work – and other men like their [...]

Geoffrey's role at Beacon House is multifaceted. As the Director of Outreach Services, he spearheads educational initiatives in the community, emphasizing the significance of after-care in the recovery process. He tirelessly engages with different organizations, from hospitals and jails to detox facilities, building partnerships and spreading awareness about the support offered by the Beacon House. Geoffrey also wears another hat as the Lead Resident Manager, overseeing the well-being of residents, and leading the other managers in the program. He helps foster a supportive environment for their journey in sobriety. His interactions with residents are marked by empathy and understanding. His journey to joining our team began with his own journey with recovery. Raised in Indiana, he spiraled into a cycle of alcoholism that began at 16 and culminated in a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence. It was during a subsequent brush with the law that Geoffrey confronted a pivotal choice – embrace sobriety or face the prospect of incarceration once more. “I didn’t want to get sober. I just wanted to stay out of prison.”  So, he negotiated through his lawyer a plan to go to an after-care program after detoxing, [...]

In the corridors of the Beacon House, there's a beacon of hope named Brad. A participant-turned-Resident Manager, Brad's story resonates with the very essence of healing and second chances. His recovery journey – and his journey with us – began in 2019 when he joined our Residential Program. Little did he know that this first step would lead to the beautiful life he has now.  Fast forward to May 2023, and Brad found himself donning a new title of Resident Manager, entrusted with the responsibility of guiding and nurturing residents who are in a critical time of life so familiar to him. With an innate understanding born from his own journey, Brad connects with residents, offering not just oversight but genuine empathy and support. His days are a blend of enforcing program rules and fostering an environment where residents feel heard and understood. Through daily interactions and personalized support methods like emotional check-in forms and goal setting, Brad ensures that no one inside the Beacon House feels like they're on the path to recovery alone. Reflecting on his own transformation, Brad's words resonate with authenticity and gratitude. "I can [...]

What do you get if you mix the human ingredients of need, challenge, compassion and love? If stirred with a gentle hand you get hope. Hope can come in many forms; a baby’s smile, a child’s laughter, a new job or the spring flowers as they poke their heads up through a late snow. In the case of many that suffer from the disease of addiction, hope comes in the form of the Beacon House in downtown Louisville. The Journey for Don & Jeanne Don and Jeanne Blackburn planted seeds of hope back in 1997 and they sprouted into a facility that provides hope every day for fifty men in recovery. The need was a safe place to continue recovery for their son. The challenge was to find that place. The compassion and love was the driving force that addressed that need and challenge. There was no place in Louisville for someone fresh out of treatment to get the additional help and guidance needed to cross that bridge from addiction to a respectable and productive life. Beginning the Beacon House Don and Jeanne reached out to the community and [...]