Project REACH held its first annual REACH at the Beach event to raise awareness about addiction, and collect money for organizations that help treat people struggling with substance abuse.
After losing their brother, James Quigley to addiction, Catherine Tammaro, Kelly Lieberman and Liz Junior started Project REACH to let other families with similar struggles know that they are not alone.
Project REACH is a nonprofit corporation that offers resources, education, awareness, compassion and hope for drug addiction.
With more than 300 guests in attendance at Rye Town Park, friends and families came together on Saturday, July 8, to honor Quigley, who passed away in January 2016.
Quigley was a father of two and a tunnel worker for the Union 147 Sandhogs.
“We hope to just raise awareness that addiction is more about [brain] chemistry, not character,” Tammaro told the Review.
As the event kicked off, guests were treated to an emotional speech read on behalf of Tammaro by John Junior, her nephew.
“Our family traveled between chaos and hope for more than 25 years,” John Junior said. “We mostly struggled with understanding the difference between enabling and mercy.”
The speech acknowledged the struggles that families go through, what Project REACH means to Tammaro, and what other families can do to help.
The speech encouraged families to host their own REACH fundraisers, and financially support centers that work with those suffering from addiction.
Later, Tammaro, of Harrison, said, “If we can’t do anything else, we should at least have mercy on those who are affected [by addiction].”
Lieberman, of Rye Brook, said that for her, the event was cathartic and emotional.
“We knew we just wanted something positive to come out of something so tragic,” she said.
Along with spreading awareness, the event also worked to raise money for St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester, which offers mental health and addiction treatment to patients, and St. Anthony’s Shelter for Renewal, a shelter that helps men recover from substance abuse and addiction.
“This is a way to give back to a lot of the things [Quigley] actually participated in,” said Vinny Tammaro, Catherine Tammaro’s husband.
Because of the family’s hard work, Westchester County Legislator David Gelfarb, of Rye Brook, issued a proclamation for Project REACH. “It’s a really good act, [and] a good charity,” he said.
Gelfarb explained that he’s friendly with the families involved, and invited County Executive Rob Astorino along to the event. “I was pleased to introduce [Astorino] and present a proclamation on behalf of the Legislature”
Other notable guests at the event included Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, state Sen. George Latimer, and Harrison Councilwoman Marlane Amelio.
Between tickets for the event, which ranged from $50 per person to $100 for a family, and the raffles which gave guests a chance to win an Apple Watch, an Amazon Echo or a week of summer camp at Nora Ovenworks, a bakery in Harrison, the event raised more than $10,000.
The tickets gave guests access to an all-you-can-eat barbecue, Oakland Beach and musical performances by The Exception, a local cover band, and DJ Carlos.
“This has been a tremendous success,” Vinny Tammaro said.
During the evening, guests were encouraged to join in to a yoga session on the beach taught by Angela Brandt, a certified yoga instructor in Harrison, face painting, board games and volleyball.
Alice Stephens, a New Rochelle resident who attended the event, said that Project REACH is a “wonderful cause.” And that people suffering from addiction need to know that it’s okay not to be perfect.
Due to the success of REACH at the Beach, Catherine Tammaro said that there are already plans to hold the event next year.
