Speaker Series

The stars you know.

Telling the stories you don’t.

For a life-saving cause.

The Waggoners Foundation Speaker Series features some of the country’s most prominent actors, authors, athletes, and entertainers who share their personal experience with addiction and recovery to educate, inform, and inspire all those who share similar struggles. Help The Council on Recovery make a difference in the lives of countless families by joining us for this premier event.

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Addiction is a disease

Costs our country $740 billion annually in crime, lost productivity and health care

Impacts 1 in 7 people over the age of 12.

Costs employers more than $81 billion annually from absenteeism, reduced productivity, workplace accidents, and increased healthcare costs.

The Council on Recovery can help

Education

The Council delivers education in more than 50 local schools and to the general community to help prevent problems before they start at home, school or work.

Assessment

Comprehensive assessments and expert guidance help individuals and families struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders to find the help they need.

Treatment

Our personalized treatment approach helps the entire family recover from the effects of addiction and returns them to a meaningful and productive life.

Recovery Support

Recovery support services help individuals identify obstacles and navigate the path to long-term recovery.

Recovery is possible and benefits the entire community

Health

Well-being

People in recovery greatly improve their health outcomes and lower their risk of physical and mental health diseases such as mood and anxiety disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and liver and kidney damage.

Safety

Security

Alcohol and other drugs are involved in approximately 80% of violent crimes, property crimes and public order offenses.

Financial Stability

Employment

Individuals in long-term recovery are more likely to report having a compensated, stable job, have access to the banking system, maintain good credit, and pay taxes.

Strong Families

and Communities

Addiction affects not only its user, it also hurts the people who live with and love them. Children in substance exposed homes are at greater risk for abuse, neglect, and academic and developmental delay.

our impact

Attendees

Dollars Raised

People Helped

Life Changing Cause

from heartbreak to healing

1984

The Council hosts its inaugural Spring Luncheon featuring former First Lady Betty Ford as keynote speaker. 300 guests attend and the luncheon series is born.

1998

The Waggoner family endures an unimaginable loss when Jay Waggoner tragically dies of alcoholism at the young age of 36. Resolved to honor his life and spare other families similar pain, Jay’s parents, June and Virgil, and his sister Liz and her husband Kevin Quisenberry, begin exploring ways to make a difference for other local families affected by addiction.

1999

The Waggoner Family make a generous gift to transform and sustain our fundraising luncheon into a two-part annual speaker series, featuring some of the country’s most recognizable actors, authors, entertainers, and athletes sharing their personal stories of recovery.

Today

Now more than 35 years since our inaugural luncheon, The Waggoners Foundation Speaker Series has gained national recognition and continues to serve its three-fold purpose of raising funds, attracting new friends, and ending the stigma of addiction by sharing a message of hope for recovery.