Skip to content
  • Council
    • About Us
      • Our History
      • Leadership & Board
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Blog
    • Resources
    • Stay Connected
  • Services
    • The Place to Start
    • Counseling & Treatment
      • Outpatient Treatment
      • Therapeutic Counseling
      • Children & Adolescents
      • Therapist Staff
    • Community Programs
    • Workshops & Trainings
      • Family Workshop
      • Behavioral Health Training
      • Recovery Coach Training
      • Breaking the Silos Symposium
    • Substance Use & Mental Health
    • Recovery Activities
      • Twelve-Step Meetings
      • Yoga
      • Meditation
    • Rent a Venue
  • Events
    • Council Luncheons
    • Evening With
    • Sober Recreation
    • Community Events
  • Support Us
    • Ways to Give
    • Volunteer
    • Speaker Series
  • Contact Us
  • Give Now
  • Get Help Now
  • Council
    • About Us
      • Our History
      • Leadership & Board
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Blog
    • Resources
    • Stay Connected
  • Services
    • The Place to Start
    • Counseling & Treatment
      • Outpatient Treatment
      • Therapeutic Counseling
      • Children & Adolescents
      • Therapist Staff
    • Community Programs
    • Workshops & Trainings
      • Family Workshop
      • Behavioral Health Training
      • Recovery Coach Training
      • Breaking the Silos Symposium
    • Substance Use & Mental Health
    • Recovery Activities
      • Twelve-Step Meetings
      • Yoga
      • Meditation
    • Rent a Venue
  • Events
    • Council Luncheons
    • Evening With
    • Sober Recreation
    • Community Events
  • Support Us
    • Ways to Give
    • Volunteer
    • Speaker Series
  • Contact Us
  • Give Now
  • Get Help Now

The Council's Blog

Andrew McCarthy Captivates Supporters at The Council on Recovery’s 36th Waggoner’s Foundation Speaker Series Luncheon

Andrew McCarthy at Council Luncheon
Andrew McCarthy captivates The Council’s 2019 Spring Luncheon

The excited buzz among the crowd after The Council on Recovery’s Spring Luncheon confirmed it: Andrew McCarthy was one the best speakers The Council has ever had! Speaking on Friday, April 12th, the actor, director, producer, and an award winning travel writer opened up about his personal struggle with alcohol and drugs, as well as the many gifts of his 27 years of sobriety.

Andrew was preceded on the stage by Luncheon Co-chairs, Bob Candito and Amanda Polich, each of whom shared their own personal stories of hope and recovery. Their heartfelt remarks were followed by an exuberant introduction by Jerri Duddlesten-Moore, who spoke of Andrew McCarthy’s decades of achievement and fame. From his iconic films Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo’s Fire, and Less Than Zero to his work as an actor and director of some of today’s most popular and acclaimed television shows to his award-winning writing as a travel journalist, Andrew’s trajectory of success is of inspiration to all.

Bounding to the stage, Andrew immediately thanked and praised The Council, saying, “… it obviously does some amazing work for the community. The Council is such a solid, strong, dependable, in-the-fiber-of-the-community place, that it’s a real cornerstone. It’s impossible to measure actually what The Council does…or really know how many people The Council is really helping. But, it would be hard to imagine if it wasn’t.”

Andrew then proceeded to captivate the audience of 900+ people with an intimate and revelatory story of his experience with alcohol and drugs from the age of 17 until he became sober at age 29. He related the highs and lows of a life that was dominated by alcoholism until a defining moment in 1992 when he finally asked for help. At the time, he was directed to an organization in New York City that he likened to The Council.

“That’s why I say The Council being there is so great. Because when that moment comes, there has to be somewhere to catch us,” Andrew said, “otherwise we fall.”

In early recovery, Andrew said he did exactly what he was told, including going to support groups. Within a couple of years…”my life started to get better”, he said, “…95% of my seemingly unrelated problems had disappeared by simply showing up, doing what’s in front of me that day, and then going to bed. And waking up and then doing what’s in front of me the next day.”

“In sobriety,” Andrew said, “I was able to find out that if I do the next right thing in front of me, I can have the opportunity to be who I am.”

Andrew’s inspiring message of hope, experience, and strength received a standing ovation from the audience who were clearly touched by his invaluable words of grateful recovery.

Read more about the Waggoner’s Foundation Speaker Series here and scroll through the galaxy of celebrities who have spoken at The Council’s Luncheons.

  Date: April 15, 2019February 7, 2020  ·     Author: TCOR_Marketing  ·    Category: Uncategorized, Blog, Featured
  Tags:  andrew mccarthy  Council Luncheon  sobriety  

Post navigation

◂ The Lifelong Quest for Sobriety…The Ultimate Hero’s Journey—Part 53
The Council Receives LegitScript Certification ▸

Highlights

  • Welcome Chief Impact Officer, Tracey Burnett-Greenup

    We are excited to announce the newest addition to The Council’s Executive Leadership team, Tracey Burnett-Greenup, MLS(ASCP), LPC, who has …[...]
  • The Council on Recovery Welcomes Community Service Dog

    Meet The Council on Recovery’s newest team member, Emmy! Emmy, a three-year-old black Lab mix, came home to The Council’s …[...]
  • The Council on Recovery Earns Three-Year CARF Accreditation

    We are excited to share that after intense review, The Council has received a three-year accreditation from The Commission on …[...]
  • Houstonian Brené Brown Helps The Council on Recovery to Raise More Than $932,000

    Houstonian and New York Times bestseller Brené Brown inspired a crowd of more than 1,500 Houstonians at The Council on …[...]
  • How Mindfulness Meditations Can Help on Your Path to Sobriety

    As you navigate the ups and downs of recovery, finding inner peace and strength becomes paramount. Mindfulness meditations offer a …[...]

Categories

Archives

You know someone who needs us.

Start here at The Council.

  713.942.4100
  Get help now
Verify Approval for www.councilonrecovery.org

  Address
303 Jackson Hill Street
Houston, TX, 77007

Mail: P.O.Box 2768,
Houston, TX 77252-2768

  Phone
Local: 713.942.4100
Toll-free: 855.942.4100
Center for Recovering Families:
713.914.0556

  Facility hours
Mon-Thu: 8:30 am - 9:00 pm
Fri: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Sat: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
Sun: Closed
See Call Center hours

  Call Center hours
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Weekend: Closed
See facility hours

© Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Terms of Service
Stay Connected

Stay Connected Email Sign Up

Job Announcement Request

Job Announcement Request Form

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • Check one or more option - please note, not all locations may receive postings. Determination will be made based on job criteria and nature of placement site.

Notifications

  • Council
    • About Us
      • Our History
      • Leadership & Board
      • 2024 Annual Report
      • Back
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Blog
    • Resources
    • Stay Connected
    • Back
  • Services
    • The Place to Start
    • Counseling & Treatment
      • Outpatient Treatment
      • Therapeutic Counseling
      • Children & Adolescents
      • Therapist Staff
      • Back
    • Community Programs
    • Workshops & Trainings
      • Family Workshop
      • Behavioral Health Training
      • Recovery Coach Training
      • Breaking the Silos Symposium
      • Back
    • Substance Use & Mental Health
    • Recovery Activities
      • Twelve-Step Meetings
      • Yoga
      • Meditation
      • Back
    • Rent a Venue
    • Back
  • Events
    • Council Luncheons
    • Evening With
    • Sober Recreation
    • Community Events
    • Back
  • Support Us
    • Ways to Give
    • Volunteer
    • Speaker Series
    • Back
  • Contact Us
  • Give Now
  • Get Help Now