Spenser Flowers, an active member of the Hampton Township community, died on Jan. 1, 2017, at the age of 20, from an accidental heroin overdose. Spenser’s struggle with addiction was relatively short but ultimately deadly. Throughout his battle – with his family’s caring support – he remained kind, loving and so very, very funny. Two days before he died, he agreed to return to treatment. He spent two hours the night before he died researching facilities to identify the rehab program into which he wanted to commit. Spenser didn’t want to die – he wanted to stop using drugs and begin recovery.
Spenser’s Voice Fund was established by his family members, Tina, Chris and Sam Flowers, to honor Spenser’s spirit and voice, and to support organizations and agencies working to curb the drug epidemic in young adults.
Since inception, Spenser’s Voice has made grants in excess of $289,000. Grants made from the fund in 2024/2025:
- Gateway Rehab (GRC), rooted in Pittsburgh since 1972, is a nonprofit provider of whole-person, compassionate care to individuals struggling with substance use and mental health disorders. GRC is committed to bringing hope and healing to hundreds of communities through accessibility, evidence-based treatment practices, relapse prevention and family support. Programs include both residential and outpatient treatment, a community-based Center of Excellence recovery peer program, extended care halfway housing, telehealth counseling, and psychiatric services. In July of 2022, GRC acquired another provider, Greenbriar Treatment Center, expanding the organization’s reach, with 18 locations now throughout Allegheny, Beaver, Erie, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland Counties. With over 50 years of service to the community, hope has a home here. The grant awarded most recently to GRC will be utilized to fund its first mobile telehealth cart, exclusively for its adolescent residential treatment program.
- Hope 4, located in Irwin, Pennsylvania, is a community support center for those in recovery and their families/loved ones. It’s a safe, healthy, non-judgmental place where those seeking recovery can get well in a community of recovery. Hope 4 offers organized peer recovery groups and support groups for families, along with a myriad of social activities – axe throwing, bowling, participation in community events (like the Greensburg holiday parade), “meet and eat” meetings, trips to restaurants and sporting events and many other activities. Support sessions are offered at no cost to participants, and Hope 4 maintains a fund to pay for social events for those who are unable to pay. Hope 4 and Spenser’s Voice have grown up together – Hope 4 was in its infancy when we first met with them in 2017. The grant awarded to Hope 4 in 2024 will be utilized for rent, staffing and facility costs.
- Holy Family Institute Holy Family Institute offers many services and programs throughout southwestern Pennsylvania in connection with its mission to empower children and families to lead responsible lives. Holy Family provides in-home and in-school addiction recovery support services throughout Allegheny and neighboring counties. The grants most recently awarded by Spenser’s Voice to Holy Family are being utilized to fund the Client Hardship and Activity Fund which provides incentives or necessities to clients of all ages to encourage them to remain engaged in recovery by reducing external stressors. The fund covers expenses for transportation, incentives, supplies and therapist toolkits.
- Life Building Ministries is a ministry run by Father Jay Geisler, Gus DiRenna and his wife, Shawna Johnson, that assists men struggling with substance use, anger, low self-esteem and/or a lack of hope or purpose. Life Building Ministries provides housing for its clients at an eight-person boarding house, Serenity Duffland House, in Carrick, Pennsylvania, and a multi-building farm in Cochranton, Pennsylvania, and teaches them life and construction skills, assists with finding employment and supports them in recovery. The initial grant from Spenser’s Voice will be utilized to purchase the Serenity Duffland House which Life Building Ministries currently rents.
- Pittsburgh Organization for Women in Early Recovery ("POWER") serves women with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders, adults and adolescents seeking resources or help getting treatment, and women who may benefit from mentoring. All of POWER's programs are gender-responsive and trauma-informed. Programs and services include intake, detox, rehab, residential treatment, outpatient counseling, and mentoring - also known as recovery coaching or peer recovery support. The 2024 grant from Spenser’s Voice supports POWER’s Central Intake program which serves everyone who calls the POWER Line for help. Trained and compassionate staff provide screenings, assessments, and referrals to treatment which are crucial first steps on the road to recovery. Support for our Central Intake Department means providing life-saving help to men and women.
- Prevention Point Pittsburgh ("PPP") is a harm reduction organization operating throughout the City of Pittsburgh. PPP has recently expanded its mobile sites and continues to increase the services offered to its clients. In 2023, PPP had 9,891 interactions with participants in their Syringe Services Program, distributed over 48,000 doses of naloxone through its service sites and statewide naloxone mailing program, and provided free and low barrier buprenorphine treatment to an average of 400 people per month. The 2024 grant from Spenser’s Voice to PPP will be utilized to fund the LYFT Concierge Service which provides participants with transportation to harm reduction and recovery services and housing.