From left: Mother’s Day Celebration 2025 honoree Dr. Kate Rothko, Chair, Odyssey Foundation Board of Trustees; Shayniah and Chantelle (moms in treatment); honoree Moira Tashjian, Executive Deputy Commissioner, and Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner, NYS Office of Mental Health; with Jessica and Yeimy (moms in treatment).
On a beautiful spring day, Odyssey House gathered friends and supporters for our annual Mother’s Day Celebration, emceed by PIX11’s Monica Morales. The event raised essential funds to help women and families on their recovery journeys and honored two extraordinary women whose leadership continues to strengthen families across New York City.
Moira Tashjian, Executive Deputy Commissioner at the NYS Office of Mental Health, received the Public Service Award for her compassionate leadership and decades of service improving mental health care for vulnerable New Yorkers.
Dr. Kate Rothko, Chair of the Odyssey Foundation Board of Trustees, received the Leadership Award for her unwavering dedication to healing and advocacy. “Recovery is not just about overcoming substance use,” Dr. Rothko shared. “It’s about restoring hope, dignity, and the bonds that connect us as families and communities.”
The celebration also shone a spotlight on the incredible mothers in our programs—women rebuilding their lives and families through courage and perseverance. Shayniah, Jessica, and Chantelle each shared powerful stories of recovery, motherhood, and self-discovery.
Shayniah, 22, reunited with her baby daughter soon after entering treatment. “The other mothers became my family,” she said. “Odyssey House gave me the tools to be the mother my daughter needs.”
Jessica, a mother of five, described Odyssey House as “the final stop in a downward spiral,” where she learned patience, empathy, and self-forgiveness. “Each problem I faced, my counselors faced with me,” she said. “The small steps are building blocks to my long-term goals.”
Chantelle, 35, found purpose after the birth of her son, Miracle. “I discovered the joy of recovery,” she said. “Now I’m painting, running, and having fun—sober.”
We are deeply grateful to the Elizabeth and Barets O. Benjamin Foundation for its continued support in honor of the late George Rosenfeld, whose visionary leadership shaped our services for women and children.
This article is from our Fall 2025 edition of Odyssey House News. Click here to check out the entire issue.