Out of a pure desire to help those recovering from addiction, Samantha built the first online meeting software to allow addicts to meet online. She began in the summer of 2000 with no budget - only passion - and created Sobercity.com to reach out to Americans in need of drug and alcohol treatment. To date, she has served over 3 million people through Sobercity.com, providing free video meetings online and answering countless emails from those struggling to recover. Samantha, herself a recovering alcoholic, has saved countless lives by allowing people of all walks of life access to an avenue of 12 step recovery, never profiting from this endeavor.
Samantha has also helped to change the conversation about addiction by starting HopeNetworks.org. This is an organization that provides a bridge to connect all community support organizations with one common goal: to make a dent in reducing the social ills and costs that states and their communities face as a result of rampant untreated cycles of addiction. HopeNetworks.org raises awareness, educates the public, and plans and facilitates innovative projects that directly impact community awareness of addiction.
Samantha's creation of HopeNetworks.org and Sobercity.com were not work related. They were a labor of love and they continue to be a life's passion for her. She literally gets 3,000 messages a day from people in critical need, and gives away much of her life to help her brothers and sisters in recovery. In her community, she is known to government, business and the common person alike.
Samantha launched these two projects at the end of an abusive marriage. Instead of having a "why me!" attitude, she took her energy and promoted change for millions. Just this month, she will speak to DWI Task Forces, Schools of Social Work and AA Meetings. She is leading the national recovering community in advocacy and receives appointments to boards that are direct resources for those in recovery.
Although Samantha is an uncredentialed person and a single Mom with a busy schedule - and although she has received no funding to date - she has done more than other well-funded and educated people to effect changes in this community of needy people. She is driven and passionate to make a difference ? and for thousands, she has.
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