MINNEAPOLIS — Hazelden Betty Ford is celebrating its 75th anniversary. From humble beginnings in a farmhouse in 1949, it has become one of the most renowned addiction recovery programs in the nation.
Rob Lowe and other big names are expected to be at Friday's gala. Throughout the years KARE has covered big names who have turned to Hazelden. And we shine a light on one local who says this anniversary means a lot to many.
Andrew Zimmern says there's a lot to celebrate today, because of everything he and others have overcome with their help.
"It's like your dad's birthday, right?" Zimmern said. "I mean, it's a it's a pretty big deal.
Nowadays he's a celebrated chef, media personality and businessman. But that all came after Hazelden helped him with alcoholism.
"That was at a point in my life where I did not think I could get well," Zimmern said.
"I was truly hopeless. The two most important things I ever did in my life was pick up the phone and call one of my friends and say, help me. The second most important thing that I did was when I was at Hazelden, I said, I don't know how to do this. Can you help me?"
That, coming from a four-time James-Beard winner.
"I think they deserve a huge accolade from all of us, even those for whom it may not be obvious how recovery touches us, but recovery and the diseases that preceded affect every family in America," Zimmern said.