Most of what Americans know about addiction is based on the images of people in the depths of their illness. The story of the millions who overcome their illness and make solid contributions to their families, neighbors and the country is a story that does not penetrate. Honoring recovery is not the top story on television.

On September 25, 2008, the Johnson Institute will host the Fifth Annual “America Honors Recovery” Luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.   The luncheon will honor six Americans in recovery making a difference for future generations.

Honorees are individuals who havesuccessfully overcome their experience with alcohol and other drug addiction, either personally, or as a family member or significant other and are making a difference in their community, their profession, and/or the recovery movement. Help us change the focus from the illness to honoring the hope and healing of recovery.

Christopher Kennedy Lawford will chair the 2008 America Honors Recovery Luncheon.
Mr. Lawford is the first child of Peter and Pat Kennedy Lawford.  For much of his young adult life Mr. Lawford battled drug and alcohol addiction, but today he has been sober for more than 21 years.

Mr. Lawford has spent over fifteen years in the film and television business as an actor, lawyer, executive, and producer. He began his career in the Universal Studios Independent Film Acquisition unit. As an independent producer Lawford arranged financing for and produced films including Kiss Me Guido & Drunks, both films were selections in the Sundance Film Festival.

In September of 2005, Harper Collins Publishers released Mr. Lawford’s memoir Symptoms of Withdrawal: A Memoir of Snapshots and Redemption, which immediately became a New York Times Bestseller.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, a JD from Boston College Law School and a Masters Certification in Clinical Psychology from Harvard Medical School where he gained an academic appointment as a Lecturer on Psychiatry.