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Duran Duran’s John Taylor Honored by Writers in Treatment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
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Contact: Leonard Buschel at (818) 762-0461
                                                                                                     Michael Scippa (415) 548-0492                                                    
                                               

Duran Duran’s John Taylor Honored by Writers in Treatment at
‘Experience, Strength And Hope’ Event


Recovery and entertainment icons Robert Downey Jr., Bobcat Goldthwait, and Ione Skye join host Ed Begley, Jr. at the Skirball Cultural Center February 15th

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 13, 2013) – Writers In Treatment and New Directions for Women have joined forces to honor Duran Duran’s founding member John Taylor with the Experience, Strength and Hope Award on Friday, February 15, 2013 at the Skirball Cultural Center. Robert Downey Jr. will present Writer’s In Treatment’s highest honor to Mr. Taylor during an unforgettable evening that will be hosted by Ed Begley Jr., feature special appearances by actor/comedian/director Bobcat Goldthwait, and Ione Skye, and many more surprises.
 
The Experience, Strength and Hope Award is given to well-known individuals who have written courageous and honest memoirs about their journey from addiction to recovery. Past honorees include astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. 
 
Taylor’s memoir “In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death & Duran Duran” tells of his upbringing in Birmingham, England, his years with Duran Duran, and his road to recovery. Taylor said, “I won’t say I went right away [to rehab], I had to hit bottom, which meant going out and getting so f**ked up, so disillusioned by my own inability to control myself, and then surrender. Now it’s been a whole different me, and I wanted to write about that. A lot of people are struggling and a lot of people still don’t believe that sobriety is possible for them.”
 
Writer’s In Treatment Founder, Leonard Buschel commented, “This award recognizes John Taylor who is helping to facilitate the transformation of people's lives by chronicling his journey through alcoholism and addiction to recovery. At a time when people suffer as much or more from the social stigma of addiction, John has come forward to champion recovery and dispel the dark clouds of superstition regarding this treatable and preventable illness. That certainly deserves our recognition, admiration and heartfelt gratitude."
 
The charity event is a celebration of the benefits of clean and sober living and the importance of humor in the recovery process. All proceeds benefit Writers In Treatment’s Jewelle Sturm Memorial Scholarship Fund. Past ceremony participants include award-winning actor and activist Ed Begley, Jr., actors Danny Trejo, Tony Denison, Jack McGee, and actress Joanna Cassidy.
 
“Alcohol Justice is proud to support Writers in Treatment and this year’s Experience, Strength and Hope event,” stated Michael Scippa, Director of the Free Our Sports™ Youth Film Festival, a project of Alcohol Justice. “We salute John Taylor for his inspiring memoir and Leonard Buschel for shining the spotlight on stories that can change people’s lives.”
 
The Skirball Cultural Center has established itself as one of the world's most dynamic cultural institutions and arts venues in Los Angeles. The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049.
 
This event is SOLD OUT.
 
Writers In Treatment is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization grounded in the arts and recovery fields.  W.I.T.’s primary purpose is to save lives through promoting and providing ‘treatment’ as the best first step solution for addiction, alcoholism and other self-destructive behaviors.  The international REEL Recovery Film Festival is a production of W.I.T. www.reelrecoveryfilmfestivalorg. For more information, go to www.writersintreatment.org or contact Leonard Buschel at (818) 762-0461.
 
Alcohol Justice is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that envisions healthy communities free of the alcohol industry’s negative impact. Alcohol Justice promotes evidence-based public health policies and organizes campaigns with diverse communities and youth against the alcohol industry’s harmful practices. For more information about Alcohol Justice go to www.AlcoholJustice.org. For more information about the Free Our Sports™ Youth Film Festival, go to www.FreeOurSports.org or contact Michael Scippa at (415) 548-0492.
 
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