Press Release: New Beginnings Clubhouse celebrates building expansion with ribbon cutting

The New Beginnings Clubhouse celebrated a building expansion in Merrillville Sept. 14 with a ribbon cutting followed by an open house, complete with tours of the newly remodeled location. 

The ribbon cutting ceremony, which began at 11 a.m., highlighted the opportunity to serve more people in a different mental health care environment.  

Jonathan, left, a New Beginnings Clubhouse member, begins a tour of the Clubhouse expansion after the ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 14. Also pictured (from left to right) Clubhouse Program Director Josh Melko, Regional Care Group CEO Bill Trowbridge and Regional Health Systems Vice President Angela Comsa.

“The expanded and renovated building helps New Beginnings Clubhouse increase the number of people it can safely serve and was made possible by the Legacy Foundation and the Indiana Clubhouse Coalition as well as Regional Health Systems, its fiscal agent,” said Regional Care Group CEO Bill Trowbridge, who attended the ribbon cutting Wednesday. 

New Beginnings Clubhouse is a place where people with mental illness work together to regain self-worth, purpose and dignity. As a member-run and accredited organization, members gain access to opportunities to rejoin the worlds of friendships, family, employment and education, and to the services and support they may individually need in their recovery journey. 

Matt, a member of New Beginnings Clubhouse, gave a speech at the ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 14.

Also at the ribbon cutting was Kelly Anoe, President and CEO of the Legacy Foundation. 

“We are happy to support the expansion of the New Beginnings Clubhouse,” Anoe said. “Through this grant, more members will be able to participate in meaningful programming and mental health services, which is vital to our community.” 

Clifton, a member of New Beginnings Clubhouse, gives a tour of the new expansion at the ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 14.

Currently, New Beginnings Clubhouse (Clubhouse) is the only organization of its kind in Lake County, Indiana. Members manage the Clubhouse like a business — not a treatment center. This form of mental health treatment helps members gain a sense of purpose and dignity through meaningful work. 

“Expanding the physical size of the building was a necessary first step towards growing our Clubhouse community,” said New Beginnings Clubhouse Program Director Josh Melko. “It not only brought us closer to financial sustainability, but it also allowed us to reach out to more people in our community who were feeling isolated by their mental illness. We want them to know they are not alone.”   

Regional Care Group CEO Bill Trowbridge cuts ribbon for New Beginnings Clubhouse ribbon cutting ceremony.