The Phoenix is our 2021-Q2 Grants for Good recipient. The Phoenix's mission is to build a sober active community that fuels resilience and harnesses the transformational power of connection so that together we rise, recover, and live. Chris nominated The Phoenix as an Apex consultant and was over-joyed to share his experience with the nonprofit during our one-on-one video interview.
Tell us about The Phoenix!
"The Phoenix is a nonprofit founded in 2006 by Scott Strode, a former addict. He was in recovery, going through the traditional routines, meetings, and therapy, but his recovery was missing something. He began to get this idea, which included other activities as part of the routines, such as CrossFit, swimming, rock climbing, or bicycling. He wanted everybody that had struggled in life to have an opportunity to feel redemption and personal accomplishment."
"There's no limit to what we can do with this, and the number of people we can reach is infinite. We want to reach as many people as possible, and in that respect, the business model is limitless. The Phoenix started in Denver, and it's grown into 53 different cities in 22 different states. Today, there are just under 20 brick-and-mortar sites. By brick-and-mortar, I mean an actual gym facility. Wichita is fortunate enough to be the newest one. It was added in January of 2020, and that's when I discovered it."
What is your experience with The Phoenix?
"Regardless of your background or what you're recovering from, that feeling of accomplishment is homogenous between all of us. It's no different! It's an amazing program, and I don't think I would be where I'm at today had I not found it."
"It is a place you can go when you're having your very best day or very worst day. The only requirement for walking through that door is 48 hours of sobriety. You don't have to be recovering from substance abuse. The mantra is Rise, Recover, and Live. So nowhere in that does it say anything about substance abuse. Everybody's recovering from something, and this is something that can help you."
"When you walk through the doors of The Phoenix, you know you're not judged, but rather you're greeted with smiles, high fives, and hugs. All these people, they become like family. It's truly unlike anything else out there. The Phoenix is judgment-free, truly!"
What has changed for The Phoenix in the last year?
"When the pandemic started, there was no option for in-person classes. So it pretty much went exclusively online. The pandemic could have choked off the whole thing, but I think what happened was that it opened more avenues for people to get the help they needed. I don't think that will ever stop. People like an online option because sometimes people still fear going into a place and working out with others. I totally get that, and if that's how we have to reach them, then that's what we'll continue to do."
How can people support The Phoenix?
"Cash donations are awesome for paying the bills and events, but it goes way beyond that. The biggest donation is simply people's time! There's no shortage of needs for volunteers, especially when it's a word-of-mouth organization. Overall, it's much more fun to hang out with cool people, get a good workout, and meet new friends. So definitely, volunteering is the way to go because it's the backbone of the organization."
Listen to our live interview with Chris by clicking here.
If you would like to support this organization or are interested in learning more, select The Phoenix.
Since its inception, our Grants for Good program has offered our consultants the opportunity to nominate a nonprofit to receive a donation from Apex Systems. Participation in our program allows consultants to be a crucial part of our culture while making a difference in local communities. Are you an Apex consultant, and do you have a nonprofit that you'd like to nominate? If so, read more on our Grants for Good program page.
