Harts to be recognized at StepUP® Program Gala
(MINNEAPOLIS) – Two leaders in the addiction recovery community will be recognized for their commitment and generosity to Augsburg College’s StepUP® program for students in addiction recovery. Kevin and Polly Hart of White Bear Lake, Minn., will receive the Toby Piper LaBelle Award at the Augsburg College StepUP Program Gala on Oct. 24 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.
“Kevin and Polly have brought so much value to the StepUP program, the students in recovery we serve, and the recovery community as a whole,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “We are blessed to call this dedicated couple our friends and are proud to honor them with this award.”
The Harts have given significant time and resources to the College’s program, which is a leader and award-winning model for residential addiction recovery communities at campuses across the nation. Kevin serves on the advisory board for the StepUP Program where he helps guide and shape the program. He also is a board member of The Retreat, a recovery program in Wayzata, Minn. The Harts volunteer countless hours for these programs and also mentor youth in recovery.
“I just wish there was a StepUP program around 35 years ago,” said Kevin. “So, it’s on our heart to give back and help people. We’re humbled and honored to be receiving this award.”
The Harts recently celebrated 30 years of sobriety. Kevin is an investment representative at Van Clemens and Co., Inc., in Minneapolis. Polly co-owns and operates Lila and Claudine’s Yarn and Gifts in Mahtomedi, Minn. The couple has three grown children.
The Toby Piper LaBelle Award is given to a person or family that has consistently supported young people in recovery. It is named in honor of the first recipient, Toby Piper LaBelle, for his insight and ability to advocate for the needs of recovering college students on a college campus. LaBelle was a lead advocate for students in recovery while he was a student at Augsburg College.
To attend the Gala, and to celebrate the contributions of the Harts, please register at http://www.augsburg.edu/stepup/gala/.
Augsburg College’s StepUP program strives to help students champion lives of recovery, achieve academic success, and thrive in a residential community of accountability and support. Augsburg College is set in a vibrant Minneapolis neighborhood in the heart of the Twin Cities and offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to nearly 4,000 students of diverse backgrounds. The trademark of an Augsburg education is its emphasis on direct, personal experience. Guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.