Samaritan Daytop Village Celebrates 40 Years of Supporting Veterans in Recovery
Samaritan Daytop Village Celebrates 40 Years of Supporting
Veterans in Recovery
— Alumni Dinner Honored Veterans in Recovery from Addiction, the 30-Year Milestone of the
Trailblazing 43rd Street Residential Program, and 20 Years of the Queens-Based Veterans
Recovery Program —
— 3,000 Veterans Served Across Samaritan Residential Recovery Programs To Date —
(NEW YORK, NEW YORK) – October 26, 2026 — On Wednesday, October 21, Samaritan Daytop Village honored veterans celebrating milestones in their recovery from addiction at the 12th Annual Veterans Alumni Black Tie Dinner. The nonprofit, which has served almost 3,000 veterans since 1986, also celebrated three major anniversaries: 40 years of recovery services for veterans, 30 years since opening the 43rd Street Veterans program in Manhattan, and 20 years of the Ed Thompson Veterans Program in Queens.
Samaritan Daytop Village is a pioneer in supporting military veterans through recovery from addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The nonprofit is credited with developing a specialized treatment protocol for veterans, designed and run by veterans, for veterans.
In 1996, Samaritan opened New York State’s first licensed residential treatment facility for veterans — the 43rd Street Veterans Program. Approximately 1,400 veterans have received support at the site.
The Ed Thompson residential recovery program opened in Richmond Hill, Queens, in 2006. It offers trauma-informed treatment for drug and alcohol dependency, alongside practical skill development like resume building, vocational training, and access to housing and employment services. Over 1,000 veterans have been supported at this site since its opening.
Samaritan’s recovery services acknowledge the connections between mental health and basic needs like employment and housing, and assist veterans in a supportive community of fellow veterans. Services include individual and group counseling, evidence-based treatment,
education and employment services, housing referral assistance, and benefits counseling.
During the celebration, Samaritan Daytop Village was presented with two proclamations from local elected officials — Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and State Senator Erik Bottcher — in recognition of their dedication to veterans.
Mitchell Netburn, President and CEO of Samaritan Daytop Village: “For 40 years, Samaritan Daytop Village has had the privilege of standing alongside veterans as they rebuild their lives and find their path to recovery. This evening is a celebration of their resilience and
determination, and a reminder of what is possible when veterans receive the comprehensive care and support they deserve. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated staff, alumni, and community partners who have helped make four decades of this life-changing work possible.”
NYC Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Yesenia Mata: “Service, sacrifice, and leadership is part of our DNA as veterans. I’m grateful for Samaritan Daytop Village’s four decades of commitment to supporting veterans across New York City in their journey to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.”
State Senator Erik Bottcher: “Samaritan Daytop Village’s recovery services are essential for veterans seeking recovery and battling significant mental health challenges. Their 43rd Street Program has provided life-saving treatment and a safe haven for countless veterans right here in Hell’s Kitchen for three decades. It is a model for what an empowering path towards recovery can look like.”
The celebratory Black Tie dinner, which took place at The Riverside Church and Theatre in Morningside Heights, honored three leaders who’ve made a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans: John Escalante, NYC Chapter Captain of the Travis Manion Foundation and U.S. Marine Corps Retired Master Gunnery Sergeant; Jacquie Johnston-Fisher, Head of Service at the Damien John Kelly House in Liverpool, England; and Kimberly Shaw, LCSW, Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinator of Kings County.
ABOUT SAMARITAN DAYTOP VILLAGE:
Since 1960, Samaritan Daytop Village has been improving the quality of life for New Yorkers. We are nationally recognized for our treatment of substance use disorder as well as for the veteran-specific approach we pioneered. Our continuum of services also includes primary and mental health care, transitional and supportive housing, educational and vocational assistance, peer-assisted recovery, and specialized programs for adolescents, families, and older adults. Annually, Samaritan Daytop Village serves over 36,000 people at more than 80 programs throughout New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.
###
