Moriarity family finds healing in gifts to inspire

Inspiration can sometimes be found in unexpected forms, and tragedy for one family can set in motion events to help other families that are in a dark place.

In May 2010, 34-year-old Huntington resident Colin Moriarity died as the result of an accidental drug overdose. It was a shattering loss for his family, and especially for parents Ardella and Richard Moriarity. Ardella admits the family has been searching for a way to bring something positive out of their heartbreak.

“For years, we have been thinking about some kind of tribute to Colin,” his mother said.

Finding a tribute that really resonated with family members, though, has taken time as they’ve struggled with the loss of their much-loved son, father and brother. This year, the right tribute presented itself.

“When I was fortunate enough to visit the Parkview facility at Victory Noll, my eyes and heart lit up,” said Ardella. “I told Richard we could donate money to a place that could help drug-abused people get back on their feet. And by our doing so, possibly more families that have lost loved ones will follow suit by donating and help to make this effort stronger.”

Members of the Moriarity family have chosen to make a gift to Parkview Behavioral Health Institute (PBHI) to keep Colin’s memory alive while offering hope to people with substance abuse issues and their families.

With their gift through Parkview Foundation, Colin’s parents and other members of their family have designated the Intensive Outpatient Program group treatment room at PBHI’s new Huntington facility as the Colin Moriarity Group Room. Dedicated at a ceremony in November, the room is a focal point of substance abuse counseling and therapy activities that are now provided in Huntington.

The Colin Moriarity Group Room will be the setting for challenging discussions, honest support and, it is hoped, empowering realizations and renewed strength.

“This is where the majority of the life-changing work is going to take place,” said Philip Hutson, supervisor of Outreach and Community Partnerships for PBHI.

The group room is an integral part of the O’Donnell Center, an innovative treatment partnership of Huntington County Community Corrections and PBHI. The center occupies several buildings on the 150-acre, wooded campus of the Victory Noll/Saint Anne Communities retirement complex, which also continues to serve members of Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, a Roman Catholic order.

The PBHI addiction treatment program involves both Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and intensive outpatient services. Treatment participants are individuals dealing with substance use disorders; they can be formally referred through the local courts, or they may contact the access department directly at (260) 481-2700 for assistance.

“It (the group room) is where people are provided with the right level of intensity of treatment at the right time and when they need it most,” Hutson added. “It should be a very fitting memorial to Colin.”

Hutson noted the Moriaritys’ gift will help address a variety of pressing needs, including transportation to treatment for clients. The funds will be used to purchase gift cards for gasoline and ridesharing services for those who need assistance getting to and from the center.

In addition, because some participants of the Community Corrections program will be coming from incarceration and may have little in the way of financial resources, the family is working on collecting the contents for hygiene bags, a project championed by Colin’s brother, Troy Moriarity. The bags will be given to participants in need as another way to spark hope and boost self-esteem.

Denise Andorfer, Parkview Foundation director, appreciates the vision that inspired the Moriaritys’ gift.

“Helping families heal is at the core of how the Parkview Foundation works with the community to broker generosity that can impact patients throughout the health system for years to come,” she observed. “We are blessed to have been able to connect with the Moriarity family to share with them how the Intensive Outpatient Program will support countless individuals struggling with addiction.”

Shown in the photo are the Moriarity family members at the dedication ceremony for the Colin Moriarity Group Room at Huntington’s O’Donnell Center in November 2021. Shown, left to right, are Colin’s son, Ethan; parents, Ardella and Richard Moriarity and brother, Troy Moriarity.