Rex Smith supports Lifeline’s efforts to inspire hope through addiction recovery

DONOR SPOTLIGHT THE NEED FOR HOPE

Rex Smith supports Lifeline’s efforts to inspire hope through addiction recovery

Whether it was during his years as a state legislator decades ago or as the current employer of 200-300 people, Rex Smith has seen firsthand people’s struggle with addiction and their need for hope. He believes Lifeline offers needed solutions for both.

“To keep our free society working, we have to find ways to help,” he said. “If I can do that by spreading a little asphalt, that’s the least I can do.”

Spreading a little asphalt hardly covers Rex’s commitment to help Lifeline achieve its mission of Christ-centered recovery for the 150 people who seek help there each year. Rex, president/CEO of Smith Contracting Co., has been involved at Lifeline for most of its existence, starting out on a community service project through United Way and sponsoring a table for one of its events. He has since assisted on construction and paving projects at both the men’s and women’s campuses. “They do such good work,” he said. Rex and his wife, Jackie, also support adoption ministries. That work, like Lifeline, offers what society needs most – hope.

Rex Smith, President/CEO of Smith Contracting Co. and Lifeline Donor “When I was in the state legislature (1987-94), I remember seeing studies that ranked Kentucky near the bottom in its people having a sense of well-being. If you don’t have that, you don’t have hope, and that’s so interrelated with addiction.” Since Gallup began tracking it nationally in 2008, Kentucky consistently ranks near the bottom of states in the well-being index, based on five elements – career, social, financial, community and physical. (West Virginia, Mississippi and Tennessee are the other low-ranking states.) A low sense of well-being often leads to addiction, a condition he has witnessed too many times, Rex said. “Just about every family I know has been affected by it.”

Rex believes not only Lifeline’s residential treatment, but also its after-care is important for people recovering from addiction. “In a parachuting accident, they say it’s the second bounce that can kill you. It’s the same way for people in recovery. They do the hard work in rehab, but then may find it’s harder when they try to rejoin society.” Lifeline addresses that by extending treatment in the third phase to helping clients with job placement. Rex believes that part of the programming is key in the Lifeline graduates’ 63 percent success rate of sobriety after one year. “People are looking for hope,” he said. “If you can give them that second chance, a means to re-engage in life with a purpose, you have a friend for life.”

“Just about every family I know has been affected by it.”