NEXTpittsburgh – Jackie Slaugenhaupt got this advice while undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction: Change your social life and social groups to avoid drinking.

But professional counselors and therapists didn’t guide her to events and activities where she’d be comfortable as a nondrinker, says Slaugenhaupt, 48.

When she met Scott Page in an outpatient rehabilitation therapy group, he was having similar challenges connecting with people in alcohol-free settings.

“A lot of the issue is that there’s alcohol everywhere,” says Page, 41. “You can’t go places … without things centering on alcohol.”

Their shared experiences of loneliness and isolation in the early stages of recovery inspired the pair to launch Teetotal Initiative in 2023.

The organization provides alcohol-free activities — yoga, kayaking, belly dancing, indoor mini-golf, a magic show and cooking classes are among its offerings — “in a space where you don’t have to talk about being sober or in recovery,” says Page.

Two years after its founding, Teetotal Initiative’s co-founders say many events are booked to capacity in advance.

The nonprofit recently offered a tour of the Clayton mansion at The Frick Pittsburgh, and its book group will kick off with an appearance by Ed Simon, author of “An Alternative History of Pittsburgh,” on June 10.

Also coming this summer: a creative wellness retreat; food tour of Brookline; its “Fresh Start” series that includes guided meditation, sound healing and Reiki sessions; and karaoke — minus the alcohol that prompts some vocalists to take the mic.

All events are free.

That’s deliberate, says Page, because many people early in recovery lack resources.

“They may be starting over, starting from scratch,” he says. “But we always give people the option to donate.”

Besides recovering alcoholics, Teetotal welcomes people in recovery from drug addiction and mental health challenges as well as their families and friends.

“We don’t ask about the addiction,” says Slaugenhaupt.

With a recent grant of $87,000 from the Staunton Farm Foundation, Teetotal aims to expand its reach in Southwestern Pennsylvania and grow its staff.

It named Page its first full-time, paid executive director effective May 1, and plans to hire two part-time program directors.

Jackie Slaugenhaupt and Scott Page, co-founders of Teetotal Initiative. Photo courtesy of Teetotal Initiative

Page, a Westmoreland County native, has a background in theater, events and hospitality.

Slaugenhaupt grew up in Clarion County, and has spent her career working for financial services businesses and nonprofits.

Staunton Farm, which directs its funds to programs for mental and behavioral health, last year provided an initial grant of $25,400 to Teetotal.

Teetotal’s mission aligns with the foundation’s priority of innovation in addressing recovery, says Monique Jackson, the philanthropy’s executive director.

“Sober-social events can be used as a tool for relapse prevention and it is something that is relatively new in the addiction recovery space,” says Jackson.

“The goal is to help people sustain their recovery by reducing stigma and isolation.”

When Page and Slaugenhaupt started Teetotal, they bankrolled activities with their own money.

The folks at Contemporary Craft in Lawrenceville saw a social media post about Teetotal and offered to host the organization’s first event in April 2023.

About 30 people showed up to partake in crafting stations, zero-proof drinks and food.

“We like to have a celebratory atmosphere and refreshments like any other gathering, but it’s not focused on alcohol,” says Slaugenhaupt.

Since then, Teetotal has hosted 50-plus events for more than 1,400 participants, she says.

Attendees range from people in their 20s to 70s.

In addition to grants from Staunton Farm, Teetotal has generated individual donations and funding from the S. Kent Rockwell Conservancy, which declined to disclose its grant amount.

Teetotal is a subrecipient of a $500,000 grant awarded to Pennsylvania Women Work in 2024 by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The funding — part of ARC’s Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative — allows Pennsylvania Women Work to expand its ReWork program that supports individuals in recovery with job training and other career assistance, says Kristin Ioannou, executive director of Pennsylvania Women Work.

Teetotal’s share, nearly $87,000 over three years, will fund staff and provide outreach to participants in substance abuse treatment programs.

“We can give them hope … with all these events and all for free … during their recovery,” says Slaugenhaupt.

“Our partnership with Teetotal Initiative is an essential part of … helping ensure individuals in recovery not only receive workforce training and job placement but also have the community, resources and long-term support they need to thrive,” says Ioannou.

Teetotal plans to hold its first fundraiser, The Mocktail Mixer, on July 28 at COhatch South Side Works. Details about that and other upcoming events are here.

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