About Us
Treatment, Recovery and Prevention of Substance Use Disorder
Who We Are
Herren Project is a national nonprofit organization providing free resources and support for the treatment, recovery and prevention of substance use disorder. Treatment and recovery services include treatment placement assistance, long-term recovery support for individuals and families, online support groups, as well as scholarships for treatment programs, recovery housing and recovery coaching.
Herren Project’s prevention and wellness initiatives provide schools and communities resources to prevent the misuse of drugs and alcohol. Herren Project Clubs and Wellness Week with Herren promote healthy choices, bringing positive awareness to the disease of addiction and empower individuals to cope with life’s challenges substance-free.
Herren Project was founded in 2011 by former professional basketball player, Chris Herren, who has been in long-term recovery since August 1, 2008. As a member of the Herren family of brands, Herren Project represents one step in the journey to recovery. Chris Herren also shares his own journey as a national public speaker through Herren Talks and helps others learn skills to stay substance-free through his residential holistic health and wellness program, Herren Wellness.
Herren Project is a national nonprofit organization providing free resources and support for the treatment, recovery and prevention of substance use disorder. Treatment and recovery services include treatment placement assistance, long-term recovery support for individuals and families, online support groups, as well as scholarships for treatment programs, recovery housing and recovery coaching.
Herren Project’s prevention and wellness initiatives provide schools and communities resources to prevent the misuse of drugs and alcohol. Herren Project Clubs and Wellness Week with Herren promote healthy choices, bringing positive awareness to the disease of addiction and empower individuals to cope with life’s challenges substance-free.
Herren Project was founded in 2011 by former professional basketball player, Chris Herren, who has been in long-term recovery since August 1, 2008. As a member of the Herren family of brands, Herren Project represents one step in the journey to recovery. Chris Herren also shares his own journey as a national public speaker through Herren Talks and helps others learn skills to stay substance-free through his residential holistic health and wellness program, Herren Wellness.
How We Help
Individual Recovery Services
Herren Project is dedicated to walking with people in all stages of recovery from substance use disorder. Our unique individual recovery services support anyone ready to take the first step, to guide them in a successful transition from treatment into everyday life and to ultimately achieve long-term sobriety.
Individual Recovery Services
Herren Project is dedicated to walking with people in all stages of recovery from substance use disorder. Our unique individual recovery services support anyone ready to take the first step, to guide them in a successful transition from treatment into everyday life and to ultimately achieve long-term sobriety.
Family Support Services
Herren Project knows the pain and suffering caused by substance use disorder is seldom limited to the person struggling. Our distinctive family support services empower family members to best care for themselves and navigate their loved one’s addiction so they can begin to heal and rebuild the family.
Family Support Services
Herren Project knows the pain and suffering caused by substance use disorder is seldom limited to the person struggling. Our distinctive family support services empower family members to best care for themselves and navigate their loved one’s addiction so they can begin to heal and rebuild the family.
Prevention & Wellness
Herren Project is committed to the prevention of substance use disorder and overall personal wellness. Our school and community initiatives encourage substance-free living, empower people of all ages to celebrate who they are and bring positive awareness to the disease of addiction.
Prevention & Wellness
Herren Project is committed to the prevention of substance use disorder and overall personal wellness. Our school and community initiatives encourage substance-free living, empower people of all ages to celebrate who they are and bring positive awareness to the disease of addiction.
Our Story
Chris Herren, founder of Herren Project, struggled with substance use disorder for 14 years. He was a high school basketball star in Fall River, Massachusetts at Durfee High School but battled with drug and alcohol addiction from the time he was a teenager. He went on to play college basketball at California State University, Fresno and Boston College. From there, he joined the NBA and played for the Denver Nuggets and his home team, the Boston Celtics. It seemed he was living out his dream, but behind closed doors, Chris Herren’s addiction controlled his life.
In June of 2008, within hours of a heroin overdose, Chris was released from a hospital and sent back out on the street. Only partially through detoxification, with no healthcare coverage and little money to his name, he was overwhelmed by a sense of shame, with few options and no place to turn.
Thankfully, friends stepped in to support Chris – emotionally and financially – and helped him get into an extended treatment program to recover from substance use disorder. This was his lifeline, his chance at recovery… and he took it.
Chris has been sober since August 1, 2008 and is loving life in recovery. Now, he can wholeheartedly experience the joys of life – fatherhood, partnership, friendship and family – and can help make a difference in the lives of others.
In 2011, Chris Herren wanted to provide the same kind of support that he received to others in similar situations and started Herren Project – a nonprofit to help people get into treatment for drug and alcohol addictions. Since then, the organization has flourished. Herren Project has branched out into offering recovery scholarships, family support services, prevention programs for schools and wellness initiatives for communities nationwide.
Your Journey, Our Purpose
Chris & Heather Herren have built a community around substance use prevention and recovery. They understand addiction is deeply personal and respect that every individual has to follow his or her own path to recovery.
Each Herren organization recognizes every person’s unique journey and offers guidance and support every step of the way, beginning at “the first day.” Our prevention and education programs empower people to make healthy choices, while support and coaching help families navigate recovery. Events and outreach increase awareness and treatment of substance use disorder, and our wellness program helps guests lead healthy, substance-free lives.
As a member of the Herren family of brands, Herren Project, represents one step in the journey to recovery. Chris Herren also shares his own journey as a national public speaker through Herren Talks and helps others learn skills to stay substance-free through his residential holistic health and wellness program, Herren Wellness.
Together, the Herren organizations celebrate recovery, wellness and empowerment to help people nationwide live their best lives free from the negative effects of drugs and alcohol.
We walk with you, at your pace, without judgement.
Learn more about Chris Herren’s story
Your Journey, Our Purpose
Chris & Heather Herren have built a community around substance use prevention and recovery. They understand addiction is deeply personal and respect that every individual has to follow his or her own path to recovery.
Each Herren organization recognizes every person’s unique journey and offers guidance and support every step of the way, beginning at “the first day.” Our prevention and education programs empower people to make healthy choices, while support and coaching help families navigate recovery. Events and outreach increase awareness and treatment of substance use disorder, and our wellness program helps guests lead healthy, substance-free lives.
As a member of the Herren family of brands, Herren Project, represents one step in the journey to recovery. Chris Herren also shares his own journey as a national public speaker through Herren Talks and helps others learn skills to stay substance-free through his residential holistic health and wellness program, Herren Wellness.
Together, the Herren organizations celebrate recovery, wellness and empowerment to help people nationwide live their best lives free from the negative effects of drugs and alcohol.
We walk with you, at your pace, without judgement.
Learn more about Chris Herren’s story
Frequently Asked Questions
Our legal name is The Herren Project, however in January, 2019 we rebranded and dropped the word “THE.” We refer to ourselves publicly and in all marketing materials as Herren Project. If you are writing a check either will work.
Herren Project is a national nonprofit organization providing free resources and support for the treatment, recovery and prevention of substance use disorder. Treatment and recovery services include treatment placement assistance, long-term recovery support for individuals and families, online support groups, as well as scholarships for treatment programs, recovery housing and recovery coaching. Herren Project’s prevention and wellness initiatives provide schools and communities resources to prevent the misuse of drugs and alcohol. Herren Project Clubs and Wellness Week With Herren promote healthy choices, bringing positive awareness to the disease of addiction and empower individuals to cope with life’s challenges substance-free.
Herren Project was founded in 2011 by former professional basketball player, Chris Herren, who has been in long-term recovery since August 1, 2008. As a member of the Herren family of brands, Herren Project represents one step in the journey to recovery. Chris Herren also shares his own journey as a national public speaker through Herren Talks and helps others learn skills to stay substance-free through his residential holistic health and wellness program, Herren Wellness.
Yes! We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Please check with your personal tax advisor regarding the deductibility of your gift. If you’d like to support our organization and the people we help, you can contribute here.
The Herren organizations are three companies founded by Chris Herren; Herren Project, Herren Talks and Herren Wellness.
Herren Project is a national nonprofit providing free services and resources for those affected by substance use disorder ranging from treatment placement assistance, family support and prevention and wellness initiatives for schools and communities.
Herren Talks is a for-profit company used to raise awareness for substance use disorder through candid, harrowing and hopeful discussions. Chris Herren shares his own recovery story through live speaking engagements, books, print and news media, including the Emmy-nominated documentary, “Unguarded” and most recently “The First Day Film.” Chris’s message focuses on the first day, not the worst day, encouraging audiences to take an honest look at the decisions that lead to substance use and other unhealthy behaviors.
Herren Wellness is a for-profit residential health and wellness program for people affected by substance use disorder. They help guests uncover the reasons behind their unhealthy behaviors and practice the skills that will help them stay substance-free through coaching, education, sleep analysis, mindfulness strategies, fitness and nutritional guidance tailored to each guest’s unique needs.
The Herren organization is a community built around substance use prevention and recovery. Our founder, Chris Herren, has shown us that even the best can falter, and even the most desperate can rise. We understand that addiction is deeply personal and respect that every individual has to follow his or her own path to recovery.
We offer guidance along every step of that journey. Our prevention and education programs empower people to make healthy choices, while support and coaching help families navigate recovery. Events and outreach increase awareness and treatment of substance use disorder, and our wellness program helps guests lead healthy, substance-free lives.
We recognize each person’s unique journey, providing unwavering support through every struggle and success. We help you ask why and truly listen to the answer. We walk with you, at your pace, without judgement.
As a member of the Herren family of brands, Herren Project represents one step in the journey to recovery. Our founder, Chris Herren, also raises awareness by sharing his own journey through Herren Talks, and our residential health and wellness program, Herren Wellness, helps guests learn the skills they need to stay substance-free.
The answer is NO! Team Herren Project is a welcoming, inclusive group of people with one thing in common – they are committed to raising money and awareness for the cause of addiction. The are men, women and even children from all walks of life and all fitness levels. They participate in various kinds of athletic fundraising events like 5ks, marathons, triathlons and Spartan Races to help support Herren Project’s programs and services. Teammates come from all across the world and together, they celebrate recovery from substance use disorder, healing and empowerment through healthy activities. Whether you are young or old, you want to run, walk or bike or even want to cheer someone on, we invite you to learn more about Team Herren Project.
Thanks to our incredible donors, all of Herren Project’s offerings are provided free of charge! We are grateful for all donations and if you’d like to donate, you can do so here.
We offer treatment placement assistance to help individuals get into the right treatment facility for them. If an individual doesn’t have the financial means to pay for treatment, we will do our best to help find a treatment scholarship to cover costs. We also have a recovery scholarship program that helps cover the cost of recovery housing and provides scholarship recipients with a recovery coach. Anyone we support with our services is welcome to join our alumni programs. We will always be here to help those in need, no matter what their journey to recovery looks like.
Family members are welcome to join our live weekly online support groups. They are also able to schedule a 15-minute consultation with our licensed clinicians to talk through how to handle a crisis or navigate next steps for their loved one. We understand that addiction is a family disease and we’re committed to providing family members the support they need and deserve.
We have several prevention programs including Herren Project Clubs and Wellness Week with Herren. Herren Project Clubs are school-based clubs that promote empowerment, leadership and wellness to help with the prevention of substance use amongst teens. Wellness Week with Herren is a nationwide movement that celebrates wellness as it relates to prevention, recovery and overall well-being. At Herren Project, we are passionate about preventing substance use disorder before it starts.
FAQs
Our legal name is The Herren Project, however in January, 2019 we rebranded and dropped the word “THE.” We refer to ourselves publicly and in all marketing materials as Herren Project. If you are writing a check either will work.
Herren Project is a national nonprofit organization providing free resources and support for the treatment, recovery and prevention of substance use disorder. Treatment and recovery services include treatment placement assistance, long-term recovery support for individuals and families, online support groups, as well as scholarships for treatment programs, recovery housing and recovery coaching. Herren Project’s prevention and wellness initiatives provide schools and communities resources to prevent the misuse of drugs and alcohol. Herren Project Clubs and Wellness Week With Herren promote healthy choices, bringing positive awareness to the disease of addiction and empower individuals to cope with life’s challenges substance-free.
Herren Project was founded in 2011 by former professional basketball player, Chris Herren, who has been in long-term recovery since August 1, 2008. As a member of the Herren family of brands, Herren Project represents one step in the journey to recovery. Chris Herren also shares his own journey as a national public speaker through Herren Talks and helps others learn skills to stay substance-free through his residential holistic health and wellness program, Herren Wellness.
Yes! We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Please check with your personal tax advisor regarding the deductibility of your gift. If you’d like to support our organization and the people we help, you can contribute here.
The Herren organizations are three companies founded by Chris Herren; Herren Project, Herren Talks and Herren Wellness.
Herren Project is a national nonprofit providing free services and resources for those affected by substance use disorder ranging from treatment placement assistance, family support and prevention and wellness initiatives for schools and communities.
Herren Talks is a for-profit company used to raise awareness for substance use disorder through candid, harrowing and hopeful discussions. Chris Herren shares his own recovery story through live speaking engagements, books, print and news media, including the Emmy-nominated documentary, “Unguarded” and most recently “The First Day Film.” Chris’s message focuses on the first day, not the worst day, encouraging audiences to take an honest look at the decisions that lead to substance use and other unhealthy behaviors.
Herren Wellness is a for-profit residential health and wellness program for people affected by substance use disorder. They help guests uncover the reasons behind their unhealthy behaviors and practice the skills that will help them stay substance-free through coaching, education, sleep analysis, mindfulness strategies, fitness and nutritional guidance tailored to each guest’s unique needs.
The Herren organization is a community built around substance use prevention and recovery. Our founder, Chris Herren, has shown us that even the best can falter, and even the most desperate can rise. We understand that addiction is deeply personal and respect that every individual has to follow his or her own path to recovery.
We offer guidance along every step of that journey. Our prevention and education programs empower people to make healthy choices, while support and coaching help families navigate recovery. Events and outreach increase awareness and treatment of substance use disorder, and our wellness program helps guests lead healthy, substance-free lives.
We recognize each person’s unique journey, providing unwavering support through every struggle and success. We help you ask why and truly listen to the answer. We walk with you, at your pace, without judgement.
As a member of the Herren family of brands, Herren Project represents one step in the journey to recovery. Our founder, Chris Herren, also raises awareness by sharing his own journey through Herren Talks, and our residential health and wellness program, Herren Wellness, helps guests learn the skills they need to stay substance-free.
The answer is NO! Team Herren Project is a welcoming, inclusive group of people with one thing in common – they are committed to raising money and awareness for the cause of addiction. The are men, women and even children from all walks of life and all fitness levels. They participate in various kinds of athletic fundraising events like 5ks, marathons, triathlons and Spartan Races to help support Herren Project’s programs and services. Teammates come from all across the world and together, they celebrate recovery from substance use disorder, healing and empowerment through healthy activities. Whether you are young or old, you want to run, walk or bike or even want to cheer someone on, we invite you to learn more about Team Herren Project.
Thanks to our incredible donors, all of Herren Project’s offerings are provided free of charge! We are grateful for all donations and if you’d like to donate, you can do so here.
We offer treatment placement assistance to help individuals get into the right treatment facility for them. If an individual doesn’t have the financial means to pay for treatment, we will do our best to help find a treatment scholarship to cover costs. We also have a recovery scholarship program that helps cover the cost of recovery housing and provides scholarship recipients with a recovery coach. Anyone we support with our services is welcome to join our alumni programs. We will always be here to help those in need, no matter what their journey to recovery looks like.
Family members are welcome to join our live weekly online support groups. They are also able to schedule a 15-minute consultation with our licensed clinicians to talk through how to handle a crisis or navigate next steps for their loved one. We understand that addiction is a family disease and we’re committed to providing family members the support they need and deserve.
We have several prevention programs including Herren Project Clubs and Wellness Week with Herren. Herren Project Clubs are school-based clubs that promote empowerment, leadership and wellness to help with the prevention of substance use amongst teens. Wellness Week with Herren is a nationwide movement that celebrates wellness as it relates to prevention, recovery and overall well-being. At Herren Project, we are passionate about preventing substance use disorder before it starts.