In October 1970 the Butler Alcoholism Recovery Center (BARC) was founded by Godfrey F. at a Wayne Street location in Butler, PA. This facility included transitional living which included 12 male beds and a drop-in center. The agency was formally incorporated as a non-profit agency on June 30th 1971. In that same year, the "BARC" moved to Saxonburg Road, nine miles from Butler. In 1974 the agency purchased their current inpatient building on Old Plank Road and changed their name to the Butler Alcoholism Recovery Center (aka, the Butler "A" Center). In march of 1974, the first woman client was admitted, and the center became a pioneer in successfully providing drug and alcohol services to both male and female clients.
The Butler "A" Center was under the leadership of Ellen O'Brien Gaiser (pictured above) from 1979 until her death in 1994. Ellen was a strong advocate for the rights of addicted persons and personally touched the life of nearly every addict/alcoholic who went through the doors of the Center during those fifteen years. In 1995, One year after Ellen's passing, the "A" Center was affectionately renamed, "The Ellen O'Brien Gaiser Addiction Center," to honor her legacy.
Today, the Gaiser Center continues the mission of providing high-quality, residential in-patient drug and alcohol treatment services to both men and women at their Old Plank Road facility. The Gaiser Center also provides several outpatient services and has offices located at the Butler VA Medical Center Campus. Additionally, the Gaiser Center takes drug and alcohol educational groups into the Butler County Prison and Adult Probation Office.
Annually, the Gaiser Center provides services to approximately 650 persons while upholding an outstanding reputation for successfully treating addicts/alcoholics at all stages of addiction, empowering clients to recover and enjoy productive lives where they are then able to contribute positively to their families and communities.