Happy Birthday A.A.!
This was originally published for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s monthly Recovery Advocacy Update. If you’d like to receive our advocacy emails, subscribe today.
By Jeremiah Gardner
Today marks the 87th anniversary of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. And for the first time since 2019, Founder’s Day in Akron, Ohio, is a live, in-person event. It’s actually a three-day celebration through the weekend. Thousands have once again made the pilgrimage to the birthplace of A.A. to take in historic sites, enjoy the fellowship of others, and reflect on the historic significance of A.A. and its impact on their own lives.
With tens of millions touched by A.A. and its Twelve Steps, and more than 250 Twelve Step-style groups now operating today, the founding of A.A. is arguably one of the most culturally transformative moments of the 20th century.
June 10, 1935 — the official A.A. founding date — was long believed to be the day cofounder Dr. Bob Smith took his last drink. However, there is evidence the founders, in trying to reconstruct the history, got the date wrong and that the actual founding date was June 17. Such details aside, what’s most important is that the fellowship and Twelve Steps of A.A. continue to be positive forces in the lives of millions — empowering recovery from addiction, greater emotional and spiritual health, and a commitment to advocacy and carrying the message of recovery to others.
While not the only path to recovery, the Twelve Steps are rooted in the spirit of our common humanity and offer a deep source of insight, change and growth that can be valuable to anyone. Because A.A. and similar groups are leaderless and grassroots in nature, Twelve Step fellowships are free and widely available across the globe. And research continues to support the efficacy of Twelve Step recovery for many people.
At Hazelden Betty Ford, the powerful wisdom and principles of Twelve Step recovery are infused in our treatment and all we do. Our Renewal Center facilitates especially deep dives into the Twelve Step design for living, offering regular retreats online and in-person in Minnesota.
As many of us pause this weekend to celebrate and reflect on the impact of A.A., let us recognize — among so much else — its spirit of service that permeates the recovery universe and inspires many of us to carry messages of hope and to advocate for those who are still struggling.
Jeremiah Gardner is director of communications and public affairs for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
