Masada House drew its largest crowd yet on Saturday night, packing the Farmington Civic Center for a record‑breaking fundraiser that signaled just how deeply the community has rallied around the region’s only long‑term sober‑living program for women.
The event marked a milestone for Masada House, which has steadily expanded its reach since its early days – including the formation of its first board in 2009 under Su Hodgman.
This year’s turnout and donations underscore both the growing demand for recovery services in San Juan County and the organization’s rising profile as a critical support system for women rebuilding their lives after addiction. The fundraiser’s success also reflects a broader shift: more residents and local leaders are recognizing the program’s impact and stepping up to ensure its future.
“Masada House offers a safe and supportive environment for women in recovery,” it states at masadahouse.com. “The numbers tell a powerful story at Masada House. Last year, 26 women found refuge here, each carrying hopes for a new beginning. More than half them – 59% to be exact – completed the program and stepped back into the world, stronger and sober.”
The 15th annual fundraising event drew the largest crowd ever, according to Shelly Corwin, Masada House board president. Tickets were $30, or $35 at the door.
“It’s amazing that the community comes together to support such an amazing program,” Corwin said. “We feel very blessed.”
Masada House, which accommodates eight women, is at capacity.
“It makes me feel honored to be a part of such an amazing organization that makes a difference in women’s lives ‒ for their families ‒ which in turn makes a difference in our community,” Corwin said.
“It’s laid back and entertaining, and a lot of cool people came,” Hillgartner said of the event.
She said continuing to help “these ladies get on that same path” that is linked to her own success is rewarding.
“Knowing I can take someone that was in the same place, we can live a healthy and stronger life,” Hillgartner said.
Jeff Boddy, Masada House board vice president, has served on the board for 14 years.
“It’s a great cause,” he said. “I just think if you’re going to live in the community, you got to give something back. And this is my way.”
Masada House resident Rochelle Fulbright, who’s been there about a month and a half, said, “It’s great. It’s wonderful. This house has helped me to feel comfortable.”
Fulbright, who has done five years in prison, said, “I’ve never had really a place to go, be able to be at and do what I needed to do and actually show up for parole.”
Masada House will provide the right environment for her success, but “this time, this last freedom sentence, if I don’t let the fear come into my life about the whole situation and my sobriety, then I’ll go back to prison for the rest of my life,” she said.
Fulbright, who said she’s always been a spiritual person, is getting baptized this summer.
“I’m currently looking for a job, but I’ve had a couple interviews, so that’s going to fall into place too,” she said optimistically.
Her main struggle is “staying sober. I really honestly don’t think I’ll have too much problem with that,” she said, adding what would result if she fails. “Regardless. Yeah, I am an addict no matter what.”
The event was “great, a lot of people showed up and the music is good. “And I had a lot of fun serving the food.”
San Juan County Commissioner GloJean Todacheene said she first attended the fundraiser last year and enjoyed the silent auction, bought some fruits and shared a table with her friend.
Hillgartner was a former student when Todacheene taught at Shiprock High School.
Su Hodgman, who developed the Masada House board in 2009, said “I built it. … It was my idea. I started it with selling candy bars.”
“Oh, it’s wonderful,” Hodgman said of this year’s event.
Tracing her professional life, Hodgman said she began with early childhood home visitation, then earned her associates degree in counseling following the advice of her boss, Susan Workman.
After moving to Denver, Hodgman finished her education with a counseling degree from Metropolitan State University.
Upon moving back to Farmington, Hodgman worked with the Meth Pilot Program as a case manager, a Four Winds counselor and an Access Program counselor.
Around that time, she realized another type of program was needed because women who graduated had no place to go ‒ and often they relapsed.
“And so I just started throwing together these ideas, and I learned how to write grants,” said Hodgman, who moved to Albuquerque three years ago after her husband died.
Her husband, Robert Hodgman, was “very big in the recovery community,” she said, adding he helped build Masada House.
Hodgman wrote more grants to get Masada House underway and started spreading the word.
“I just asked people, I go, ‘What do you think about this idea,’” she said. “And the people that really paid attention, I recruited them to be on board.”
Boddy, Kim Dutremaine, Christine Carlson and a couple of others would be first on the board.
“Kim helped us get contractors. We got enough money that we bought a house … and we got it remodeled,” Hodgman said.
A regular food donor to Masada House, John Marsh with Many Waters Mission in Waterflow, said, “It’s nice, the food was great.”