Samuel Cotto, who this year has led the transformation of the fading Youth Challenge to the new House of Hope addiction recovery program, is headed to Gov. Rick Scott’s inauguration.
“I was surprised when I got the email invitation. I even called the governor’s office to make sure they had sent it to the right person,” Cotto said.
Formerly known as Youth Challenge, House of Hope is a non-profit, Christian, residential substance abuse recovery program in Wildwood. The program has enjoyed volunteer support from Hope Lutheran Church and New Covenant United Methodist Church in The Villages.
He said he’s not sure why he’s been invited.
House of Hope offers services free of charge and have an open door policy that welcomes men of all ages from every walk of life without regard to ethnic or racial background.
The men in the recovery program operate a T-shirt print shop to help keep the program afloat.
Scott’s inauguration on Jan. 6, will include traditional events such as an inaugural prayer breakfast followed by the official swearing-in ceremony outside the Old Capitol and an evening reception at the Governor’s Mansion. First Lady Ann Scott will host a ceremony honoring military service members and their families in Tallahassee on Jan. 6.