September 3, 2025 •Ann Daugherty
There are the real miracles: sober and clean, one day at a time.
Editor's Note: The late Ann Daugherty, founder of Tara Treatment Center, published "One Dream - A Thousand Miracles," which shared the story of her vision and the remarkable start of the addiction recovery center. We are pleased to present the chapters of the book as part of our 40th Anniversary of helping people survive and thrive. We invite you to read Ann's words and draw inspiration from them.
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Change was and is constant for me and for Tara. Through adversity, enters a new season for growth and opportunity. Just as painful events brought others to Tara, so was the case with Dennis Higdon, my current husband. A quiet man, with a gift for listening to the struggles of others, Dennis came to Tara after losing his entire life’s work. Dennis had worked at a local factory since he was 18 years old.
Unfortunately, he was devastated when the factory where he worked closed, putting him out of a job that he had put his life into. Lost and confused, Dennis found a home within the doors of Tara. As many before him, Dennis found fulfillment in supporting the healing of others. Although his primary focus at Tara has been the maintenance of the building and grounds, many clients have sought out Dennis as a person that they could confide in.
Another major change occurred in 2006, when the Board of Directors, at my suggestion, appointed my daughter, Theresa, as Tara’s new Chief Executive Officer. A logical choice as the CEO, Theresa had been an integral part of Tara since the beginning. While I was busy with the necessary tasks to open Tara, Theresa was making major changes in her own life. Enrolling in a Community College, Theresa eventually earned her Bachelors degree in Nursing. In understanding the struggles of women within the professional arena, she also took classes focused on women’s studies. Following her Bachelor’s degree, Theresa continued her education by obtaining her Masters in Business Management. Since the beginning, she knew every facet of Tara as she had worked by my side since we opened the doors 21 years earlier.
Throughout the passing years, the budget at Tara has also evolved. Originally, Tara was 100 percent dependent on state funding. Recognizing the potential pitfalls of being fully dependent on the state, steps were taken to get to our present status of less than 10 percent dependency on state funding. By diversifying our funding sources, we have managed to stabilize our organization in spite of shifting policies and laws.
Through the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), we are recognized by many insurance companies and private payers. Our not-for-profit status makes us eligible for tax-exempt donations from individuals and corporations. I have also gained great pleasure from watching Theresa as the Chief Executive Officer. She has taken the foundation I laid and has used it as a springboard to greater things. Honestly, she is doing things that I did not and could not do. I have found great satisfaction in her success.
Now, as the founder, I am able to allow others to embrace the vision, continue the mission, and build toward the future.
Previous: Finding Myself through Adversity
Ann's Story.
Ann Daugherty knew firsthand how alcoholism and drug addiction could affect the lives of families and loved ones.
Her personal pain as a result of her brother’s death at 36 from alcoholism inspired her to help others.
Ann worked for several years as a master’s level psychiatric nurse and therapist, specializing in the field of addiction for most of her career. Through her prior employment, she became aware of a grant available for the treatment of women with addictions.
She researched and wrote a grant proposal to open the original eight-bed Residential Program. A location for the facility was not an obstacle for her, as she had a history of opening her home to those in need. Her efforts were rewarded in July 1985, with funding for Tara.
Throughout the years, Ann recognized the multiple needs of individuals served, which resulted in program and facility expansion. In July, 1996 Tara became a Managed Care Provider offering a full continuum of services for men and women.
Although diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer in 2003, she remained the Chief Executive Officer until July 2006. At that time she presented her eldest daughter, Theresa Matthews, to the Board of Directors as her successor, noting that she had worked closely with her since Tara’s inception. Ann's fight ended August 25, 2008. Her mission and vision have been embraced by many and still continue today.