According to the Mayo Clinic, 19.5 million people over the age of 12 use illegal drugs, resulting in thousands of unnecessary deaths each year. Kids from DayTop who have overdosed on drugs tell us “drugs are everywhere, they are just a phone call away.” As Reverend Joe Hennen Sr. Vice President of DayTop Village in Mendham, New Jersey, an In-house treatment center for addicted teens, said, “Unfortunately drugs today are more potent than they were two decades ago. “ But,” he adds, “there is a silver lining, and her name is Mary Mulholland.”
When Bart Oates of Giants football fame was asked to describe Mary Mulholland, he used one word, “tenacious.” Reverend Hennen, has another name for her, he calls her a Saint.
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Mary Mulholland has raised millions and millions of dollars through The Dope Open, a fund-raising not for profit organization she and her late husband Anesthesiologist Dr, Robert Mulholland founded, Mary said, “the idea for the Dope Open began forty years ago when she read in the Daily Record that four teenagers in Morris County had died of a drug overdose. “I was so upset ,” she said, “I just had to do something.” She has been doing something ever since. One of the first things she did was open up the Morris County Methadone Clinic. This led to the opening of Hope House in Dover, which is still going strong today. “But I was still not satisfied”, Mary said, “I still felt there was no adequate long term rehabilitation treatment center for teens. I needed money and lots of it.” That’s when she asked former New Jersey Attorney General Robert Del Tufo for a million dollars. Mary said, “I told him kids could be rehabilitated instead of going to jail. “ He said, “Where will I get it?”. She said, “Ask the Criminal Justice System in Washington”. D.C.” Del Tufo did. They got the million dollars and have gotten it every year since! As a result, DayTop New Jersey came into being. Jim Curtin, Executive Director of DayTop recently received four million dollars in funding for a second DayTop in south Jersey. Curtin said, “without the Dope Open, without Mary’s efforts, DayTop would never have been.” John White of DayTop calls her “the best fund-raiser ever”. Kathryn Greer Murphy. Vice President of Morris County Chamber of Commerce, a long time volunteer for the Dope Open, agrees, “She has literally given addicted kids a second chance.” Robert Milos, former VP of Berlix, now Bayer claims, “No one can say NO to Mary when it comes to raising money for addiction, in fact she does not even know what the word means.” Oates concurs, “When people spot her, they whisper, hold on to your wallet, here she comes.” As Dope Open member Ken Foster says, “Mary can be a pebble in your shoe, but in such a loving way.”
Mary recalls, “There were times a few people made it difficult or tried to discourage me from what I was doing. But each time it made me more determined. There was one time,” she said, “I actually lunged across a table at a medical meeting to make my point to someone who was being extremely difficult and grabbed her by her necklace. When I arrived home my husband, Dr. Bob Mulholland noticed I had tears in my eyes, I told him I had disgraced him in what I had just done. He kissed my forehead and called me a “tiger.” He said, “never stop following your goal.” From that day on every card he sent me had A tiger on it.”
The Dope Kick-Off an annual prelude to the main event was held a few weeks ago at the Hanover Marriott. New Jersey U.S. Attorney General Christopher Christie was the main speaker, along with two teen residents from DayTop. Christie thanked Mary for all she has done and gave some sobering statistics on the drug crisis in America . “It’s a war we must win,” he said. He also said, “Anytime you need me Mary I will be there for you.” Christie had invited one of the graduates of DayTop to be an intern at his office. Today the young man is an attorney. The two DayTop residents who spoke said they felt they were “lucky to be alive.” One young man said, “DayTop has saved my life. I would not be standing here today. I would not be alive today, if it were not for Day-Top.” Mary’s Dope Open is a major supporter of drug and alcohol related facilities through out New Jersey and is run solely by volunteers. The Dope Open has evolved into a humongous event, involving generous corporate
sponsors and dedicated donors. This year’s event, as always, culminates with a day of golfing, spectacular prizes and a gala awards dinner on June 29th at the Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park.
Mary, the mother of six, Patricia, Moira, Robert, Kevin, Colonel Commander 7th Special Forces Sean, and Sheila, as well as her fifteen grandchildren are following in her footsteps. Mary has a list of honors too numerous to mention. She is presently Development Coordinator for St. Clare’s Health System.
As this goes to press Mary received some wonderful news. After a difficult battle with cancer, she just received word she is cancer free. Her daughter Shelia Mullholland is now the new President of the Dope Open. Mary remains the Chairman. As Senator Tony Bucco says. “She had done so much for so many and has asked so little.” Bucco adds, “Reverend Hennen is right, she is a Saint.”
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