For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Kitty Hietala, 507-233-1209

Comedian Mark Lundholm to appear onstage as part of New Ulm Medical Center Substance Abuse Services' 25th anniversary

NEW ULM, Minn 08/27/2010--September 3, 2010, marks the 25th anniversary of New Ulm Medical Center providing substance abuse treatment services. On this date in 1985, a 20-bed inpatient substance abuse unit opened, and was jointly managed at that time by Sioux Valley Hospital (now New Ulm Medical Center) and CompCare. New Ulm Medical Center took on complete management of the unit about a year later, and added outpatient treatment options.

Drawing from personal experience, Comedian Mark Lundholm has designed his own Recovery board game and created the educational DVD series called "Humor in Treatment." Lundholm has performed in all 50 states and 10 foreign countries. He has appeared on Showtime, A&E TV and Comedy Central. For more about Mark Lundholm, go to marklundholm.com.

Many events are happening to mark this occasion, culminating in Comedian Mark Lundholm's live performance of First Thought Wrong/Perfectly Broken: A Night of 12-Step Humor on Friday, September 3 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the New Ulm DAC Auditorium (formerly the Middle School Auditorium).

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in these ways:

• in advance at New Ulm Hy-Vee, Cash Wise, New Ulm Chamber Office, Lola's Larkspur, Grand Cabaret, New Ulm Medical Center Mankato office at 1821 Bassett Drive
• by calling 507-233-1672
• at the door the evening of the event.

Other events are as follows:

• Wednesday, September 1 at noon in the New Ulm Medical Center hospital lobby is a proclamation with New Ulm Mayor Joel Albrecht, followed by an open house.
• Thursday, September 2 at 11:30 a.m. at the New Ulm Medical Center Substance Abuse outpatient location in Mankato is a proclamation with Mankato Mayor John Brady, followed by an open house.
• Thursday, September 2 from 3 to 5 p.m., Mark Lundholm presents Flexing Your Humor Muscle in the New Ulm Medical Center auditorium. The professional workshop is for anyone who works with addicts in any capacity. Substance abuse treatment professionals can earn two continuing education credits through NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (Greater Minnesota Association of Addiction Professionals).
• Thursday, September 2 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Mark Lundholm presents a Recovery Month Workshop for those who have gone through or are undergoing substance abuse treatment in the New Ulm DAC (former middle school auditorium.
• Friday, September 3 from 3 to 6 p.m. is the New Ulm Medical Center Substance Abuse Services 25th Anniversary Picnic at Hermann Heights Park, New Ulm. The picnic is for alumni, patients, staff, partners and all of southern Minnesota's recovering community.

About New Ulm Medical Center and Allina Hospitals & Clinics

Part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, New Ulm Medical Center is a not-for-profit regional medical center, including a hospital and clinic, committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves in and around Brown County, Minnesota.

Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit family of hospitals, clinics and other care services dedicated to meeting the lifelong health care needs of communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. For more information, go to allina.com.