Phoenix Center renamed its White Horse Academy to The Charles E. Shipman Center. The facility, which is located at 975 Foot Hills Road in Greenville, serves children with substance abuse disorders.
The addiction treatment center decided to rename this building because of Shipman’s dedication and role in the creation of the adolescent facility. When planning the White Horse area location, the Phoenix Center had received the funding for the building but was uncertain about where it could be. Shipman was able to get a land donation from his contact Walt Brashier for the White Horse Academy to be built on.
“Charlie Shipman is a caring and committed member of the Greenville community,” Phoenix Center executive director Becky Maddox. “Charlie served as a commission member on the Greenville Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse for over 14 years, and during that time he helped numerous individuals get help for their substance use disorder. Day or night, Charlie would answer the call of anyone who reached out and make every effort to get them connected with the help they needed. Charlie is a true picture of what it means to selflessly serve the community.”
Shipman served on the Greenville County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse from 2006 to 2020. During his tenure on the commission, he was held the commission chair and finance committee chair positions and participated on the construction committee, outreach committee, and program and administration committee.
Following the birth of his first grandson, Shipman became involved with the recovery community after he sought treatment for alcohol abuse and found recovery.
He also became a spokesperson for MADD and Families of Highway Fatalities after his grandson was killed in a highway fatality.
The Phoenix Center also inducted Shipman into its Order of the Phoenix. He is the first person to receive this honor.
