Saratoga News

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EMQ dedicates a building to honor Barney's memory

By Shannon Burkey

EMQ Children and Family Services honored a former Saratoga resident who worked tirelessly for years to raise money and awareness for its addiction prevention services program by dedicating a building to her memory

Jeannette Barney was a dedicated and committed community volunteer for the Butter Paddle and was active in the Junior League, the Women's Investment Network, Hope Services and St. Andrew's Church.

But after the death of her 25-year-old daughter in 2000 from a prescription drug overdose, Barney found a new cause to get behind. Instead of losing herself in grief, she wanted to make sure other families would not have to experience what she and her family had gone through.

"It's simply about just one child. We decided that in the rest of our lives, if we could do something to save just one child, it would all be worth it," her husband Roger Barney said. "Jeannette was committed to that outcome. The reason she did what she did was to make sure that just one child would be saved and one family wouldn't have to suffer what we suffered."

Barney set up a pilot program for addiction prevention at Saratoga High School, then co-founded the Volunteers Inspiring People League to raise funds for the addiction prevention services program at EMQ Children and Family Services in Campbell. Over the years, she worked continually to spread the word about addiction prevention, and, along with raising money for EMQ's program, she helped to expand it into local schools.

"The amazing and wonderful thing about Jeannette is that she chose to tell her story so that she could help others. Despite her own health issues and her own losses, she was committed to keeping kids alive," said Toni Welch Torres, director of EMQ's addiction prevention services program. "She turned her tragedy into a chance of life for others."

Barney died in May of pneumonia and respiratory failure. Over the years she also suffered from kidney failure and rheumatoid arthritis.

Her friends and colleagues said her illnesses never stood in her way. Just a few days before she died, Barney spent five hours in a meeting preparing for a VIP League fundraiser that took place on the day she died.

"She never felt she couldn't raise money for VIP. She was a wonderful person with incredible spirit and dedication. If you knew her, you knew, by God, she was going to make it happen," said Jerry Doyle, EMQ chief executive officer. "I take my hat off to Jeannette for the example she set for all of us."

EMQ dedicated its client services building to Barney, feeling that the building touched more children than the others. The building is used for intake, screening and risk assessment for the bulk of the children seeking access to its services.

"This is the building where everyone comes to start their journey, so they thought it was a good way to honor her," said Roger Barney, who is also chairman of EMQ's board of directors.

Barney's efforts made a huge impact on those around her, and through the building dedication the EMQ staff hopes that her drive and dedication will continue to be an inspiration.

"This really captures the spirit of this radiant woman," said Darrell Evora, president of EMQ. "Not only was she committed with a great sense of conviction, she had incredible love for her family, friends and the kids in the community. I can't imagine a more appropriate person for us to be honoring than Jeannette Barney."