‘Together We Can’ benefit to support mission of Community in Crisis.

May 2, 2022.

BERNARDSVILLE – Tickets are on sale for Together We Can, an elegant gathering to raise much-needed funds to support the work and impact of Community in Crisis (CiC), a local nonprofit organization fighting to reduce the incidence and consequences of the misuse of substances through education, prevention and holistic support.

The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 14th at the spectacular stately home of a generous local CiC supporter on the Bernardsville mountain. Tickets, priced at $250, can be purchased online at www.communityincrisis.org/together or here. $160 of each ticket is tax deductible. Sponsorship opportunities are still available online at https://communityincrisis.org/together/#sponsorship.

Mr. Neil and Mrs. Lois Gagnon will be honored at the event for their steadfast and generous support of the nonprofit’s efforts to combat substance use and misuse that claims too many lives each and every day. The Gagnon Family Foundation was one of CiC’s very first funders, helping them build their infrastructure, hire staff, and design and implement prevention and recovery support programs. CiC’s volunteers, program participants and donors will also be recognized for their inspiration in helping CIC spread prevention education, reduce stigma, and offer holistic support to Somerset County residents.

Bagpipers and drummers from locally-based The Guard Pipes and Drums will greet guests on arrival, and Jim Nuzzo, a pianist, and Tony Aiello, a saxophone player, will entertain guests during the event. Valet parking will be available. The Gagnon Family Foundation, Morristown Memorial Center and the Fournier Family Foundation are all presenting sponsors of the event. Beautiful floral centerpieces are being donated by Bedminster Florist, Inc., Flowers from Hannah, Blooms Florist at the Hills, and Flowers on the Ridge.

Jody D’Agostini, founder and CEO of CIC, said, “If it wasn’t for Lois and Neil Gagnon, we would not have been able to achieve much of our work. They placed their complete trust in us right from CiC’s infancy before the opioid epidemic was on peoples’ radars and gave us the means to flourish. We know we are saving lives and changing lives for the good, and it’s in huge part thanks to the Gagnons.”

“There’s a lot of excitement about this event,” said Andi Williams, executive director of CIC. “We have been overwhelmed with the support of our incredible donors and sponsors who see the value of our mission and impact. The venue is exquisite and will provide a memorable setting for our celebration. With overdose deaths at an all-time high than ever before on record, particularly among adolescents, our work has never been more important. I like to think of this event as not only a fundraiser for us, but also a celebration of life and hope. Tickets are selling fast so I urge everybody to get them soon before we reach capacity at www.communityincrisis.org/together.”

The proceeds from this fundraiser will support a number of CIC programs, including its youth leadership council, the family support group led by a therapist specializing in family addiction counseling, a bereavement group specific to substance passing, community service opportunities for youth, alternative approaches to pain management for older adults, vaping education and quit resources for youth and adults, and skills-based and social sober programs for individuals seeking and in recovery.

For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit www.communityincrisis.org/together.

Launched in 2014 in response to the overdose deaths of several local young adults, CIC fights against the national opioid epidemic by raising funds for prevention of and education on substance use disorder as well as providing support to individuals in crisis and recovery.

It is a community-wide coalition of volunteers, community group leaders, law enforcement, clergy, medical professionals, mental health experts, local government officials and school representatives working together to combat this ever-growing epidemic with programming, awareness and education about substance use disorder. CiC also offers an array of programs, meetings and sober social opportunities to individuals in and seeking recovery. Many of the programs and support services offered by Community in Crisis are made possible by generous grants and donors: the Gagnon Family Foundation, Inc., the Fournier Family Foundation, the Margaret A. Darrin Charitable Trust, the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the Drug Free Community grant, the PFS-Strategic Planning Framework grant, DMHAS, and the RWJ University Hospital Somerset/Far Hills Race Meeting Community Health Partnership.

For more information on the work and mission of CiC, visit www.communityincrisis.org or contact Andi Williams at awilliams@communityincrisis.org.