A Red Carpet Night For Brick's Everyday Heroes

Anti-bullying programs in the schools have become as much a part of the fabric of school as those to prevent drug and alcohol use among students. But do they go far enough to really change what’s happening?

A Brick Township woman says if we really want to get rid of bullying, the effort has to go beyond the school walls and into the community.

“You can’t expect kids to be one way in school and then accept (bad behavior) when they’re in the community,” said Colleen Finnegan, owner of Enspirited Projects. To stop bullying will take a change in culture, and the only way to do that is to encourage kindness and celebrate it.

That’s exactly the goal of The Hero Awards, which will be presented Saturday evening at Brick Township High School. The Hero Awards will honor people throughout the community whose kindness has made a difference in the lives of others, Finnegan said in a recent phone interview.

“Sometimes people are unsung heroes and their kindness goes unnoticed,” Finnegan said. “We want to recognize those people.”

Like the third-grade girl who’s being honored. Finnegan said there’s kindergartner who’s new to the girl’s school, and is from another country and is still learning English. The third-grader has stepped in and is mentoring the younger girl, helping her adjust to the new situation.

Finnegan said The Hero Awards will treat the winners like they are Hollywood stars. They will be greeted with a red carpet, sponsored by Richard’s Automotive of Mantoloking Road, and ”paparazzi” and television crews made up of Brick Township High School students.

Broadway actress and singer Donna Vivino, who has appeared in “Wicked,” “ Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me,” and ”Stars of David,” will host the awards.

What: The Hero Awards

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; red carpet entrances begin at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Brick Township High School auditorium, 346 Chambersbridge Road

Tickets: $7 for adults, $5 for students; available at the door or at Brownpapertickets.com

And the honorees, who include students, teachers, coaches, local businesses, Brick residents and community organizations, will receive golden hero capes to commemmorate their selection.

“We want this to be the local Academy Awards for kindness,” Finnegan said.

The program is a joint effort of Finnegan and David Seegert, who is the school-based services director at Brick Township High School. This event is being organized by Enspirited Projects and the chapters of the Society of Influencers and GameChangers at both township high schools, in cooperation with the Brick Township School Based Program of Preferred Children’s Services, supported by the Preferred Foundation, an affiliate of Preferred Behavioral Health Group, according to a news release.

“We want students to understand that kindness stems far beyond being good in school. We want our kids to grow up to be good citizens too,” Seegert said.

Brick Township Mayor John G. Ducey, township Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter Uszenski will speak at the event, which also will include performances by the Brick Children’s Community Theatre, Idol Time Academy, Brick Township High School students, Elite Dance Academy and Lake Riviera Middle School’s show choir. Anthony D’Amato, a 2002 graduate of Brick Memorial who is starring in Remember Jones at The Strand theater in Lakewood, will make a cameo appearance. Other special guests include local radio DJ Matt Ryan from 94.3 The Point and Brick Police Capt. Ron Dougard.

“I am excited be part of the Brick Hero Awards and to help honor citizens who are fighting to end bullying in our communities,” Ducey said.

Finnegan said the hope is that by promoting and celebrating kindness and positive actions, the message will go home to parents and to the community at large, and help begin the cultural shift needed to end bullying altogether.

“You’re not born a bully, you learn it somewhere,” Finnegan said.

All proceeds from the event go to promoting kind and positive school culture and anti-bullying programs in the Brick School System.