Bridgeway Celebrates 50th Anniversary Dinner to Honor Founder

ELIZABETH, N.J., April 12, 2018 – Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services, New Jersey’s leading nonprofit mental health rehabilitation and recovery organization, will host the 50^th Anniversary Chairman’s Dinner at the KEAN University STEM Building in Union, N.J. on Wednesday, May 2. The event will honor distinguished leaders of Bridgeway and the extraordinary impact Bridgeway has had on N.J. communities.

Ed Murphy, one of the original founders of Bridgeway, will accept the Distinguished Advocate Award. Murphy has been an advocate for people with disabilities and their families in New Jersey for nearly 50 years. He was executive director of the Mental Health Association of Union County and was administrator of Bridgeway until it was established as a separate entity. For 13 years, he served as executive director for the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey until he retired in 2012. Murphy continues to work part time for SHA as director of Agency Operations and editor of the SHA News Bulletins.

Bridgeway will also honor Kevin Cummings, president and CEO of Investors Bank, with the Distinguished Community Partner Award. Mark T. Williams, community activist and Chairman of Bridgeway’s Board of Trustees, will accept the Distinguished Volunteer Award.

“Without Bridgeway services, so many people would have returned home alone after a hospital stay. Some may have been homeless, if not for the intensive support and community linkages provided by Bridgeway staff and individuals like Ed, Kevin and Mark,” said Mark T. Williams, Chairman of Bridgeway’s Board of Trustees. “We must ensure that no one goes without access to Bridgeway services well into the future.”

The 50^th Anniversary event will commence at 6 p.m. with a wine and beer social hour, live music by GoodWorks rock and soul band, and hors d’oeuvres. The social hour will be held in the 6th floor glass-walled conference center of KEAN University’s STEM Building. A gourmet dinner by Encore Catering will follow in the ground floor Atrium.

More information about Bridgeway’s 50th Anniversary Chairman’s Dinner is available under the News and Events tab at www.bridgewayrehab.org. To receive an invitation by mail, interested parties should email their standard mail address to feedback@bridgewayrehab.org.

About Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services Inc.

Bridgeway Rehabilitation Services is recognized as a statewide leader in psychiatric rehabilitation services. Bridgeway is a nonprofit mental health services agency whose mission is to assist those Central and Northern New Jersey residents who have the most severe mental disabilities yet have the potential to recover, be self-sufficient and live in and contribute to their communities. For 50 years, Bridgeway has provided services to adults who are facing multiple challenges that are prevalent in people with mental illness. Bridgeway services are available in 11 Central and Northern New Jersey counties. For more information, visit www.Bridgewayrehab.org.

Contact: Lisa Giannascoli, 908-469-6517 ext.1004, lisa.giannascoli@bridgewayrehab.org