Madison Woman In CNN Hero Of The Year Top Ten

MADISON, NJ - Whether or not she is voted CNN Hero of the Year or not, Mary Robinson, who founded Imagine, a center that provides free support for grieving children, is a hero to many.

Robinson, who lost her father at the age of 14, founded the Imagine center to help kids deal with grief. Imagine, based in Mountainside, offers free year-round grief support groups for children age 3-18 who have had a parent or brother or sister die, and for families caring for a family member living with a life-altering physical illness.

Her efforts were noticed by CNN and Robinson has been selected this year as a Top Ten CNN Hero by CNN Executives.

“We are thrilled but not surprised Mary has been selected,” said Imagine Board Chair John Toriello. “Having served on the board since Imagine’s inception in 2011, I know Mary is an outstanding and dedicated leader who makes and has made an enormous contribution in helping grieving children and families. We are very proud of her.”

While Imagine made it to the Top Ten CNN Hero category, officials noted they can use your vote to make it to the Hero of the Year which would result in a donation of $100,000 for Imagine and a global spotlight on the need and importance of supporting grieving youth. You can vote ten times a day every day for Mary at www.cnnheroes.com.

“This award means we are able to shine an even bigger spotlight on our mission of supporting children, teens, young adults, and their families, who are coping with loss due to death or illness,” said Robinson. “In NJ alone there are currently over 114,000 bereaved youth who have had a parent die. Nationally the number is over 4.9 million. At Imagine over 430 children and adults from 59 towns across New Jersey attend our support groups every two weeks in Mountainside and Newark. However, serving 430 people at our centers is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of youth needing support. Therefore, our mission also includes a focus on education, to make sure wherever a grieving child or teen turns in their life, there is an adult who pays attention and understands the need to provide support and to listen. Our goal is to create grief-informed communities, school districts, agencies, workplaces, and neighborhoods in New Jersey and nationally."

Concurrent groups are available for parents and guardians, and young adults 18-30. Support groups meet on weekday nights for an hour and a half. Dinner is provided prior to the group meeting.

“Volunteering and working in the field of Children’s Grief Support since 1997, I am so honored to receive this award,” said Robinson.

To schedule an orientation for yourself or your family or for more information please contact Imagine at 908-264-3100 or info@imaginenj.org.

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