Mental Illness Took Montclair HS Alum’s Life, Award Honors It

MONTCLAIR, NJ — "From tragedy can come progress." It’s with this bittersweet truth in mind that the family of Jared Zimmerman is carrying on in his memory.

Earlier this week, the Zimmerman-Baillargeon family - working in conjunction with Montclair High School (MHS) and the Community Foundation of New Jersey - announced the creation of a new summer fellowship for recent and current MHS students.

The fellowship pays tribute to the spirit of Zimmerman, a Montclair High School graduate (class of 2013) who developed a serious mental illness his junior year. According to his family, Zimmerman’s illness became increasingly severe after he graduated, resulting in his death on April 15, 2016.

He was 20-years-old.

According to Zimmerman’s family, he was gifted with many amazing qualities, including a robust intellect and a kind heart. (Learn more about his life here)

“He loved many things including family and friends, music, books, and the outdoors. While at Montclair High, Jared was a member of the Civics and Government Institute (serving as a justice on the CGI Supreme Court), a participant in the Fed Challenge program, and ran on the cross-country team.”

Through the new fellowship, Jared’s Fund Youth Fellowship (JFYF), a new generation of Montclair students will get the chance to help end the stigma associated with the type of mental illness that claimed Zimmerman’s life.

“Mental illness affects so many in our community but because of stigma those who suffer are isolated and progress toward challenging this illness is far slower than it should be,” said Zimmerman’s parents, Jackie Baillargeon and Ken Zimmerman.

“We are moved to establish this fellowship out of the belief that from tragedy can come progress, and to do our part in conjunction with so many others to move the needle,” they added.

Highlights of the fellowship include:

• JFYF will fund four projects from current or recent graduates of Montclair High School, with preference given to current juniors and seniors and those who attended MHS within the last four years. Applicants can apply as individuals or as part of small (max 4 person) team. The application process opens on April 15 and closes on May 12. The JFYF will provide $2,500 for each selected project, with stipends of up to $3,000 available for projects that require additional hours to complete.
• JFYF’s core premise is that young people have immense insight and talents that are pivotal to ending the stigma associated with mental illness. As a result, it encourages projects that speak to a passion that a young person has, and welcomes projects from individuals with relevant lived experience.
• Within the broad parameters that projects must deal with mental illness, projects might range from scientific research to film-making, from working with local non-profits to support for advocacy (within legal limits). JFYF encourages non-conventional approaches.
• In addition to providing financial support, JFYF will bring those selected together with local and national experts in relevant areas and support their leadership development.

Gabe Zimmerman, Jared’s brother, and Brianna Zimmerman, Jared’s sister, will serve on a 10-member advisory board for the fellowship, which also includes friends of Jared and medical professionals and educators.

“On behalf of the MHS community, I am pleased to support the JFYF and believe its mission is critical to advancing the health, specifically the mental health, of all of our students,” said MHS Principal Anthony Grasso. “Our teachers and administrators know well the leadership and creativity young people can bring, and the need and interest to have this directed at the challenges posed by mental illness.”

For more information about JFYF including project guidelines, the program application itself, and more about Jared Zimmerman, visit http://www.jaredsfund.com, or contact Zimmerman-Baillargeon family members including Gabe Zimmerman (973.349.4917), Ken Zimmerman (917.434.0638), or Jackie Baillargeon (917.699.4290).

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page here. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com