Care Plus Holds 13th Annual Courage Awards

It was a night of hope and celebration as more than 300 people gathered in the Brownstone in Paterson to celebrate the Care Plus Foundation and Care Plus NJ as part of the 13th Annual Courage Awards on May 19. The night was meant to “honor the exceptional work of community members and organizations striving to eliminate the stigma for mental health, and providing valuable resources to those in need.”  

Founded in 1978, the Paramus based group has assisted people of all ages with getting back to their lives and becoming productive members of society. This year alone, over 18,000 people received help and assistance. Those who received awards helped Care Plus provide futures for those in need.

Such honorees were Jesse Canella and Jim McCain with HonorVet.org; The Center for Health, Wellness and Personal Counseling at Bergen Community College; Dean Smith for his work with helping find housing for persons in need;  the owners of the Tucci Properties and Just Rooms LLC were honored for similar work.

Carol Driscoll, executive director of the Care Plus Foundation and served as master of ceremonies, also mentioned the Care Plus Foundation received the Ambassador Award from the NJ Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma. Discoll said the evening could not have helped without the assistance of their supporters and volunteers. She also thanked the crowd for their donations of items and money that would go to help raise money for the Care Plus Foundation.

“We have at least $40,000 worth of merchandise donated for this event,” said Driscoll.

Items on display were Yankees tickets, Mets tickets, New York Giants tickets, along with items like a bicycle, golf bag and an iPad along with trips to the Watkins Glen Raceway, five nights in Costa Rica and Boston. Driscoll said that with items such as these, the foundation would be able to raise over $100,000.

To help award one of the, NJ State Assemblywoman Charlotte Vanderwalk (R-39) was on hand to present the award to Peter Tucci of Tucci Properties and she praised both the Care Plus group. She referred to it as a “wonderful group.”

“I have been involved with Care Plus for decades,” she said. “They do wonderful work and I was glad to honor Peter Tucci for his work.”

Other event attendees praise Care Plus for continuing to work to show people with mental illnesses are not to be ostracized or feared. Fair Lawn resident Maureen Moriarty, who serves as a treasurer for Care Plus Foundation, said that is what the foundation works to do.

“There is such a stigma with mental illness and mental disorders and thanks to Care Plus, that is being erased,” she said. “We are able to help provide the proper medication these people need in order to function as a viable member of society.” 

Moriarty’s husband, Michel Roney, a publisher based in Fair Lawn, agreed.

“Care  Plus has worked to address a lot of the problems persons suffering from mental illness endure,” said Roney. “They help with basic human needs.” 

As Care Plus continues to provide for persons in need with mental health issues, Driscoll said Care Plus works towards to the future, but for the evening she was happy to celebrate the organization’s three decades legacy.

“The 2011 Courage Awards is truly a time of celebration,” she said.