Attitudes In Reverse® Honors Bill Wells, VP, TD Bank, Champion of Hope

PRINCETON, NJ, September 9, 2024 – As Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager at TD Bank, where Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR®) is a customer, and a member of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, Bill Wells had been familiar with AIR for several years. He shared that learning more about AIR’s success in saving thousands of lives through mental health and suicide prevention education at AIR’s Taste of Hope event last year reinforced his interest in supporting the organization. Wells will be honored with a Champion of Hope Award during AIR’s 8th Annual Taste of Hope event on October 9, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, Princeton, New Jersey.

“Hearing about AIR’s mission and profound impact on the community was an eye opener and piqued my interest even more,” Wells said. The event reinforced his personal connection to the cause. He shared that he has family members who have had mental health struggles for years and are fortunately doing much better now.

“It’s so critical to let people know resources are out there, especially for young people. There is much more work to be done, and AIR provides a great solution,” Wells stated. “I’m thrilled to have been chosen to help represent the cause, to help bring the mission to the public and continue to push it forward.”

The 2023 Taste of Hope event also sparked a memory from when Wells was in high school. “I was involved with a program working with children with mental disabilities who played sports. In a roundabout way, it made me aware of the mental health components. Being different in school created mental challenges for them and playing sports gave them a break from being different. It helped them feel they fit in and that had a positive mental health impact,” he shared.

Wells recognizes the difficulties many youth experience today, in part due to social media. “There’s additional pressure on kids today – even more than when I was in school, which wasn’t so long ago. I’m eager to help people work through the challenges,” he said.

“Throughout the years that I’ve known Bill, his passion for helping others lead successful and fulfilling lives has been evident through his work at the Chamber and TD Bank,” said AIR Co-Founder Kurt Baker, who is also a member of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“We are so fortunate and grateful to have Bill sharing our determination to enhance individuals’ quality of life by encouraging everyone to speak up and seek support if they are struggling with depression or anxiety,” added AIR Co-Founder Tricia Baker.

Wells will be honored along with Champion of Hope Rachelle St. Phard, Founder of The BeTheLi9ht Foundation; and Partners in Hope Suzanne Keller, LSW, MSW, Supervisor, The Source School-Based Youth Services Program and Freshman Academy, Red Bank Regional High School; Jeanette Vega, Director of Grant Financial Administration, The College of New Jersey; Evelyn Bardzilowski, Vice President and Branch Manager, Northfield Bank; and Dawn Aulisi, Student Assistance Coordinator for Toms River Regional Schools.

AIR is most appreciative of the Taste of Hope event sponsors Szaferman Lakind Attorneys at Law; Stark & Stark Attorneys at Law; TD Bank; Philadelphia Insurance Companies; Leary, Bride, Mergner & Bongiovanni P.A. Attorneys at Law; Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America; Princeton Brain & Spine; Oaks Integrated Care; Renzi Legal Resources; and Hinkle, Prior & Fischer Attorneys at Law; and J. Robert Bratman.

AIR is equally grateful for the participating restaurants and dessert, wine and spirit vendors are Antimo's Italian Restaurant, Bonefish Grill, Carella's Chocolates, CATB Liquor Imports, Crown of India, De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies, Iron & Ivy at Princeton Marriott, Joe Canal's Discount Liquor,

KK Sweets, Local Greek, Outback Steakhouse, PF Chang's, Pink Little Cakes, Public Wine, Beer & Spirits, Texas Roadhouse, Quality Wine & Spirits, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Seasons 52, Sourland Mountain Spirits and Starbucks.

To register to sponsor and/or attend the Taste of Hope event or make a donation, please visit www.toh.ngo.

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Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR®) was established by Tricia, Kurt and Katelyn Baker of Plainsboro, NJ, in 2010, soon after their son/brother Kenny died by suicide following a long battle against severe depression and anxiety. Their mission is to save lives by educating students about mental health, related disorders and suicide prevention. Since January 2011, they have presented to more than 200,000 students in elementary, middle and high schools and colleges in New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Missouri, Texas and Arizona. AIR also offers the AIR Dogs: Paws for MindsSM program, bringing dogs into schools to help students de-stress and engage in the conversation about mental health. In addition, AIR trains and certifies Emotional Support Animals and offers a lunch-and-learn program for businesses. For more information about AIR, please visit www.air.ngo or call 609-945-3200.

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