Attitudes In Reverse Honors Craig Kramer as Champion of Hope

PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY (October 15, 2018) – Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR™), a Princeton-based nonprofit organization, will honor Craig S. Kramer, Mental Health Ambassador and Chair, Global Campaign for Mental Health, Neuroscience External Affairs, Janssen R&D, a Johnson & Johnson Company, with a Champion of Hope award during its third annual Taste of Hope fundraising event on October 30, 2018 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, 100 College Road East, Princeton, NJ. In addition to honoring Kramer for his leadership in the mental healthcare field, the affair is designed to build awareness of AIR and support its mission of saving lives through mental-health and suicide prevention education.

“Craig Kramer has partnered with world leaders to make mental health a top priority. It all began when his daughter, Katharine, became critically ill from an eating disorder and he received the call that no parent wants to receive: ‘We’re taking your daughter in the emergency room.’ Through his family’s experience of helping his daughter recover, he realized that much more needed to be done. He led the charge at J&J and became their first Mental Health Ambassador,” said Tricia and Kurt Baker, Co-Founders of AIR.

“In this role, he has been instrumental in implementing changes at J&J to make mental health a priority within the corporate culture and demonstrated to other world and corporate leaders that good mental health is not only beneficial to the workforce; it is also increases overall productivity. Craig has utilized his vast network and expertise to further the mission that Attitudes In Reverse shares of good mental health and suicide prevention. It is truly an honor and privilege to know and work with Craig to change the global view of mental health,” the Bakers added.

“I was honored to be asked to present the People’s Choice Award from the Child Mind Institute to the Bakers at Carnegie Hall earlier this year. They certainly deserved it for developing a curriculum that has been tested and proven to work with different communities, especially young people and educational communities,” Kramer said.

“The Bakers are truly special. They touch our community in Princeton in many important ways. We are honored and humbled that they’re recognizing the work we’re doing at J&J,” he added.

“The idea of hope is essential to people who live with mental illness. We know it’s a skill that can be learned and part of recovery for many people. Often, all it takes is a taste of hope to get you through the day. The event’s theme, A Taste of Hope, is a nice turn of phrase that captures recovery for many people living with mental illness,” Kramer said.

The Taste of Hope event is sponsored by AIR Sponsor: Stark & Stark; Faith Sponsors: Robert Bratman, Esq., Fly High Colby, Jude Bratman, Eric Poe from NJ PURE and Princeton Brain & Spine; Dignity Sponsors: Leary Bride Mergner and Bongiovanni, P.A. and Szaferman Lakind; Love Sponsors: Beato Chiropractic, Anna Bittner, Cynthia Bratman, Carrier Clinic, Creative Capital, Hinkle Fingles & Prior, Gary Hofing, Merlin Industries, New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Provident Bank, Albert Stark, Esq. and US-1 Courier Services.

The following businesses are participating in this event: Restaurants: Antimo’s Italian Kitchen, Bahama Breeze Island Grille, Bonefish Grill, Crown of India, De Lorenzo’s Pizza, P.F. Chang’s, Outback Steakhouse,

Princeton Marriott (Iron & Ivy), Ruth Chris Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse; Desserts: Carella’s Chocolates, Classic Dezerts, Khalila’s CornCrush, McCaffrey’s Bake Shop, Season’s 52 and Starbucks; and

Wine/Beer/Spirits: CATB Liquor Import, M & D Liquors, River Horse Brewing Company, Señor Sangria and

Sourland Mountain Spirits.

To register to attend the October 30th Taste of Hope event, please visit www.airtoh.org. For more information about this event, please contact Dennis Dias, Antares Event Planning & Consulting, LLC, at 908-208-2696 or dennisddias@hotmail.com.

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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 70,000 students in middle and high schools and colleges in New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Missouri, Texas and Arizona. AIR also offers Youth Mental Health First Aid instruction and includes the AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds™ 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.attitudesinreverse.org or call 609-945-3200.