Attitudes In Reverse® Honors Evelyn Bardzilowski and Jeanette Vega

PRINCETON, NJ, September 30, 2024 – The loss of loved ones due to mental health disorders propels individuals into action to help prevent others from experiencing similar tragedies. Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR®) is certainly a powerful example of this – not only in its purpose overall, but also through the ongoing development of programs to educate and help as many people as possible. For example, AIR is now able to reach a much broader student population, thanks to an Hispanic version of the Coming Up for AIR® program that was developed by Evelyn Bardzilowski, Vice President and Branch Manager, Northfield Bank, and Jeanette Vega, Director of Grant Financial Administration, The College of New Jersey. In recognition of this meaningful contribution, AIR will present Partners in Hope awards to Bardzilowski and Vega during its 8th Annual Taste of Hope event on October 9, 2024.

“The prevalence of depression and anxiety among youth continues to increase and is even higher among individuals in minority racial and ethnic populations. While seeking help for mental health issues is a challenge for many, largely due to stigma and discrimination, the obstacles are even greater when language barriers exist,” said AIR Co-Founder Tricia Baker.

“We are infinitely grateful to Evelyn and Jeanette for enabling us to reach many more youth. It is critical to prevent suicide through education, identification of individuals who are struggling and intervention as early as possible, ideally beginning in elementary school and continuing for many years,” added AIR Co-Founder Kurt Baker.

Evelyn Bardzilowski

Tricia Baker reached out to Bardzilowski after her son Owen died by suicide at age 14 in 2016. “I didn’t reach back right away. Then, I eventually did. It helps to know someone with similar challenges,” Bardzilowski shared. “I wish my family and I knew more. You can’t go backwards, but you can go forward.”

“AIR provides knowledge and education that it’s OK to not be OK, to be worried about friends and to speak to trusted adults. It’s not betraying their trust,” Bardzilowski said. “This isn’t taught anywhere else. If it’s not taught, kids won’t know, and that’s a shame. These concepts are so necessary for youth to grasp in order to have a healthy future.”

“I will do whatever I can do to support AIR’s cause. It’s a very simple ask. Tricia wanted to reach students whose primary language is Spanish. I’ll do anything I can to help Tricia help our kids,” she added.

Jeanette Vega

“In February 2022, I received a call from my life-long friend, ‘Marie’ Evelyn Bardzilowski, asking if I was available to meet with someone who needed help translating something into Spanish. For those who know of my relationship with Marie, they know that I never say no to a request from her,” Vega shared.

“I met with Tricia. She shared her story and that she had recently been at a school where she noticed that students weren't really engaged with her presentation. She later found out that their first language was Spanish,” Vega said. “In my line of work, I am continuously improving job aids and video trainings, so I used those skillsets to convert Tricia’s presentation into a video format entirely in Spanish. This would allow her to share the video with the Latinx community.”

“My loyalty to Marie got me interested in this project, but even if that were not the case, I would have assisted because I, like many others, have felt the loss of loved ones due to mental health disorders. I felt fortunate to be able to help my Latinx community and deeply touched that Tricia didn't simply choose to ignore my community. She felt that this message should be shared to all who can hear it,” Vega shared.

Bardzilowski and Vega will be honored along with Champions of Hope Bill Wells, Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager at TD Bank and a member of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, and Rachelle St. Phard, Founder of The BeTheLi9ht Foundation; and Partners in Hope Dawn Aulisi, Student Assistance Coordinator for Toms River Regional Schools; and Suzanne Keller, LSW, MSW, Supervisor, The SOURCE School-Based Youth Services Program and Freshman Academy at Red Bank Regional High School.

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; J. Robert Bratman; Summit Dental Partners; Oswald & Zoschak Family Law Attorneys; Moore Engineering Services; Cynthia Bratman, PsyD; Brian Greenwald, MD; Capital Health; TruVersity; Northfield Bank; Certified Wealth Management & Investment; Hofing Management; Leigh Visual Imaging Solutions; Customized Benefit Solutions, Inc.; and BeTheLi9ht Foundation.

AIR is equally grateful for the participating restaurants and dessert, wine and spirit vendors are Antimo's Italian Kitchen, Black Pearl, 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 Outlet of Lawrenceville, Outback Steakhouse, PF Chang's, Pink Little Cake, Public Wine, Beer & Spirits, Texas Roadhouse, Railroad Distillery, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Seasons 52, Sourland Mountain Spirits and Starbucks.

To register to 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.