Attitudes In Reverse® Honors Jennifer D. Garofolo

PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY (September 27, 2019) – Attitudes In Reverse® (AIR™), a Princeton-based nonprofit organization, will honor Jennifer D. Garofolo, MPH, MPA, US Head, Oncology Key Customer Marketing for GlaxoSmithKline, with a Champion of Hope award during its fourth annual Taste of Hope fundraising event on October 16, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, 100 College Road East, Princeton, NJ. In addition to honoring Garofolo, the affair is designed to build awareness of AIR and support its mission of saving lives through mental-health and suicide prevention education.

“Jenn is a momma bear fighting for the well-being of her child. There are so many who truly do not understand mental health issues, but Jenn continues to battle. From personal experience, I know how hard this is, how exhausting it is,” said Tricia Baker, Co-Founder of AIR.

“We are grateful to Jenn for all she is doing to raise awareness of mental health disorders and to eliminate stigma. We are grateful for her love and support.,” added Kurt Baker, Co-Founder of AIR.

“I’m very humbled by this award. Although I’ve been on this journey for 10 years, my calling is just beginning,” Garofolo said, referring to her active advocacy and public speaking about her 12-year-old daughter’s experiences with general anxiety, post-traumatic stress and severe mood disorders. “This award allows me to take the conversation about mental health and suicide further.”

“I’m inspired to be involved with AIR because of my family’s experience – it’ a constant fight for our daughter’s life – and because I feel for Tricia and Kurt and their loss,” Garofolo added, relating to the Baker’s loss of their son/brother Kenny to suicide and the discrimination they endured due to a lack of understanding about mental health disorders, which incited them to establish AIR soon after Kenny’s death.

According to Garofolo, AIR’s impact is achieved in the organization’s ability to break stigma. “They’re giving kids permission to talk about mental health struggles and suicide, and empowering them to do so and save others,” she stated. “Unfortunately, the issue filters down to younger and younger people. AIR has created a curriculum that empowers teachers and students to have the conversations that are essential for preventing suicide.”

The Taste of Hope event is sponsored by: Faith Sponsors - Fly High Colby; J. Robert Bratman; Kalavruzos Mumola Hartman & Lento; Monarch Title Agency, Inc.; Princeton Brain & Spine; and Stark & Stark; Dignity Sponsors - Bristol-Myers Squibb; Leary, Bride, Mergner & Bongiovani; and Ron & Tricore; Love Sponsors - American Medical Communications; Dr. Cynthia Bratman; Dr. Lou Beato from Beato Chiropractic; Dr. Wael Elkholy from Precision Pain Spine Institute; Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic; Hinkle, Fingles, Prior

& Fischer; Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ; Pennsauken Radiology; PSE&G; Rob Angel; Szaferman

Lakind; US 1 Courier Services; and Victory Marketing; Full-Day Class Sponsors - Bristol-Myers Squibb and Haymarket Media, Inc.; and Half-Day Class Sponsors - Certified Financial Services; Certified Medical Solutions; Guy J. Renzi and Associates, Inc.; Hamilton Pain & Rehabilitation Associates, LLC; Investors Bank; and Merlin Industries.

The following businesses are participating in this event: Restaurants – Antimo’s Italian Kitchen, Bluefish Grill, Bonefish Grill, Brickhouse Tavern & Tap, Crown of India, De Lorrenzo’s Pizza, Iron & Ivory, Local Greek, Made from Scratch, Outback Steakhouse, PF Chang’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Texas Roadhouse; Desserts – Carella’s Chocolates, Classic Dezerts, Khalila’s CornKrush, McCaffrey’s, and Seasons 52; and Wine, Beer, Spirits – CATB Liquor Import, Plush Vodka, Señor Sangria, Sourland Mountain Spirits and Super Buy Rite Wine, Hamilton Square and Pennington.

To register to attend the October 16th Taste of Hope event, please visit www.toh.ngo. 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 Kurt, Tricia 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 80,000 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 https://air.ngo or call 609-945-3200.