Bergen Parents Honored For Promoting Inclusivity And Respect For Vulnerable Youths

Bergen County parents Jane and Joseph Clementi were honored for their efforts to end bullying in schools and workplaces and promoting inclusive and respectful environments for vulnerable youths with a Russ Berrie Making A Difference Award last week.

The Celmentis’ son Tyler, a gay man, killed himself by jumping off the George Washington Bridge in September 2010, a few days after his Rutgers University roommate, Dharun Ravi, set up a webcam to film a romantic encounter between Clementi and another man.

The Ridgewood residents have worked tirelessly on multiple fronts to promote inclusion.

They founded the Tyler Clementi Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to end bullying in schools, workplaces, faith communities, and online.

The foundation encourages people to pledge to become “upstanders” and combat bullying wherever it is and work to make others feel “safe and included.”

The Clementis have spoken to schools across the country to share their story and promote safe, inclusive, and respectful environments for young people.

They helped create the Tyler Clementi Center at the Rutgers New Brunswick campus. The center focuses on helping freshmen transition to university life and bullying prevention.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Sign up for Patch N.J. email newsletters here.