Mental Health Association Hosts Evening Of Excellence

Press release from the Mental Health Association in New Jersey:

Nov. 18, 2022

The Mental Health Association held its most important celebration and fundraiser of the year last night at the Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park, NJ. More than 230 attendees joined the esteemed honorees whose contributions to mental health and wellness were a focus of the evening. The roster of honorees included both individuals and organizations.

Mayim Bialik, Ph.D., was featured as Guest Speaker through Pre-Recorded Video Interview with Steve Adubato

The Evening’s Distinguished Honorees Included:

James McCreath, Ph.D., LCSW, Vice President for Psychiatry, Behavioral Health and Long Term Care, retired, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, was recognized for innovative leadership in behavioral healthcare.

Behavioral Health and Psychiatry at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, was recognized for excellence in behavioral healthcare and responsiveness to community needs.

Jacob C. Farbman, Ed.D., APR, Executive Director of New Jersey Center for Student Success, New Jersey Council of County Colleges, was recognized for spearheading new initiatives to nurture the mental wellness of college students.

New Jersey Council of County Colleges was recognized for developing new initiatives to support community colleges in meeting the mental health needs of students.

MinuteClinic®, located in select CVS® Pharmacy® stores, was recognized for increasing access to mental healthcare.

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) hosted its 22nd Evening of Excellence on November 9, 2022, at The Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park, New Jersey. This year MHANJ was pleased to highlight five honorees, two individuals and three organizations who have each contributed to the betterment of the mental health and wellness of the residents of New Jersey. Carolyn Beauchamp, President and CEO of the Mental Health Association said,

“It was a joy to be together at our Evening of Excellence after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful that so many members of the behavioral health community were able to join us and help us celebrate the work of our advocacy, programs and our honorees. Our honorees are extremely deserving of recognition for their creativity and dedication to improving the lives of people with mental illness and/or substance use disorder. We are pleased to highlight the spectacular accomplishments of these honorees and look forward to continuing our work to improve lives in New Jersey.”

The Evening of Excellence featured nationally recognized speaker, Mayim Bialik, Ph.D., through a pre-recorded video interview with Steve Adubato.

The Evening of Excellence is an important fundraiser for the MHANJ; proceeds from the event will support the organization’s advocacy and programs which make a difference in the lives of individuals living with mental illness and/or substance use disorder and their family members.
Many recognized our keynote speaker, Dr. Bialik through her podcast, Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, or her roles on television, including the host of Jeopardy. She inspired the audience with her personal mental health journey, advocacy insights and vision on breaking the stigma of mental illness.

About the Host
Lynette Sheard hosted the event. Ms. Sheard is the Director of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s New Jersey Mental Health Players, a highly successful, interactive community education program, winner of the 2021 national Richard Van Horn Innovation in Programming Award from Mental Health America.

For more information about the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s 22nd Evening of Excellence please visit https://mhanj.salsalabs.org/eoe22/index.html.

This press release was produced by the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. The views expressed here are the author's own.