PRINCETON, NJ, September 12, 2024 – The loss of loved ones due to mental health disorders propels individuals into action to help prevent others from experiencing similar tragedies. 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 a Spanish version of the Coming Up for AIR® program that was developed by Evelyn Bardzilowski (pictured left), Vice President and Branch Manager, Northfield Bank, and Jeanette Vega (pictured right), Director of Grant Financial Administration, The College of New Jersey, In recognition of this meaningful contribution, AIR will present Partners in Hope awards to Evelyn and Jeanette during its 8th Annual Taste of Hope event on October 9, 2024.
Evelyn Bardzilowski
AIR Co-Founder Tricia Baker reached out to Evelyn 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,” Evelyn 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,” Evelyn 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,” Evelyn 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,” Jeanette 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,” Jeanette 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,” Jeanette shared.
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; and Hinkle, Prior & Fischer Attorneys at Law; J. Robert Bratman; and Summit Dental Partners.
AIR is equally grateful for the participating restaurants and dessert, wine and spirit vendors are Antimo’s Italian Restaurant, 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, KK Sweets, Local Greek, Outback Steakhouse, PF Chang’s, Pink Little Cakes, Public Wine, Beer & Spirits, Texas Roadhouse, Quality Wine & Spirits, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Seasons 52, Sourland Mountain Spirits and Starbucks.
