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CAPTION: (L-R) Madison Area YMCA’s Project Community Pride Director Lisa Sprague; Senator Richard J. Codey; Madison Area YMCA President & CEO Diane Mann, Madison Area YMCA Vice President of Operations Bob Conley and Wendy Lazarus, Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs of Pfizer Inc.

Senator Richard J. Codey Helped Kick Off The Mind Matters 5K that Benefitted the Y’s Community Mental Health Initiative and Project Community Pride

(Madison, NJ) May 31, 2016 – Senator Richard J. Codey helped kick off the Madison Area YMCA’s The Mind Matters 5K Run and 1-Mile Family Fun Run/Walk held on Wednesday, May 25, at Giralda Farms in Madison that benefitted the Y’s Community Mental Health Initiative and Project Community Pride of the Madison Area YMCA.

Senator Codey, a champion of mental health, established The Codey Fund for Mental Health with his wife Mary Jo in 2012. The fund supports organizations and programs that raise public awareness of mental health issues and the advancement of mental health education.

More than 540 runners participated in the event. Pfizer, Inc. served as the lead corporate sponsor of the race for the 20^th year. Realogy Holdings Corp. joined the race for the second year as a supporting corporate sponsor.

The Madison Area YMCA donated the remaining food from the event to the Community Soup Kitchen (CSK), which included six boxes of apples, five boxes of oranges and two boxes of bananas. A CSK volunteer who picked up the produce expressed his gratitude. “Every bit of this produce will go to families who come to CSK’s market,” he said, noting that the CSK’s Healthy Choice Fresh Market runs every Friday and is open to all low-income families who may shop at no cost.

Project Community Pride of the Madison Area YMCA, a no–fee youth counseling program, is an important extension of youth development services for children, teens and their families throughout the Madison Area YMCA’s service area. The Madison Area YMCA’s Community Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) raises awareness and lowers the stigmas associated with mental illness. CMHI focuses on reducing barriers to mental health care by providing community members with knowledge and skills to increase help-offering behaviors.

Project Community Pride of the Madison Area YMCA responds to the needs of the community at a time when mental health is rapidly becoming a leading issue across our nation. Services are provided in the schools and at the program’s offices by licensed clinical social workers. More than 61.5 million Americans experience the effects of mental illness each year with approximately 20 percent of 13- to 18-year olds receiving a severe mental health disorder diagnosis. The program is made possible through the collaboration of community leaders and the municipalities and school districts of the Chathams, Florham Park and Madison.

The YMCA’s Community Mental Health Initiative sheds light on mental health, takes charge of the battle against mental illness stigma and dispels any misconceptions.

The Madison Area YMCA is a cause-driven charitable organization dedicated to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Generous donations make it possible for everyone in the community to be enriched by the Y, regardless of ability to pay, to develop a healthy spirit, mind and body at any age.

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