Prevention First - Excellence in Prevention

2008 Excellence in Prevention Awards

On Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at The Renaissance in Ocean, we honored outstanding individuals and organizations for their commitment and dedication to promoting prevention of substance abuse and violence in Monmouth County by presenting them with the Excellence in Prevention award. The agency created the award to recognize vital contributions individuals and organizations have made to improve the lives of children and families in Monmouth County. This year’s award recipients were Abdur Azim, The Asbury Park Press, Craig Garritano, Patrolman Robert Melendez, Rosalie Eig and Zachary Elkwood.

Opening remarks were made by Dr. Rajiv Tony Juneja, a psychiatrist who works daily to help those on an addictions unit who have lost control of their lives to addiction and mental illness. Dr. Juneja said, “I realized that self-worth and a sense of purpose can never come from the outside -- they must be found within.”

Abdur Azim of CPC Behavioral Healthcare was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, in a time where crack and gang violence were prevalent. As he says, he “defied all odds” and graduated with a Master’s Degree. He spoke passionately of his love of his work and quoted Confucius, the Chinese philosopher, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Mr. Azim has committed himself to helping others work through their problems by empowering them.

Receiving the award for The Asbury Park Press were Gary Schoening and Nancy Kearney. The Asbury Park Press was instrumental in bringing the problem of underage drinking to the forefront by publishing a series of articles about the social, physical and legal problems associated with underage drinking.

Craig Garritano and his family were present to receive the honor for hosting an annual memorial fundraiser to benefit Prevention First in the name of Craig’s brother, Peter, who died after a drug overdose in 2001.

Patrolman Robert Melendez has been a member of the Sea Girt Police Department for 18 years and the Boro’s DARE Officer for 15 years. He is the founder of Project PACKMAN ( Police and Community Kids-Music Against Narcotics) who recently opened for The Marshall Tucker Band. He is dedicated to keeping the youths of New Jersey, drug and alcohol-free.

Rosalie Eig of The Long Branch Public Schools started her career in education 38 years ago. She is responsible for implementing many programs including Project PRIDE, a nationally-validated program geared to reduce the dropout rate in public school. Currently, Mrs. Eig is the director of funded grants for the Long Branch Public Schools. She continues to coordinate the drug and alcohol program and is responsible for administering the Safe and Drug-Free Schools grant. Mrs. Eig works closely with Prevention First and the partnership has resulted in many worthwhile programs that have benefited the students of the Long Branch Public Schools.

Zachary Elkwood, a 14-year-old student at The Ranney School, created a comic book for Prevention First titled, The Menacing Marijuana” which depicts the negative effects of marijuana. The book was part of an 8th grade Capstone project and was presented along with a paper explaining how comic books can be used as educational tools. Zachary is an avid cartoonist and hopes to create more educational comic books in the future.

For more information about the Excellence in Prevention Award, please contact Michelle Cicalese, 732.663.1800 ext. 219.

Excellence in Prevention awards
Prevention First created the Excellence in Prevention Award in 1996 to promote the effective prevention work going on in our communities. Each honoree is a positive role-model to their respective organizations, as well as to all of Monmouth County. Honorees hey have continually demonstrated their commitment to Prevention First’s beliefs and philosophy that effective prevention must utilize all aspects of our communities, and they work daily to keep Monmouth County’s children healthy, safe and drug-free. We recognize their hard work, their committment and their perseverance - and we applaud them for using their talents to create meaningful purpose and make positive differences in our community.
2008 Excellence in Prevention Awards On Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at The Renaissance in Ocean, we honored outstanding individuals and organizations for their commitment and dedication to promoting prevention of substance abuse and violence in Monmouth County by presenting them with the Excellence in Prevention award. The agency created the award to recognize vital contributions individuals and organizations have made to improve the lives of children and families in Monmouth County. This year’s award recipients were Abdur Azim, The Asbury Park Press, Craig Garritano, Patrolman Robert Melendez, Rosalie Eig and Zachary Elkwood. Opening remarks were made by Dr. Rajiv Tony Juneja, a psychiatrist who works daily to help those on an addictions unit who have lost control of their lives to addiction and mental illness. Dr. Juneja said, “I realized that self-worth and a sense of purpose can never come from the outside -- they must be found within.” Abdur Azim of CPC Behavioral Healthcare was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, in a time where crack and gang violence were prevalent. As he says, he “defied all odds” and graduated with a Master’s Degree. He spoke passionately of his love of his work and quoted Confucius, the Chinese philosopher, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Mr. Azim has committed himself to helping others work through their problems by empowering them. Receiving the award for The Asbury Park Press were Gary Schoening and Nancy Kearney. The Asbury Park Press was instrumental in bringing the problem of underage drinking to the forefront by publishing a series of articles about the social, physical and legal problems associated with underage drinking. Craig Garritano and his family were present to receive the honor for hosting an annual memorial fundraiser to benefit Prevention First in the name of Craig’s brother, Peter, who died after a drug overdose in 2001. Patrolman Robert Melendez has been a member of the Sea Girt Police Department for 18 years and the Boro’s DARE Officer for 15 years. He is the founder of Project PACKMAN ( Police and Community Kids-Music Against Narcotics) who recently opened for The Marshall Tucker Band. He is dedicated to keeping the youths of New Jersey, drug and alcohol-free. Rosalie Eig of The Long Branch Public Schools started her career in education 38 years ago. She is responsible for implementing many programs including Project PRIDE, a nationally-validated program geared to reduce the dropout rate in public school. Currently, Mrs. Eig is the director of funded grants for the Long Branch Public Schools. She continues to coordinate the drug and alcohol program and is responsible for administering the Safe and Drug-Free Schools grant. Mrs. Eig works closely with Prevention First and the partnership has resulted in many worthwhile programs that have benefited the students of the Long Branch Public Schools. Zachary Elkwood, a 14-year-old student at The Ranney School, created a comic book for Prevention First titled, The Menacing Marijuana” which depicts the negative effects of marijuana. The book was part of an 8th grade Capstone project and was presented along with a paper explaining how comic books can be used as educational tools. Zachary is an avid cartoonist and hopes to create more educational comic books in the future. more For more information about the Excellence in Prevention Award, please contact Michelle Cicalese, 732.663.1800 ext. 219.