Suicide Prevention Society Chosen For Red Bank's Basie Donations

RED BANK, NJ —A new month means a new beneficiary - the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide - for the Giving Year, a program by the Basie Center for the Arts and Bank of America.

The society is one of 12 area nonprofits being recognized in the program this year.

And there is tangible help being given the organization, too.

Freehold’s Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide will receive $1 from every Count Basie Center ticket sold in March, along with tickets for the organization’s clientele and volunteers, the arts center says.

Founded in 2005 by two friends who lost teen children to suicide, the organization’s mission of awareness, saving lives and reducing the stigma of suicide "has become more important than ever as the prevalence of teen suicide in the post-pandemic era has skyrocketed," according to statistics cited by the organization.

“Our staff, supporters, volunteers, and Board of Directors are honored and grateful to be recognized by the Count Basie Center and Bank of America as a recipient of the Year of Giving initiative,” said Dawn Doherty, executive director of the society.

“This opportunity to put a ‘spotlight’ on youth and teen mental health and suicide prevention will make a direct impact on our youth and their families,” she added.

“I have never seen the field of mental health in the turmoil that we see today,” said the society's clinical director Susan Tellone.

“Prior to the pandemic, Monmouth County was moving into its third year of zero suicides for residents under 18 years of age. Since COVID, our community has seen over 16 youth deaths by suicide and our emergency rooms have been experiencing an unprecedented increase in visits for youth ages 5 to 11 presenting with a mental health crisis,” she said. “This is unacceptable. Our children need us.”

The society is active in schools through its Lifelines Trilogy program, which provides guidelines for administrative policies and protocols, professional development for administration and staff, resources for parents and an "evidence-based" curriculum for middle and high school students.

Lifelines’ Intervention program assists schools in identifying and responding to students who may be at suicide risk. It also has other programs assist schools responding to the loss of a student’s life by suicide.

Parents, administrators or educators interested in learning more or who want to schedule trainings may do so by visiting www.stpsusa.org/training-programs or by calling 732-410-7900.

“The work that the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide does to save lives and increase awareness around teen suicide in Monmouth County is vital,” said Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey. “Together we need to do our part to ensure (the society) has the resources they need to provide our youth with proper support when they are most vulnerable.”

“We’ve learned from the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide that Monmouth County and the surrounding areas were making progress prior to the pandemic,” said Jeremy Grunin, chairperson, Count Basie Center for the Arts.

“However, the fallout ever since, stemming from the isolation and loss experienced by teens nationwide, has taken a critical toll. The work of this organization and everything that can be done to increase awareness, education and resources for parents and their children is more crucial than ever,” he said.

The Giving Year is an initiative to recognize and reward organizations for their contributions to the regional community. It will focus on organizations serving causes related to arts and culture, health/wellness, food insecurity, diversity, equity and inclusion, or financial management or other services to underrepresented populations, according to Jonathan E. Vena, chief marketing officer for the Basie Center for the Arts.

Organizations interested in consideration for the Giving Year may learn more and apply for consideration at www.thebasie.org/thegivingyear. Organizations only need to apply once. Qualifying applications will be considered on a rolling basis throughout 2023.

Organizations will be eligible to receive up to $15,000 during their month, in addition to complimentary tickets for distribution to their volunteers and/or their beneficiaries, Vena says.

In January, mental health nonprofit Shore House was announced as the inaugural Giving Year recipient, receiving $15,000 from the Basie Center and its patrons. Inspire Life was the February recipient and will be presented with a check next week, Vena said.

April’s beneficiary organization will be announced later this month.

As a nonprofit organization, the Basie Center for the Arts is committed to enriching the community’s quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based organizations and driving regional economic prosperity, the organization says. For more information, visit www.thebasie.org.

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