Jared's Fund

Jared's Fund The Jared’s Youth Fund Fellowship seeks to help end the stigma associated with mental illness by deve

Our amazing 2026 fellow, Izzy Schwartz (✩ 𝑰𝒛𝒛𝒚 ✩ ), led a lively discussion with a current events group at Concordia Mon...
08/16/2026

Our amazing 2026 fellow, Izzy Schwartz (✩ 𝑰𝒛𝒛𝒚 ✩ ), led a lively discussion with a current events group at Concordia Monroe, a 55+ community. She shared the findings from her Jared’s Fund project—a paper titled “An Analysis of the Benefits of Phone Use for Mental Health, Engagement, and Digital Education.” Great job, Izzy!

It’s a wrap! Our 2026 summer Fellows completed the six-week program and are officially Jared’s Fund Mental Health Warrio...
08/12/2026

It’s a wrap! Our 2026 summer Fellows completed the six-week program and are officially Jared’s Fund Mental Health Warriors! All five of them did an amazing job this summer with their projects helping to end the stigma around mental illness. Pictured from left: Izzy Schwartz (MHS), Sofia Theodore (NHS), Vivian Li (NHS), Sarah Bootwala (MHS) and Jason Hughley (MHS). We’re so proud of this great group of Montclair and Nutley High School students and to have them as part of the Jared’s Fund family. Congratulations!

Huge thanks to Bren Pramakin, Legal Director of Disability Rights NJ (Disability Rights New Jersey ). Bren manages a tea...
08/08/2026

Huge thanks to Bren Pramakin, Legal Director of Disability Rights NJ (Disability Rights New Jersey ).

Bren manages a team of attorneys representing individuals with disabilities in institutional settings across New Jersey, including psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and developmental centers. With a mission to “advance the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities and promote their self-determination and inclusion in all facets of community life,” Bren and their team advocate for those who may not have a voice.

Learning how we treat our bodies and minds is vital to mental health, and we were so fortunate to welcome back Dr. Cheri...
08/07/2026

Learning how we treat our bodies and minds is vital to mental health, and we were so fortunate to welcome back Dr. Cherie Elfenbein (Cherie Elfenbein ) who spoke on this subject.

Cherie is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who integrates psychopharmacology with integrative and functional medicine, nutrition, stress management, sleep hygiene, mindfulness, breathwork, and other mind-body therapies. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us, Cherie!

We’ve welcomed back The Liv Project (TLP, the_liv_project ) four years in a row, and their visit remains one of the high...
08/06/2026

We’ve welcomed back The Liv Project (TLP, the_liv_project ) four years in a row, and their visit remains one of the highlights of our fellowship. We screened My Sister Liv, a film featuring sisters Tess and Liv that reveals the realities of stigma, the struggles of mental health, and the aftermath faced by survivors left behind after a su***de.

TLP’s co-founders Tess (Liv’s sister) and Honey (Liv’s mom) joined us after the screening to discuss Liv’s journey and how they’ve transformed a family’s tragedy into a program dedicated to eliminating the stigma around mental health issues and reversing the soaring rate of youth su***de. Thank you, Tess and Honey, for sharing your insights and Liv with us. Please visit The Liv Project’s website to learn more.

We were honored once again to tour Fountain House, NYC (Fountain House ) and speak with CEO and Jared’s father, Ken Zimm...
07/29/2026

We were honored once again to tour Fountain House, NYC (Fountain House ) and speak with CEO and Jared’s father, Ken Zimmerman.

Fountain House provides a clubhouse model that supports the recovery of people living with serious mental illness. Each clubhouse provides a restorative environment for people whose lives have been severely disrupted because of their mental illness. Additional thanks to our wonderful tour guide, Deb, and all of the members and staff who made us feel welcome and taught us so much! Please visit Fountain House’s website to learn about their important work and how you can support this amazing organization.

07/28/2026

How has Jared’s Fund changed the way you think about yourself and others?

Reflecting on his experience, former Jared’s Fund Fellow Liam Timbie (liam.timb ) feels that he now has a far better understanding of mental health and the plethora of struggles that people may face. With this knowledge, he now moves through the world with more compassion, as well as the ability to better communicate with a more diverse group of people.

Jacquie Ruderman (Jacquie Ruderman ) teaches yin yoga, restorative yoga, mindful flow yoga, and Mindful Meditation in th...
07/28/2026

Jacquie Ruderman (Jacquie Ruderman ) teaches yin yoga, restorative yoga, mindful flow yoga, and Mindful Meditation in the Vipassana tradition.

Last week, we were lucky enough to have her guide us through a very meditative body scan in her beautiful studio! Yoga and meditation are wonderful ways to calm the mind and body –– a real plus for mental health. Be sure to visit her website to learn more about her work and class offerings. Thank you, Jacquie, for sharing your wisdom with our Fellows!

07/27/2026

What is something people your age are stressed about that adults tend to underestimate?

Former Jared’s Fund Fellow Alex Sanchez (Alex ) considers transition periods, whether that of entering high school or college, to be extremely difficult. These eras of time combine the pressure of newfound independence, as well as that of intense self-reflection about one’s identity.

Huge thanks to Deanna Finizio, NJ Program Manager for the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP New Jersey Ch...
07/27/2026

Huge thanks to Deanna Finizio, NJ Program Manager for the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention (AFSP New Jersey Chapter ), for speaking with our Fellows.

Guided by AFSP’s mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by su***de, Deanna spoke on the importance of not staying silent when you or someone you care about is struggling with mental health. We were honored to learn more about AFSP’s vital work nationwide.

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