2013-2014 Accomplishments

Since inception in 2013, A Change for Nick has achieved so much. We have been keeping track of as much as possible and the result is now a stunning list of accomplishments:

• We had the rock wall in Ringwood painted in remembrance of Nick and others we have lost fro, heroin overdoses / several times
• We held a vigil in Nick’s name
• We set up our Board of Trustees and have met monthly since June 2013
• We ordered shirts and bracelets for our cause and to generate donations and awareness
• We have had numerous newspaper articles ongoing in the Trends regarding “A Change for Nick” and the problems in our area
• We began a Facebook page with over 1,300 likes
• We began our Website – achangefornick.org
• We attended the Ringwood police event – hike for Drug Prevention and Awareness
• We met with council person Ada Erik from West Milford discussing A Change for Nick / it was brought up at a West Milford Council Meeting
• We attended Red Ribbon week at Lakeland High School
• We have a sign on Chris’ car spreading awareness
• Megan spoke with her teacher at West Milford High School regarding Chris and her coming in to discuss A Change for Nick
• Kacie attended a program at LL in June shortly after Nicholas passed away and spoke about her brother
• Chris is constantly in contact with other parents who have lost children to this disease
• We leased our first office space – Lincoln Park for 1 year
• We gave 3 scholarships to Lakeland students at Portobello in May
• We attended a Health Fair in Wanaque
• We ordered shirts and bracelets for our cause and to generate donations – we all sold them
• We had our first successful event – a Dine and Donate – at Prime 15
• We had our 1^st Pig Roast on Labor Day weekend / volunteers organized and raised money for tricky tray
• We raised donations with my Dads passing
• Grace made bracelets and sold them
• Kayleigh made coloring books and sold them and donated money
• Mary Ellen Murphy made scarves and sold them and donated money
• We raised donations with a Holiday event with Stella and Dot for Christmas
• We met with Ringwood Rotary regarding A Change for Nick.
• We met with TLC and donated 6k for a person in our area to receive treatment
• Chris met with Dr. D at Lakeland to discuss A Change for Nick scholarships for 3 or 4 ($1,000.00 dollar scholarships)
• Rose and Ed gave out 3 scholarships at Portobello to 3 LL students – $500 each
• We had a donation from the Windsor school – Joe Decelles came to our meeting to present a check
• We had our 1^st annual Silent Auction at the ELKS which was a success – 8k
• We are selling Empowerment bracelets
• Chris visited Chapter 5 in Arizona
• Chris was selected to be an advocacy leader with NCADD-NJ – that’s The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency New Jersey.  Chris also toured Trenton legislature buildings
• Chris was selected by Donald Hallcom to be on The Governor’s Council on Overdose and Prevention
• Attended a conference held at Rider University and organized by City of Angels on drugs in our state with leaders from Mercer County
• We went to a City of Angels Thanksgiving event and had a tour of their facility
• We sponsored East Arm Rowing Club event and won 1^st place
• Chris became a recovery coach
• We attended the plunge in Ringwood for Drug Awareness
• Attended NJPN Convention in Atlantic City
• Attended Prevention Education Forum in Bergen County
• Rented office space to conduct meetings, support groups and resource center

Marino sent, along with Yvette, our application for the 501(c)(3) status – we have had so much help from friends and our youth including Grace, Kayleigh, Megan and so many others.  We are off to a great start!