2025 AFSP New Jersey Volunteer Recognition Award Winners

Honoring Excellence: Meet the 2025 AFSP New Jersey Volunteer Recognition Award Winners

Every year, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention New Jersey Chapter gathers to recognize the volunteers, advocates, and community leaders who go above and beyond in the fight against suicide. The 2025 Volunteer Recognition Awards celebrated individuals and teams whose dedication, compassion, and action are making a real difference across New Jersey. We are proud to introduce this year's recipients.

🌟 Shining Star Award Theo Wotton & Paige Ryans

The Shining Star Award recognizes new volunteers who dive in with enthusiasm and make an impact across multiple areas of the chapter.

Theo Wotton found AFSP through their own journey of healing and immediately looked for ways to give back. Theo's most lasting contribution to date is the AFSP 101 Volunteer Orientation video, a months-long collaborative project that now serves as an accessible, on-demand resource for new volunteers across the chapter.

Paige Ryans began her journey at the Jersey Shore Out of the Darkness Walk and has not slowed down since. She joined the Jersey Shore Walk Committee, became a Community Ambassador, stepped up as an L.E.T.S. Save Lives presenter, and brought fresh creative energy to the Social Media Committee through TikTok content and walk recap videos.

Both Theo and Paige exemplify what it means to show up fully from day one.

🌟 Youth Shining Star Award Madison Feeman

At just 16 years old, Madison Feeman is already making a meaningful mark on the AFSP community.

Madison founded Chatham Pride, a team for the Morris County Out of the Darkness Walk dedicated to raising awareness and support for LGBTQIA+ youth. She has raised over $1,300, built a team of friends and local supporters, and sparked important conversations in her school and community. On walk day, she volunteered with setup and cleanup, ran activity tables, and connected with participants throughout the event. Madison is already registered for the 2026 Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk through AFSP National.

Her passion, leadership, and commitment at such a young age are truly inspiring.

⭐ North Star Out of the Darkness Award Grace's Gang & Tommy Fuss Team

The North Star Out of the Darkness Award honors walk teams who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication and impact.

Grace's Gang, led by Liz and Grace Hillard, has been an active and devoted part of the AFSP community for nine years, walking from Hazlet to Middlesex to the Jersey Shore. With the support of Liz's husband Mike Madden and Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Grace's Gang has raised over $63,000 for suicide prevention.

Tommy Fuss Team has been a cornerstone of the Morris County Walk since its earliest days as the Chatham Township Walk, over ten years ago. Led by Valerie Olpp and Kristen Quigley Russell, the team has gone above and beyond not only through fundraising but through committee service and community leadership. Together, Tommy Fuss Team has raised over $167,000.

Both teams are a testament to what sustained commitment and community can achieve.

⭐ North Star Advocacy Award Henry Zhu

Henry Zhu is the recipient of this year's North Star Advocacy Award, and it is well earned.

Henry single-handedly secured a co-sponsor for the 988 telecom fee Senate bill and testified before the State Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens committee in support of the legislation. His expertise in policy and mental health has helped AFSP NJ build meaningful relationships at the state level that continue to advance the cause of suicide prevention. He remains a dedicated and driving member of the AFSP NJ Advocacy Committee.

With AFSP and The Jed Foundation recently announcing an exciting merger, it is a fitting moment to note that Henry has roots in both organizations, having worked at JED in 2021. His commitment to this work has always extended beyond any single organization.

⭐ North Star Education Award Kristin Miller

Kristin Miller has been a dedicated AFSP New Jersey volunteer since 2008, and her impact on prevention education across the state is immeasurable.

As a professional social worker, Kristin brings both expertise and deep compassion to her work with youth and young adults. She has spent nearly two decades creating safe, supportive spaces where people can learn, share, and feel seen. Her long-standing commitment to AFSP reflects not only her professional values but her unwavering belief in the power of community and connection to foster hope and resilience.

⭐ North Star Loss & Healing Award Jennifer Peterson

Jennifer Peterson embodies the heart of AFSP's Loss and Healing program.

After losing her beloved son James to suicide, Jennifer faced her own journey through profound grief and depression. Rather than stay silent, she chose to act. Through her volunteer work, Jennifer shows up for others navigating loss with empathy, honesty, and a quiet strength that makes people feel safe. She gives voice to stories that are often only spoken in whispers, helping bring healing into the open one conversation and one connection at a time.

Jennifer's courage to share her story, and her commitment to lifting others, honors James's memory in the most profound way.

⭐ North Star DIY Fundraising Award Julie Borthwick & Walking for Woody

Julie Borthwick and her mom Susan have been champions of AFSP for over a decade through DIY fundraising and participation in community walks. Their annual cornhole tournament has become a beloved tradition that brings people together while directly supporting the Bergen County Walk.

Together, Julie, Susan, and their team Walking for Woody have raised over $61,000 for suicide prevention. Their creativity, dedication, and consistency are an inspiration to our entire community.

🏆 Board Chair Volunteer Service Award James Orrange

The Board Chair Volunteer Service Award is presented to a volunteer who exemplifies the mission and work of the AFSP New Jersey Chapter through their efforts and dedication. This year, that person is James Orrange.

James first connected with AFSP in Texas after losing his brother Jared to suicide, and continued his involvement when he returned to New Jersey. He joined the Jersey Shore Out of the Darkness Walk as a volunteer and quickly became indispensable. He has served on the Jersey Shore Walk Committee for multiple years, represented the chapter at community events as an Ambassador, and worked with AFSP National to pilot the Talk Saves Lives: Veterans program. As a veteran himself and a volunteer for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, James brings a perspective that is deeply valued and deeply needed.

💙 Peggy Farrell Memorial Award Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman

The Peggy Farrell Memorial Award is AFSP New Jersey's most distinguished honor, given in memory of Peggy Farrell, the founder of our chapter. It is awarded in recognition of impactful and lasting contributions to reducing stigma, encouraging mental wellness, and advancing suicide prevention.

This year, we are proud to present the award to Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has represented New Jersey's 12th congressional district for the past ten years. Long before her election to the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Watson Coleman served in the NJ General Assembly and became the first Black woman to serve as Assembly Majority Leader.

Throughout her career, she has been a steadfast champion for equity and justice — and mental health has always been central to that work. She established the Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health and introduced landmark legislation including the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, the Black Mental Health Resolution, and the Mental Health Crisis Response Act. She has been a vocal advocate for AFSP's L.E.T.S. Save Lives program, including it in a September 2025 resolution recognizing continuing disparities in Black youth mental health access and treatment.

Congresswoman Watson Coleman, your leadership in this space is making a lasting difference. Thank you.

A Note of Gratitude

To every award recipient, thank you for the ways you have shown up for this community. And to every volunteer who gives their time, energy, and heart to AFSP New Jersey — named here or not — we see you, we appreciate you, and we are grateful for you.

💙 Together, we are working toward a world without suicide loss.