BlueJean Day 2011 Brings The Community Together To Raise Awareness About Brain Injury and Prevention

May 5, 2011 by admin
Filed under Events, News

Opportunity Project promoted Brain Injury Awareness Month by holding its annual Blue Jean Day event. The event focuses on brain injury community awareness and education, while raising funds for Opportunity Project’s programs and services. The mission of Opportunity Project is to empower persons with brain injuries to achieve: self esteem; self determination; personal growth; independence; and the attainment of their full potential

This year, BlueJean Day focused on the Helmet Law in New Jersey for children and teens under the age of 17. Despite aggressive Public Health efforts, bicycle accidents remain a significant percent of all traffic fatalities in the US. Traumatic brain injury accounts for two thirds of all bicycle-related deaths. Data compiled and reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration note that helmets are 85-88% effective in preventing head and brain injuries. Thus it remains alarming that only 20-25% of all bicyclists wear bicycle helmets.

Blue Jean Day is simple and fun. Several companies and agencies committed to sponsor or participate. Each company designated a day when employees could wear jeans to work or dress “casual for our cause.” In addition, members from the OP Speaker’s Bureau visited several of the sponsors and participants to speak first hand about brain injury.

This year, focusing on the helmet law, BlueJean Day became a community wide activity. Opportunity Project invited local teens and other area businesses join in our efforts to raise awareness about helmet safety. Helmet collection boxes were placed around Millburn at local businesses including: New Eyes for the Needy; Investors Savings Bank; Starbucks and even at the Millburn Street Fair on April 10. Eagle Scout, Brandon Hamilton raised $500 to purchase new helmets for children served by the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. Due to the tremendous success of this year’s BlueJean Day, Opportunity Project will be extending this fundraising and awareness campaign to take place through December 2011.

We congratulate this year’s BlueJean Day raffle winners! Elliot Warm won the use of a VIP luxury box at a future New Jersey Devils Game. Jean Cook won the PaperMill Playhouse tickets. Paul Schottland and Peter Klein won gift certificates to restaurants, Martini Bistro and La Strada Pizzeria.

All of this was made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors, participants and the community at large. With their incredible support, Opportunity Project raised over $18,000 to support the Clubhouses brain injury programs and services.

Main Event Sponsors

Feil Family Foundation

The Fidelco Group

Fidelity Land Development

Denim Sponsors

G.S. Wilcox

Kirker Enterprises

Judith and Lester Lieberman

Nagel Rice LRP

NJPAC

Dr. Clement Alexander Price

Wasserman, Jurista & Stolz