MHS Opportunity Project Club

The Millburn High School Opportunity Project Club

An important part of the Opportunity Project network is the Millburn High School OpportunitY Project Club. The Club was founded in 2001 by Kerri Berson, the daughter of the Board Chair of Opportunity Project, Marc Berson.

After Kerri’s older brother, Gary, sustained a brain injury while driving home from school the Berson family, along with other families who had been affected by brain injury created Opportunity Project to help many adults who have sustained such injuries.

Kerri, eager to help the cause, created the school club as a way to teach other students about brain injuries. After the Club’s creation, Kerri’ was quoted, “It’s a good way to give back to the community without doing what everyone else is doing.” Since its founding, the Club has grown, changed, and done a lot for the members of Opportunity Project. It is one of the more unique and interesting clubs in the school.

The primary goals of the Club are to raise awareness in the high school and the community about brain injuries, as well as to plan activities to interact with the members. However, through the years, the Club has helped Opportunity Project in many different ways. It has created Brain Injury Awareness posters and raised funds during Brain Injury Awareness month by selling Opportunity Project bracelets.

Club members have created cards and gifts for Opportunity Project members for various holidays. Members have also helped to serve food at Thanksgiving dinners and organized “getting to know you” groups. All in all, the Opportunity Project Club is a wonderful way to give back to the community.

The one participant that has ‘always been an integral part of the Opportunity Project Club is Suzanne Snyder, a teacher at Millburn High School, and the Club Advisor. She has been the Club advisor since its beginning and we hope that she holds the position for many years to come. She recently stated, “I was approached in 2001 by Kerri Berson – she and her friends asked me to be the advisor and I agreed – It has been’ a significant part of my professional career.”

Through all of the club’s different activities and events Ms. Snyder most enjoyed Sports Night and the Fashion Show, When asked what she would like to accomplish’ next year with the club she stated, “I would simply like to get more students involved and to continue to foster a meaningful relationship with the organization.”

The three members that have been Presidents of the Club are Kerri, Jaclyn Tamaroff, and our current President, Jordyn Barry. The Club has around twenty members and is growing.

Article by Alex Berkenkamp