December 2021

Since our Greatest Show on the Beach under the circus tent at our Annual Gala, we’ve been busy! We’ve hosted several events for the community, gathered at our office with our Ambassadors & Student Alliance and began strategically planning for 2022. We are looking forward to continuing our mission to fight addiction, spread awareness, and save lives through drug prevention and education in 2022! We want to thank all of you for your support. We express our sincere gratitude and wish you and your families a happy and healthy holiday season!

What's Been Happening at TSF?

Santa at Garmany Christmas came early thanks to the Garmany family, who welcomed both Team Tigger and local families into their store to visit with Santa! On November 23rd, visitors had a chance to sit with Santa, take photos, make crafts in Santa’s workshop, and indulge in personal charcuterie cones by Monmouth Boards Company. We want to thank all who participated and recommend stopping by Garmany this holiday season for a first-class shopping experience! Generous Grant Received from OceanFirst Bank We were honored in early November to be awarded a generous grant from the OceanFirst Foundation. This grant will allow us to continue our lifesaving work connecting with the local community and to raise awareness about substance use disorders, preventing opioid overdoses, and ending the stigma surrounding addiction. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to OceanFirst for supporting our mission and helping to save lives.

Birthday Celebration for Gio Merla Supporting TSF   On October 3rd, the Merla family hosted an Oktoberfest in memory of Giovanni “Gio” Merla to raise awareness about addiction and opioid overdose. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Merla family & friends for your generous donation to benefit TSF in Gio’s memory. Gio was a young and vibrant 22-year-old who loved his family, friends, and community. He volunteered with his family at Friends of the Bayshore, a local charitable organization founded by his father and uncle. After battling a substance abuse disorder, Gio tragically lost his life at age 22 to an accidental overdose. Click here to read the full article. TSF Student Alliance Open House   We had such a fun time opening our doors on November 17th to the TSF Student Alliance and their families, the community and ambassadors! The TSF Student Alliance helps combat addiction by providing education, increasing awareness about substance use, and providing drug-free activities for high school students. We want to extend a special thank you to Detective Donald Schneider from the Rumson Police Department for your presentation to our students! We look forward to many more Student Alliance activities in 2022! Click here to learn more about the TSF Student Alliance.

As we reflect on an exciting and productive year, we recognize that the holiday season can be difficult. We want to assure you, we are here for you and your loved ones, and you can always reach out to our Addiction Navigator at 732-865-1559 for support and resources.   Have a great holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you in 2022! With love, Team Tigger

Save the Date! October 1st, 2022 - TSF Annual Gala Theme to be announced in early 2022!   Need Support or Know Someone Who Does? If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction and your seeking help, please reach out to our Addiction Navigator at [email protected] or 732-865-1559. We are here to offer support and provide a list of options so that you and your family can make the best choice together.   Want to Get Involved?  TSF is always looking for volunteers who want to join the fight against addiction! If interested, please email Andrea LeLand at [email protected] or Carley Dietrick at [email protected].   If you know someone who may be interested in learning more about TSF, please forward this newsletter to a friend!