By Krystle J Bailey
NJ Dream Builders is hosting “Second Chance,” a fundraiser for mental health and addiction awareness, Saturday, January 14th. The event will be hosted in the lobby at Boardwalk Hall from 12-4 pm and will feature a silent auction, a full dinner, and special guest speakers.
NJ Dream Builders, a construction company, founded by Mike Waters in 2018, creates opportunities through employment and trade skills for individuals in addiction recovery. Waters, who has faced his own struggles with addiction, believes in the power of changing the personal narrative.
Since finding his own path to sobriety, Waters has made it his mission to help people get their mindsets back on track and help turn their pain into their superpower.
Each Christmas, Waters and his team deliver warm clothes and bags of food to the Kensington area of Philadelphia, where many men and women struggling with addiction and homelessness find a place to sleep.
“I do whatever I can to help people realize that there’s a way out,” explains Waters. “I feel like my purpose is to show people that you don’t have to run from pain. You can deal with it, learn from it, and move forward. There’s a way to have a million things going on and stressors in your life and still have peace inside.”
The Second Chance fundraiser is an extension of the love, compassion, and grace that Mike Waters and his team deliver. Known as “The Dream Team,” they are dedicated to helping others find a path to healing and recovery. Each person that works for NJ Dream Builders has their own unique story of addiction, recovery, and hope. It’s that hope that they are passionate about giving to others through events such as this one.
The Second Chance event will feature guest speakers, including a representative from Interim House, Inc. out of Philadelphia, as well as individuals in recovery sharing their stories.
“I’m really excited about this,” shares Brandon Diaz of NJ Dream Builders. “Being in recovery myself, I know from experience what it can be like when you need treatment but don’t have the appropriate money or resources to access it.”
Proceeds from the event will be donated directly to Interim House, Inc and Atlantic Prevention Resources out of Pleasantville. The two non-profit organizations offer specialized treatment and access to mental health resources for those struggling with addiction.
Interim House provides comprehensive services to women in Philadelphia facing substance abuse and mental health issues. The non-profit organization offers outpatient care as well as residential and halfway house programs.
Atlantic Prevention Resources is a New Jersey-based organization that provides treatment solutions, including cognitive behavioral therapy and other solution-focused interventions while advocating for the dignity and respect of every client.
Tickets for the Second Chance fundraising dinner are $25 and can be purchased at tinyurl.com/NJDreamBuilders. To make a direct donation, contact 609-746-2049.
“We’re trying to bring people together and help people find solutions,” shares NJ Dream Builders owner Mike Waters. “We want to help people who need treatment and guidance.”
Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet.
Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
