908-575-7350

NJCTS Receives Grant from FirstEnergy Foundation to Support Education Outreach

NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders (NJCTS) recently received a $7,500 grant from the FirstEnergy Foundation that will further NJCTS’s mission of educating the public, medical professionals, first responders, and teachers about Tourette Syndrome (TS) and associated mental health disorders.

The FirstEnergy Foundation is funded solely by FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) and provides support to non-profit, tax-exempt health and human services agencies and other organizations in areas served by FirstEnergy’s 10 electric operating companies, including Jersey Central Power & Light.

The objective of the NJCTS Education Outreach Program is to create an awareness and decrease the stigma of TS and the many associated disorders including ADHD, OCD, autism, anxiety, depression and learning disabilities. NJCTS does this through in-service learning opportunities, workshops and community presentations.

“I would like to thank the FirstEnergy Foundation for this important grant that will help provide additional professional development trainings and increase awareness of TS throughout the state,” said Patricia Phillips, NJCTS Executive Director. “The funding from the FirstEnergy Foundation will provide our NJCTS clinicians and advocates an opportunity to broaden their outreach by teaching and sharing their stories out in the community.”

“NJCTS is the only organization in the state providing these educational opportunities for teachers, doctors and the community to learn about Tourette Syndrome,” said Andrew Hendry, NJCTS Board Chair. “This grant will give us the ability to reach more people and increase awareness around TS, which will lead to more understanding, inclusion, empathy, and less stigma.”

TS is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by uncontrollable movements known as tics. As many as 1 in 100 people show signs of TS or other tic disorder but many times go undiagnosed.

To learn more about NJCTS and to schedule an outreach presentation, visit www.njcts.org or call 908.575.7350.

About NJCTS

NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders, the nation’s first Center of Excellence for Tourette Syndrome, is a not-for-profit organization committed to the advocacy of children and families with Tourette Syndrome and its associated disorders. Dedicated to delivering high quality services to these individuals, the Center recognizes the importance of educating the public, medical professionals, and teachers about the disorder through programs and affiliations with schools, health centers, and universities.

About FirstEnergy Foundation

The FirstEnergy Foundation is funded solely by FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) and provides support to non-profit, tax-exempt health and human services agencies; educational organizations; cultural and arts programs and institutions; and civic groups in areas served by FirstEnergy’s 10 electric operating companies, including Jersey Central Power & Light, and in areas where the company conducts business.

FirstEnergy Corp. is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its ten electric distribution companies form one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company’s transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com.