More than 200 supporters, business leaders, and mental health advocates gathered at the Upper Montclair Golf Club for the Inaugural Gov. Richard J. Codey Memorial Golf Outing, successfully raising over $250,000 for the Codey Fund for Mental Health.
The Aug. 31 event honored the life and legacy of the late Governor Richard J. Codey, celebrating his decades of dedicated public service and trailblazing advocacy to improve mental health care and eliminate the social stigma surrounding mental illness.
Founded by Richard and Mary Jo Codey, the Codey Fund for Mental Health provides critical grants, educational resources, and expanded access to compassionate care for individuals and families across New Jersey.
Gov. Codey spent more than five decades in the New Jersey Legislature championing mental health reform. His landmark efforts included going undercover at Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital to expose conditions and drive systemic reforms, making New Jersey the first state in the nation to mandate postpartum depression screenings for new mothers, and securing $200 million for supportive housing initiatives.
“The response to our first outing was beyond anything we could have hoped for,” Kevin Codey, president of the Codey Fund for Mental Health, said. “Seeing more than 200 people come together around a cause that meant so much to my father was incredibly meaningful. Every golfer, sponsor, donor and volunteer helped us honor his legacy in the best possible way.”
Supported by more than 40 corporate sponsors, the inaugural event featured a fast-moving nine-hole tournament format followed by a closing dinner and awards ceremony.
- Winning Team: Louie March III, Ryan Carroll, Joe Trovato, and Max Custer took home first-place honors.
- Community Impact: Proceeds from the event will directly fund ongoing grants, community awareness programs, and peer support networks throughout the state.
“This was about more than a day of golf,” Kevin Codey added. “It showed how many people believe in this mission and want to help us carry it forward. We are grateful for that support, and we are excited about what it will allow the Codey Fund to do next.”
