The Team Behind the Mission.

Meet the dedicated professionals and advisors working to support youth mental health advocacy in our community.

Leadership

Our Founders

Jackie and Ken founded Jared's Fund in memory of their son Jared Zimmerman, a Montclair High School graduate, who died in April 2016 as a direct result of mental illness. Driven by a belief that no family should face what theirs did, they created a Fellowship to empower young people to challenge stigma and advance mental health in their communities.

Jackie Baillargeon

Co-Founder, Executive Director & Board Chair

A longtime public interest lawyer, Jackie co-founded Jared's Fund to educate young people about mental health issues and to empower them to help end the stigma that surrounds those issues.

Ken Zimmerman

Co-Founder

A civil rights attorney who has worked in government, non-profits, and the foundation world focused on how to advance dignity and agency for marginalized people through policy change, program innovation, and power-building.

Our Staff

Staff

Jared's Fund is powered by a small, dedicated team committed to reducing the stigma around mental illness and supporting the next generation of young advocates in the Montclair community and beyond.

Jackie Baillargeon

Co-founder / Advisory Board Chair & Executive Director

Jared's mother and a longtime public interest lawyer, Jackie brings decades of direct service, government, philanthropic and non-profit executive experience.

Jackie Wolf

Managing Director

Jackie joined Jared's Fund in 2023, bringing nearly two decades of nonprofit and corporate partnership experience to the team.

Misty Avinger

Brand and Communications Director

A former Jared's Fund Fellow, Misty now leads the organization's communications and brand presence with passion and purpose.

Advisors

Advisory Board

Jared's Fund is guided by an advisory board whose members bring expertise spanning child psychiatry, philanthropy, education, public health, and lived experience. Their insight and dedication help shape the direction of our work.

Dr. Stewart Adelson

Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist

Affiliated with Columbia & Cornell University

Jackie Baillargeon

Advisory Board Chair

Jared's Fund

Stephanie Bell-Rose

President

The Steve Fund

Patrick Holmes

CAP and FAIR Program Manager

Disability Rights LA

Dr. Denise Rodgers

Vice Chancellor for Inter-professional Programs (Retired)

Rutgers University

Jonathan Segal

Program Manager, Electrification

ICF

Beth Wilensky

Former Managing Director

Jared's Fund

Brianna Zimmerman

International Literary Scout

Gabe Zimmerman

Public Interest Lawyer

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights

Ken Zimmerman

Advisory Board Member

Jared's Fund

Join Our Mission

Passionate about mental health advocacy and supporting the next generation of change-makers? We're always looking for partners, volunteers, and speakers to join us in our work.