Banking on the Notion ?that Better Mental Health is also Great Business

A Good Neighbor is Banking on the Notion ?that Better Mental Health is also Great Business

Paul Porto is manager of the Fulton Bank office in Hillsborough, one of more than 250 Fulton Bank locations in New Jersey and the four surrounding states. Porto, in concert with Fulton, also happens to be one of the biggest area supporters of Carrier Clinic, an NJ psychiatric hospital and recovery center, and its annual Walk of Hope.

Now in its eighth year, as Carrier’s annual September fund-raiser, the Walk of Hope has gathered together thousands of people in a continuing effort to not only educate the public about mental health, substance abuse and treatment options, but to fund clinical programs and research in those areas.

Fulton Bank, at Porto’s urging, came on board as a sponsor of the Walk of Hope in 2014,? when Porto joined the Walk of Hope planning committee, on which he serves to this day.

“As I learned more about what the Walk of Hope was doing to support therapies for mental health disease and substance addiction, I just felt compelled to get Fulton Bank involved,” Porto recalls. “Ever since then it has been a great relationship between Fulton Bank and Don Parker, who is president and CEO of Carrier, and Carrier leadership. I feel we’re making great strides, both literally and figuratively.”

One of those first steps was to establish monthly banking days on the Carrier campus, enabling Carrier employees to seek out advice, set up accounts, and better track and manage their money. Fulton followed with the installation of an ATM in Carrier’s main lobby, a new convenience for employees.

Porto also credits Art Dorne, Fulton Bank commercial relationship manager, for much of this work.

And there’s more. Fulton also donates to Carrier’s nonprofit foundation (the public can go to https://carrierclinic.org/donate/ to follow suit) and is a major sponsor of Carrier’s May golf outing.

“Very few causes are more important today than searching out cures for mental illness and drug addiction,” Porto said. “Carrier is leading the way in that mission and Fulton Bank is privileged to assist.”

The Walk of Hope and Awareness 2018 kicks off with registration at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 15, followed by the 1-mile stroll at 10 a.m. The Courier News/Home News Tribune/My Central Jersey.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is a major media sponsor of the event, along with NJ 101.5 Radio.

Online registration is easy. Visit CarrierClinicWalkofHope.org.

Learn More. 

About Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic

Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic is a nonprofit Central Jersey behavioral health care provider, specializing in psychiatric and addiction treatment. Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic includes an inpatient psychiatric hospital, detoxification and rehabilitation center, adolescent and teen residential facility, and a fully accredited middle and high school for students classified emotionally disturbed. For more information about Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic and its services contact us through our website or call 1-800-933-3579.

Press Contact

Phil Hartman

Public Relations Manager

908-281-1513

PHartman@carrierclinic.com