Kevin X. Codey (left), founder of Danbro Properties, is working to carry on the legacy of his father, the late Gov. Richard J. Codey, who was widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading champions for mental health reform and spent decades fighting stigma surrounding mental illness. — Courtesy: Kevin Codey
By Joshua Burd
A new golf outing next month will honor the legacy of the late Gov. Richard J. Codey, supporting his decades-long mission to improve mental health care and fight stigma surrounding mental illness.
Slated for Aug. 31, the charitable event will take place with strong support from New Jersey’s commercial real estate sector and is set to draw top industry professionals alongside the family, friends, advocates and others who will be on hand at Upper Montclair Golf Club in Clifton. Proceeds will benefit The Codey Fund for Mental Health, the nonprofit founded by Richard and Mary Jo Codey to expand access to compassionate, quality mental health care and support organizations serving New Jersey residents.
“For more than 50 years, my father used every position he held in public life to advocate for people living with mental illness and their families,” said Kevin Codey, president of The Codey Fund for Mental Health. “This outing is an opportunity to celebrate that legacy, bring people together around a cause he cared deeply about and continue the work he began.”
Kevin Codey, founder of Danbro Properties, is helping to write a new chapter for the foundation after his father’s passing in January. He noted that the organization continues to award grants, support nonprofit partners, promote public education and work to eliminate the stigma that too often prevents people from seeking treatment, but said the business community is playing a growing role in advancing mental health.
That includes the likes of FBT Gibbons and CBRE, which are platinum sponsors for the inaugural Gov. Richard J. Codey Memorial Golf Outing, and March Construction, a gold sponsor. And he noted that the event — which begins with registration at 12:30 p.m. and a shotgun start at 2 p.m. — is still open to golfers, sponsors and supporters, but individual and foursome registrations are selling out quickly.
“Dick believed mental illness should be treated like any other medical condition and that every person deserved access to quality care,” Mary Jo Codey said. “I’m grateful that he put my mental health challenge in the national conversation, but also that he left behind a legacy that today benefits countless New Jerseyans. The Codey Fund is committed to carrying that vision forward.”
Gov. Codey, who spent more than five decades in the Legislature and was New Jersey’s longest-serving lawmaker, briefly served as acting governor in 2002 and then as the state’s 53rd governor from November 2024 to January 2006. He was widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading champions for mental health reform, having pushed for sweeping changes during his tenure designed to improve care, increase accountability and expand access to services.
As chairman of the Senate Health Committee, Codey famously went undercover inside Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital to expose conditions facing patients, an investigation that led to stricter hiring practices and mandatory criminal background checks for psychiatric hospital employees throughout New Jersey, his foundation noted in a news release. His advocacy also helped make New Jersey the first state in the nation to require screening for postpartum depression for all new mothers before leaving the hospital.
As governor, his first official act was establishing a task force to reform New Jersey’s mental health system. He later signed legislation dedicating $200 million for housing serving individuals living with mental illness.
The Codey Fund for Mental Health is continuing that work. At the Aug. 31 dinner, the nonprofit will present VolunPEER with its largest contribution, establishing the Gov. Richard J. Codey Senior Wellness & Peer Support Collaborative grant program.
Touting the role of FBT Gibbons, CBRE and March Construction in the outing, Kevin Codey said, “The generous support of our sponsors is instrumental in making the event and our mission to advance mental health initiatives across New Jersey possible.”
The tournament will feature a “nine and dine” format in which golfers will compete in a nine-hole shamble, with the top five individual scores advancing to a playoff shootout to determine the champion. Dinner, awards and networking opportunities will follow.
“Supporting the Gov. Richard J. Codey Memorial Golf Outing is more than just a sponsorship — it’s a commitment to advancing mental health care and breaking down barriers for those in need,” said Andrew Camelotto, a partner at FBT Gibbons. “FBT Gibbons is proud to stand with the Codey Fund and the New Jersey community in building a future where everyone has access to compassionate support and quality care.”
Matthew Pizzolato, a senior vice president at CBRE, echoed the sentiment.
“CBRE is honored to support the Gov. Richard J. Codey Memorial Golf Outing and the vital mission of the Codey Fund for Mental Health,” Pizzolato said. “By partnering with this event, we join a community dedicated to expanding access to compassionate care and breaking the stigma around mental illness in New Jersey. Together, we can make a lasting difference for individuals and families across the state.”
Lou March III, managing director of asset management of March Construction, added: “We are proud to support the Gov. Richard J. Codey Memorial Golf Outing and its mission to advance mental health care for all New Jerseyans.”
For registration, sponsorship opportunities or additional information, contact Joanne Tobia at 973-325-9650 or jtobia@danbroproperties.com.
