Amber was born in New Jersey and attended Milton Hershey School. After graduating in 1988 she returned to New Jersey where she attended Stockton State College and earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting. She has two children Autumn and Joshua. When her children were younger, she and her husband were foster parents to many children. Amber wanted nothing more than to give these children a safe place to live while trying to help them and their families.

Amber was not only a foster parent but along with her sister Sharon accepted the position of Chairperson for the foster parent association as well as serving on the board of directors for State Foster Parent Association. She earned the foster parent of the year award, but the greatest award was having the children and families see her in public after the child went home and expressing how much they appreciated Amber’s families help in one of the darkest times in their lives.

This cause is close to Amber’s heart after having to deal with suicide of not only close family members but friends as well. Brianna was Amber’s sons’ best friend and the sweetest most caring teenager she has ever met. Amber knows the trauma that Brianna went through and can understand why it was so hard for her to trust others. After working with so many children in foster care and helping them deal with all kinds of trauma Amber needed to find something to help make a difference. When Amber spoke with Matt, and he expressed to her what his vison was and what he wanted to accomplish with Building Bridges initiative which gave Amber the avenue to help build the bridge for people that need help.

So many people do not understand that it is not only the child that goes through a trauma but the whole family. To put families in touch with the resources they may need in the community, to not only help their child to heal but the whole family to heal. Maybe just maybe we will help one child understand that there is plenty of help available especially when they are feeling lost, alone, and hopeless.

Building bridges for Brianna has been a way to not only honor Brianna’s memory but all of those who felt there was no one that would understand or were afraid to reach out.