Video: Friendship Circle Video Wins 2010 Aegis Award

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Friendship Circle of New Jersey has won a 2010 Aegis Award for “Mindsets”, a 4 minute video produced by JewishFilms.com. The Aegis Awards are the video industry’s premier competition for peer recognition of outstanding video productions and non-network TV commercials. “Mindsets” was honored by a distinguished panel of judges representing industry professionals from across the country.

The video was created to help change the way people think about those with special needs. It was originally screened for over 900 people at the Friendship Circle Annual Banquet and has since been viewed online thousands of times.

“We knew that ‘Mindsets’ was something special and the feedback that we have received has been incredible, but winning an Aegis Award just confirms it and is a great honor”, said Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum, Executive Director of Friendship Circle. “JewishFilms.com has created the video presentations for all our annual banquets and we have always been impressed with their creativity and professionalism.”

“Mindsets”, which was written by Marlene Hammerling, directed by Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum and produced by Yankee Teitelbaum, is a moving palindrome presentation of how a Friendship Circle child, parent and teen volunteer view themselves. As one parent commented, “This video is the perfect mission statement for the Friendship Circle and is a must-see for everyone.”

“I watched it and sobbed,” said Jodi Zwain, whose son Max was featured in the video. “They were cathartic tears knowing that we had finally found a place where people understand my young adult child, where he feels safe, where he feels he can be who he is and not be judged, pressured or pushed.”

For more information on the Friendship Circle visit www.fcnj.com.