Collaborative art project brings together local youth, artists, and health care leaders to inspire compassion and positivity
From left to right: Patrick Ahearn, Chief Executive Officer, Community Medical Center; Brian Keenan, EMPOWER Student Workgroup co-leader; Steve Schreiber, artist; Connie Greene, Senior Vice President, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery; Gianna Masi, artist; Angelina Gross, student and mural subject; Amy Carreno, Manager, Toms River Communities That Care, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery; Dante Kanterezhi-Gatto, founder, EMPOWER Student Workgroup; Maggie Bradley, EMPOWER Student Workgroup co-leader; and Aaron Hajart, Chief Operating Officer, Community Medical Center
Toms River, NJ (August 25, 2025) - The RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery’s Toms River Communities That Care (CTC) initiative unveiled the Kindness Grows mural last week at Community Medical Center, honoring the power of positivity, the voices of local youth, and the community’s commitment to kindness.
The 4'x4' mural, inspired by the 2024 “Chalk the Walk” event where students shared uplifting messages on sidewalks across Toms River, features a portrait of then-5th grader Angelina Gross in the act of writing her message of kindness. Local artists Steve Schreiber, Gianna Masi, and Fernan Dungca collaborated to bring the vision to life, with Mark Dornan preparing the canvas.
In the weeks leading up to the unveiling, students, parents, and teachers contributed their own words of kindness to the mural’s flower petals, turning it into a symbol of community compassion.
“This project represents what happens when a community comes together to make kindness visible — which is exactly the type of environment we strive to cultivate through Communities that Care,” said Amy Carreno, Manager, Toms River Communities That Care, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery (IFPR). “It’s more than art — it’s a reminder that small acts of care and connection can create ripples that last for years.”
The mural was made possible through the leadership of Amy and Jessica Ruzow, Assistant Vice President at Community Medical Center, who secured a permanent home for the artwork in the hospital.
“This project is a terrific example of just one of the creative ways Community Medical Center and RWJBarnabas Health work to strengthen our connection to the people of Ocean County and beyond,” said Patrick Ahearn, Chief Executive Officer, Community Medical Center. “The artwork will serve as a daily reminder to our team members of the incredible community we serve and the kindness that inspired the ‘Chalk the Walk’ event, and ultimately this mural.”
The Kindness Grows mural is now on display in Community Medical Center’s Outpatient Lobby, where it will continue to inspire visitors and reinforce the belief that positivity can transform a community.
The Communities That Care (CTC) initiative is a component of the RWJBarnabas Health Social Impact and Community Investment Practice (SICI), focused on addressing the social, economic, and environmental conditions that contribute to poor health outcomes, reduced life expectancy, and higher costs.
IFPR provides CTC services in Asbury Park, Barnegat, Toms River, and Newark and is the first organization to implement these services in New Jersey.
About Community Medical Center
Community Medical Center (CMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is an academic medical center dedicated to advancing the quality of life and health of the greater Ocean County region by providing safe, high-quality care. CMC is a fully accredited acute care hospital and maintains national accreditations in multiple specialty areas. Highly sophisticated services, not typically found in a community hospital, include advanced cancer, cardiac, emergency, maternity and neurology care, as well as cutting edge surgical care. Patients have access to advanced technology including the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical platform, Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System for joint replacement procedures and state-of-the-art imaging technology. RWJBarnabas Health and CMC, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. The J. Phillip Citta Regional Cancer Center at CMC features one of the most sophisticated linear accelerators used for radiation therapy, a CyberKnife for treating inoperable tumors and holistic therapies to care for the whole person. CMC provides a broad array of health and wellness programs designed to help people achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles and optimal health. Visit rwjbh.org/community for more information.
About the Institute for Prevention and Recovery
The RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery (IFPR) is a leader in creating the systems and services necessary to improve the health of communities throughout New Jersey. For over 30 years, IFPR has provided substance use disorder prevention programs, nicotine and tobacco treatment and innovative recovery support and social care services, taking a system change approach to address social determinants of health and enhance care delivery systems throughout RWJBarnabas Health and New Jersey.