What is the Do Happy Project?
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Welcome to the Do Happy Project,
our action-based initiative bringing together activities of self-care,
charity and movement. We are dedicated to helping children & adults
alike re-think and re-define "happy".
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HAPPY IS A VERB.
DO HAPPY
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The Do Happy Project organically grew from the Warter Strong Foundation's
mission to empower and inspire people, as well as to support
like-minded charities, committed to helping others Do Happy every day.
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The Do Happy Project is about an outlook.
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It represents an appreciation for life and all that you have.
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We live day to day with the idea that life doesn't have to be “perfect” or "easy"
or even "go as planned" to be amazing.
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In 2018, through the grass-root efforts of our family and friends,
we found our mantra, Do Happy.
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And now in 2021, that MANTRA became a MOVEMENT!!
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Who makes up the Do Happy Team?
Learn a Little About Me
My name is Barbara Warter and I am the President of the Warter Strong Foundation and Founder of the Do Happy Project.
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I am also a Licensed Speech Language Pathologist, Co-founder of Signing Fingers, LLC. and Certified Vinyasa Yoga Instructor. I earned a BS degree from Union College and a Masters degree in Speech Pathology from Columbia University.
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The Do Happy Project is a labor of love that grew from my professional work and my personal life experience to create this one-of-a-kind program. I feel passionate about empowering and inspiring children and adults alike to re-shape how they think about "happy" and learn to Do Happy!
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I have experience creating and customizing curriculum for different ages and various school needs as the former Co-Founder of SIgning FIngers, LLC. a school-based language and music enrichment program.
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FInally, I am the proud author of my first children's book, ABC Do Happy with Me. (now available for purchase on Amazon).
My name is Melissa Giordano and I am the Head of Program Development for the Do Happy Project.
I have a very diverse background ibut most of my experience focuses on inspiring others to be the very best version of themselves. I hold a Bachelors Degree in Marketing, from Seton Hall University, as well as a Masters in Elementary Education. I am also a Certified Teacher of the Handicapped. I have served as an elementary school teacher for 12 years and as a learning consultant for 9 years. In 2014, I became a certified yoga instructor and have taught the inspirational practice of yoga to students of all ages.
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This past year, COVID affected everyone in some way. As a special education teacher in Livingston, NJ, I saw the first hand the toll this pandemic was taking. I coordinated launching the Do Happy Project at our middle school and together with Barbara Warter, I have worked tirelessly working on age-appropriate curriculum.
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I am very committed to the social, emotional and physical well being of my students, my peers and my community and look forward to supporting the growth of this one-of-a-kind program.
Learn About Our Team
picture coming soon
My official title is Dr. Penina Petchers, Psy D but most people just know me as Penny.
I am thrilled to be part of the Board for the
Do Happy Project, providing input and feedback regarding programming and educational content.
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I am a mom of two boys and happy to be raising them in Livingston, NJ along with my husband PJ both of us are Livingston natives!
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My name is Karin Kaplan Grumet and I am on the Board as a Nutrition Consultant for the Do Happy Project.
I am the founder of KKG Nutrition LLC and have been a registered dietitian/nutritionist for over 25 years as well as a Certified Eating Disordered Nutritionist.
I am passionate about the prevention and treatment of. eating disorders and disordered eating as well as helping anyone and everyone seek freedom from food obsessions and diet mentality.
I strongly believe that this education needs to start early and am thrilled to be joining the Do Happy Project Team to help this happen. I look forward to helping others embrace body positivity and find self love from the inside out.
When I'm not in my office in Summit NJ, you will find me on the tennis court or relaxing with my husband and two teenage daughters.
My name is Zachary Warter (on the left) and I am the Social Media Consultant and author.
I am responsible for developing and creating effective ways to help the Do Happy Project reach their goals through innovative public relations, marketing and social media platforms.
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I also wrote my first children's book entitled, Otis the Do Happy Dog to support our action based school initiative, the Do Happy Project. I wrote this book to help spread the mission that "Happy is a Verb". You can't always "be happy", "feel happy", or "choose happy" have to "do happy". This lesson is told through the eyes of my real-life puppy, Otis. Available for direct sale on Amazon.
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In my free time, I play basketball and golf and love to hang out with both of my dogs, Otis & Ella.