Puppy Play and a Photo Booth Make for a Great Family Event About Autism Awareness
Posted April 18, 2025Ollie the therapy dog was certainly a hit at the Autism Awareness Day family event on Saturday, Apr. 12 – and didn’t Ollie love it! The five-year-old goldendoodle soaked up oodles of love and attention from kids, parents, and cops, helping to make it a very special day for everyone at Guttenberg’s League of Extraordinary Children.
Ollie is Chief Emotional Officer (CEmO) at Free to be Mindful (www.freetobemindful.com), a mental health provider founded by Vanessa De Jusus Guzman, who accompanied Ollie on his visit to Guttenberg.
The event also featured games and activities for kids, plus a photo booth from True Vibes. Attendees scooped up swag from vendors and organizations including North Hudson Community Action Corporation, the Guttenberg Police Department, and New York Life Insurance Company, and munched on free snacks from Trü Frü.
Mayor Wayne Zitt stopped by to meet the kids and parents (and Ollie!), along with Councilman John Haberman, Police Chief Frank Pelaez, and numerous uniformed officers from the GPD.
Also on hand to greet everyone was Mrs. New Jersey, Lauren Garcia-Marcigliano, co-owner of League of Extraordinary Children with her mom, Marlene.