SpookyFest 2024

SpookyFest 2024 is here, and we’re kicking it off with the 1st Annual HuntersWorld Costume Gala at Salumeria Ercolano!
SpookyFest is anything but a stuffy fundraiser! It’s going to be a lively, spirited evening filled with food, wine & beer, costume contests, hair-raising entertainment and games, DJ & dancing, and a playful atmosphere that invites everyone to let loose while supporting a great cause!
Get ready for a night of frights, fun, and fantastic costumes. Join us for a spooktacular evening filled with music, dancing, and a costume contest with amazing prizes. Don’t miss out on the chance to show off your most creative costume and mingle with fellow Halloween enthusiasts.
It’s going to be a night to remember, so mark your calendars, dust off your best costume & prepare to dance with the spirits as we raise the dead ~ and much needed funds ~ for our HuntersWorld peer mentors at SpookyFest 2024!
About HuntersWorld:
What started as a grief group in the wake of an unfathomable loss, HuntersWorld sprang from a powerful coalition of empathic Jersey City teens wanting to shore up their peers during the most vulnerable time of their lives.
In today’s environment, teenagers face an unprecedented amount of pressure and stress. Approximately 1 in 5 teenagers suffer from a mental health disorder, most commonly depression and anxiety. Left unchecked, these mental health issues can lead teens down the road to making dangerous choices such as violence, substance abuse, and even suicide. HuntersWorld aims to fight this crisis among our teens by destigmatizing these mental health issues and teaching them to talk about their challenges. Recent studies show peer mentoring has a measurable positive impact on self-esteem, building relationships with adults, and teen’s attitudes towards school. Working closely with our staff social worker, we have created a mentor training and certification program.
Hunter’s heart was incredibly open and filled with empathy. He was once asked who his “people” were, and he replied by saying “people who talk to me are my people.” It’s with this kind and sincere approach that we strive to create something that exemplifies how Hunter lived – and what we all miss most about him.
HuntersWorld provides transportation, a warm and comfy meeting space, food, counseling, summer mentor training and activities to all high schoolers in Hudson County free of charge. One of two major fundraisers this year includes a SpookyFest Gala, where tickets sales and a silent auction – blended with frightfully fun activities and costumes galore – will help HuntersWorld remain a free program to all its teen participants.