One of two Barry Indik Memorial Awards will go to Judy Walters
by Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
In 1976, when most kids were concerned with catching bugs, riding their bikes and tuning into their favorite show, one inquisitive 8-year-old girl was already trying to leave her mark on the world.
Judy Walters’ work in the community began in the third grade when she wrote her mayor in Union Township, asking how she could get involved. In the process she jump-started a class-wide project to beautify local businesses with students’ artwork.
Not much has changed from then to now. An all-grown-up Ms. Walters, who is married with two children, is still very involved in her community and receiving some deserved recognition as one of this year’s Barry Indik Memorial Award recipients from the Citizens for Independent Living.
During the CIL’s 16th Annual Independent Ball this Saturday the organization will be honoring Ms. Walters for her nine years of service to the South Brunswick school district as well as Marian Moyer for years of volunteerism.
It all began when Ms. Walters became pregnant with her second child and decided to leave a successful career as an editor in various New York Publishing houses, so that she could stay home and focus on what’s most important to her — her two daughters.
In 1999, around the time her oldest daughter was attending Greenbrook Elementary School in Kendall Park, Ms. Walters said she got involved with the Parent Teacher Organization.
By 2005 Ms. Walters became president of the PTO and held the position for two years.
Initially, she began her volunteer work because her own children were in the school district, Ms. Walters said.
But today, she still finds herself volunteering. This time she’s helping students get opportunities that the district can’t always afford. Ms. Walters said she has been creating an instrument bank at Greenbrook School for students who would like the opportunity to play an instrument, but can’t afford one. She is encouraging families with instruments that their own children no longer use to donate them to the bank so they can be given to students whose families can’t afford to buy or rent instruments.
”Between families that have so much and others that may not have heat, it was so distressing to me,” she said. “This project, I hope, will take hold across the entire district.”
Outside of the PTO and her instrument bank, Ms. Walters has been involved in a number of other projects.
According to a CIL statement, Ms. Walters has been volunteering for the Book Worm Program, which uses one-on-one reading to tutor; created the Tears to Cheers program, which helps kindergarten parents transition on the first day of school; and initiated the Patricia Holliday Scholarship Fund, which helps with tutoring, music programs and summer opportunities for needy students.
As for her future endeavors, Ms. Walters said she would like to work on projects for children with autism and possibly establish a celebrating uniqueness day in the district, as well.
With all of her years of volunteering it should come as not surprise that this is not the first time Ms. Walter has received public recognition for her good deeds.
After volunteering from 1993 to 1999 for the national infertility association, Resolve, Ms. Walter received the group’s coveted, Volunteer of the Year Award.
Although she never expected the award, Ms. Walters said she will be more than happy to accept the Barry Indik Memorial Award at this weekend’s event. “I did not volunteer to get an award so it never connected,” she said. “But I am very honored and touched.”

