Star singer Justin Bieber gives Stockton University student $100,000 donation

GALLOWAY – A Stockton University senior got the surprise of her life when superstar singer Justin Bieber presented her with a check for $100,000 for her mental health work.

Julie Coker of Union Beach in Monmouth County was presented the check signed by the famed singer live on MTV on Feb. 7 in honor of her work on mental health awareness with Active Minds.

“I’m still in shock,” Coker said in a press release provided by the university. “The check is in my room at home, but I still feel like it almost didn’t happen.”

According to the school, Bieber was interested in assisting someone involved with mental health and Coker was selected for her work with Active Minds, a nonprofit supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults.

She is president of the Stockton chapter and also serves on the national Active Minds Student Advisory Committee. 

“They just told me to be there and it would change my life,” she said. “I didn’t even know that (Bieber) would be there.”

Coker said she has battled depression and anxiety and that the help she got from counselors at Red Bank Regional High School after her family lost their home in Hurricane Sandy made her want to get involved in helping others, the release stated.

Those who know Coker and are familiar with her work year-round on multiple Active Minds events were not surprised with her being awarded the funds.

“Julie is one of the all-time great Stockton students,” said Assistant Director of Counseling Services Nathan Morell, the advisor for Active Minds. “She really hit the ground running and by her second year here was president of Active Minds. She works tirelessly year-round, even during the summer.”

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He added that under her leadership, Active Minds at Stockton has grown “by leaps and bounds” to host 50 events each year.

Coker also participated in Stockton University Resiliency Project, telling her story on video to share with the Stockton community and to help break the silence and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

“She is innovative, creative,” Morell said. “Now she can go on, get her master’s degree, and help save the world.”

Coker will graduate in May with a social work degree, and, using some of the funds from the Bieber gift, plans to attend graduate school for social work, the school said.

“You don’t go into social work for the money but for the deep desire to help people,” said Coker, whose first concert at age 13 was to see Bieber. “So this life-changing gift will help me start my career on the strongest financial footing possible and will enable me to help even more people.

"I’m so grateful to Justin Bieber for helping me forward on that path.”

Celeste E. Whittaker is a metro reporter for the Courier Post. The South Jersey native has worked at the Courier Post since 1998 and has covered the Philadelphia 76ers, college sports and girls high school sports. She now covers human interest stories and other news throughout Burlington County. If you have a news tip, call her at 856.486.2437 or email at  cwhittaker@gannettnj.com. Follow her on Twitter at @cp_CWhittaker.

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