Meet Gregory
Husband and Father, Recovered Alcoholic,
Public Speaker and Activist
Spending his childhood in a troubled home, frequently bullied at school, Gregory turned to alcohol at the age of 13, tried taking his own life at the age of 16, and became homeless by 20. Devastated by his troubled youth, the trauma carried over into his 20’s, where he was on-again/off-again homeless and drinking destructively.
When he was 28, he was caught in the middle of a late-night police chase, and was accidentally shot in the back of the head. Lying in the street slowly bleeding to death, he realized that his life was ending. Miraculously his life was saved, and with this second chance at life, he met and married his beautiful wife, is raising two boys, and has been sober for over 20 years. Gregory has given his life to serving others, namely through his Portraits of the Jersey Shore page.
With a strong community of over 40,000 followers between Facebook and Instagram
He has helped raise tens of thousands of dollars to help the homeless,
to spotlight worthy organizations that help the marginalized,
and to spread awareness of programs that serve people in addiction and recovery
—all while daily featuring the stories of the people he meets
on the streets, boardwalks and beaches of the beloved Jersey Shore.
Having interviewed thousands of strangers over the last six years to hear their unique stories, Gregory is convinced that we can find peace, wellness, hope and healing through the ancient communication of sharing stories. That is why he is passionate about sharing these stories and his own with audiences across the state.