The 2015 NAMI Seeds of Hope Gala Awards Celebration will take place on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at the Metropolitan Building in Chelsea. The event is presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness NYC-Metro and will be hosted by Vincent Piazza of “Boardwalk Empire.” During this event, hundreds of people come together to support and bring awareness to the everyday struggles that people go through with mental illness.
The gala raises funds to support funding for the #IWillListen campaign and NAMI-NYC Metro¹s three psychoeducation courses, more than twenty support groups, and public education events that help thousands of New York City residents each year.
The awards celebration will honor first lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray for her outstanding leadership and commitment to ensuring that mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health. Director of Healthy Minds at American Express, Charles Lattarulo is being honored for his leadership in promoting mental health to American Express employees and their families through the #IWillListen global initiative for American Express employees.
Also being honored at the gala is David Spanier, Esq., The Adele Anshien Volunteer of the Year and General Counsel at the Dextra Baldwin Mcgonagle Foundation for his years of service as a board member, providing legal guidance to NAMI-NYC Metro and as a Family-to-Family teacher.
Lastly, Wide Receiver of the New York Jets, Brandon Marshall is being honored for his work to spread awareness and understanding about mental illness and commitment to reduce stigma and lead others by encouraging them to seek care.
Since its inception in 1979, the National Alliance on Mental Illness has established itself as the most formidable grassroots mental health advocacy organization in the country, with NAMI-NYC Metro being the largest affiliate. Their annual fundraising events provide NAMI-NYC Metro with opportunities to increase awareness of mental illness and raise the financial resources necessary to sustain and expand their programs and services. These services are provided free-of-charge and supported by trained family members and staff to educate people about mental illness and provide the advocacy tools they need.
For more information on the #IWillListen campaign please visit:
http://www.naminycmetro.org/
