A Night To Remember (Back to Newsletter Index)
Executive Director Jim Preis describes MHAS’ 2008 Annual Celebration.
On
Thursday, September 25, Mental Health Advocacy Services held our Annual
Celebration at the offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. With a spectacular view
of the Hollywood Hills and the panorama of downtown buildings from the 53rd
floor, more than 150 guests enjoyed great food, wonderful wine, and inspiring
speeches by our honorees.
After a delightful hour of mingling with our guests, it was time for the main event. We presented the 2008 Advocates Awards to two gentlemen who have both inspired me with their commitment to helping people with mental illness: Richard Van Horn, President of Mental Health America of Los Angeles, and Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times journalist and author of The Soloist.
I had the privilege of introducing our first honoree, Richard Van Horn. Richard and I have been friends and colleagues for a long time, and he has been a great friend and partner to MHAS for many years. As the President of Mental Health America of Los Angeles for nearly three decades, he has been a pioneer in the development and implementation of mental health programs based on the principles of autonomy and recovery.
Many
of our guests that evening have known and worked with Richard, and he spoke to a
warmly enthusiastic crowd about his experiences, his motivation, and his
relationship with MHAS. He described the growth of Mental Health America’s
programs, and the development of projects like The Village that have not only
helped hundreds of individuals in our community, but have also provided a model
for programs across the country. Richard also spoke with feeling about his work
with MHAS and other partners to support the passage and implementation of
Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act, which profoundly changed the
landscape of the mental health system in the state of California.
Next, MHAS Board Member, author, and 2007 Advocates Award recipient Elyn Saks came to the podium to introduce our second honoree, Steve Lopez. All of us, including Steve himself, were glad that he had made it back from a reporting trip to Alaska in time to join us for our Celebration! Steve regaled a rapt audience with the characteristic wit and insight familiar to readers of his column in the Los Angeles Times and his bestselling book, The Soloist.
Steve
shared his personal experiences developing a friendship with Nathaniel Ayers, a
musical prodigy suffering from schizophrenia and living on L.A.’s Skid Row. Many
listeners were visibly moved by his description of how their friendship had not
only led to improvements in Nathaniel’s life, including helping him move off the
street and gain a deeper connection to his music, but how it had changed Steve’s
life for the better, too. He has humanized mental illness and brought it into
the light in a way that will benefit advocates for the rights of people with
mental disabilities for years to come.
It was a truly memorable occasion, and I was proud to be a part of the MHAS team as we welcomed so many new and old friends to celebrate with us and honor Richard and Steve for their wonderful contributions to our work and our community. Our staff and our Board members did a great job, and I want to thank all of our partners who attended or supported this year’s event. As we continue our work to protect and advance the rights of people with mental disabilities, this annual event is an important opportunity for us to recognize those who have had a positive impact on the mental health community and to let more people know about the work we are doing on an ongoing basis. I’m already looking forward to next year’s celebration, and I hope to see you there!
Click here to see more photos from the event.
Thanks to our 2008 Sponsors!
