2024 Annual Celebration Highlights
This past Sunday, Mental Health Advocacy Services hosted its 2024 Annual Celebration. We feel incredibly lucky to have been joined by so many of our long-time friends, donors, community partners, and supporters to celebrate mental health advocacy.
The Annual Celebration serves as an opportunity to recognize the vital contributions made possible by mental health advocates in and around Los Angeles. This includes the wonderful team of attorneys and legal advocates at Mental Health Advocacy Services who play a crucial role in ensuring that low-income folks with mental health disabilities have access to the justice system, fair housing, and community-based supportive services that can help them improve their overall health outcomes.
2024 HONOREES
Mental Health Advocacy Services was thrilled to honor two distinguished advocates.
Sal Rosselli received this year’s Jim Preis Memorial Award in recognition of his commitment to improve mental health care for all. Sal has been active in the labor movement since the late 1970s as a union member, an organizer, and an elected leader and is the President Emeritus of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW).
Former Board Member, Meiram Bendat (right), with our 2024 Jim Preis Memorial Award Honoree, Sal Rosselli (left).
Board Member, Katherine Pérez (right), with our 2024 Mental Health Advocate of the Year Honoree, Paul Gilmartin (left).
Paul Gilmartin also received the Mental Health Advocate of the Year Award. Since 2011, Paul has been producing and hosting The Mental Illness Happy Hour, a weekly audio podcast consisting of interviews with artists, friends, listeners, and the occasional mental health professional about all the battles in our heads.
During their speeches, Sal and Paul emphasized the importance of having strong support systems in place to adequately help folks who are struggling with mental health.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This year, MHAS was also joined by two former clients who shared their lived experience with mental health struggles and the tremendous impact that MHAS’ programs have had on their lives.
We also appreciate the participation of our community partners at Painted Brain, Via Care, and Mental Health America Los Angeles who were present for the indoor portion of the event. MHAS prides itself in fostering relationships with other community-based organizations to more holistically serve clients.
Finally, we’d like to extend our appreciation to the MHAS Board Development Committee for their support before, during, and after the event.
EVENT PHOTOS
TRIBUTES
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
══ EMERALD ══
══ PLATINUM ══
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══ SILVER ══
Alston & Bird LLP ❖ Anonymous
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP ❖ Calini
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
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Annie Preis ❖ Areta Crowell ❖ David Bower & Francis Ryu ❖ Barbara Reeves
John Preis & Allison Cheffer ❖ Law Office of Jeanette Laba
Psych-Appeal ❖ Supervisor Hilda Solis ❖ Sycamores ❖ Vanaman German LLP