ADVOCATES AWARD
Each year, Mental Health Advocacy Services presents the Advocates Award to an individual working to make a difference in the lives of people with mental health disabilities. In 2018, MHAS also established the Jim Preis Memorial Award in memory of our late Executive Director.
2024 HONOREES
PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS:
2023: Metta Sandiford-Artest, Professional Basketball Player and Mental Health Educator
2023: Keris Jän Myrick, Mental Health Advocate and Podcast Host
2022: Dr. Devika Bhushan, Former Acting CA Surgeon General
2022: Adriana Alejandre, LMFT and Founder of Latinx Therapy
2021: Tony Coelho, Primary Author and Sponsor of the ADA
2020: Esmé Weijun Wang, Award Winning Author
2020: Patrick Kennedy, Former Congressman and Mental Health Advocate
2019: Mia St. John, Advocates Award
2019: Meiram Bendat, Jim Preis Memorial Award
2018: Jim Preis
2017: Bruce Saltzer
2017: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
2016: California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and Dr. Eliane Hary
2015: Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano and Catherine Blakemore
2014: District Attorney Jackie Lacey
2014: Ido Kedar
2013: Mark Ragins, MD
2013 Koreatown Youth & Community Center
2012: Neal Halfon, MD, MPH
2012: Valerie Vanaman, Esq.
2011: Senator Darrell Steinberg
2011: Tom Sodergren
2010: Kimberly Wong, Esq.
2010: Hon. Terry B. Friedman (ret.)
2009: James Allen
2009: Terri Cheney
2008: Steve Lopez
2008: Richard Van Horn
2007: Elyn R. Saks