2023 Annual Celebration Highlights
The Staff and Board of Directors at Mental Health Advocacy Services thank everyone who made our 2023 Annual Celebration possible. We feel incredibly privileged to have been joined by so many of our friends, supporters, donors, and community members to celebrate mental health advocacy.
Left to right: Metta World Peace (honoree), Anthony Cespedes (Office of Supervisor Solis), Jenny Farrell (MHAS Executive Director), and Keris Jän Myrick (honoree)
This year, MHAS honored two outstanding advocates who have leveraged their personal and professional experiences to reduce the stigma around mental health and to improve mental health care and access. Keris Jän Myrick was presented with the 2023 Jim Preis Memorial Award by Kumar Menon, a longtime friend and colleague of Keris. And Metta World Peace received the Mental Health Advocate of the Year Award, presented by MHAS Board Member Professor Elyn Saks.
While receiving their awards, Keris Jän Myrick and Metta World Peace both took the time to recognize the individuals who have supported their journeys, reminding us that meaningful change does not happen overnight or in isolation.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Annual Celebration always 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.
One of the many clients that MHAS helped this past year is Nancy, who shared her story during the event. As a nurse, the pandemic negatively affected Nancy’s mental health. She had multiple psychiatric hospitalizations that impacted her ability to work and subsequently left her unable to pay rent. When Nancy received an eviction notice for non-payment of rent, her MHAS attorney helped her send notices to her landlord to invoke the COVID-19 protections against non-payment of rent. MHAS also helped Nancy apply for rental assistance, obtaining a total of $4,622.43 to cover the entirety of her back rent, utilities, and fees. Nancy shared that she is glad she has a fresh start, is thankful for therapy, and is hopeful for the future.
We also appreciate the participation of our community partners at Painted Brain, who helped us highlight “Project New Start” during the indoor portion of the event. MHAS partners with Painted Brain on “Project New Start”: a comprehensive job placement, mental health, and legal services program for formerly incarcerated individuals that reside in South Los Angeles.
Finally, we’d like to extend our appreciation to the MHAS Board Development Committee for their support before, during, and after the event.
ALL EVENT PHOTOS
SPONSOR TRIBUTES
Diamond Sponsor - Bloomfield Family Foundation
Emerald Sponsor - Munger Tolles & Olson LLP
Platinum Sponsor - Barry & Sue Shanley
Platinum Sponsor - Gibson Dunn
OTHER TRIBUTES
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
DIAMOND
EMERALD
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
Alston & Bird LLP ◈ Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP ◈ Calini
City National Bank ◈ Crowell & Moring LLP ◈ Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp
BRONZE
Anne Preis ◈ Areta Crowell ◈ David Bower & Francis Ryu
John Preis & Allison Cheffer ◈ Law Office of Jeanette Laba
Palatine Capital Partners ◈ Psych-Appeal ◈ Richard Chernick
Supervisor Hilda Solis ◈ Sycamores ◈ Vanaman German LLP
IN-KIND
Artest University ❖ In-N-Out Burger ❖ John Farrell ❖ Katie Giordano
Knott's Berry Farm ❖ Metta World Peace ❖ Pacific Park
Patagonia ❖ Raising Cane's ❖ Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Six Flags Magic Mountain ❖ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
The Broad ❖ The Huntington Library ❖ Universal Studios Hollywood
Woodenhead Vintners