Join honored mental health advocates at this fundraising event for the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic
CHICAGO - March 2023 – The Family Institute at Northwestern University presents the inaugural Gratitude Gala occurring on May 10, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., at the Ivy Room at Tree Studios in Chicago, IL. This fundraising event will feature remarks from honored mental health advocates, a silent auction, a raffle, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and much more.
Annually, The Family Institute provides nearly 18,000 free therapy appointments to nearly 1,300 clients through the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic. The Family Institute is committed to making therapy available, affordable, and accessible to everyone, and the Gratitude Gala will help raise critical funds that allow them to reach those who need them most.
“Through the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic, we train the next generation of therapists and provide free therapy for children, adults, couples, and families from all walks of life. Our ability to do this is made possible, in part, by our generous donor community and we are thrilled to be able to bring everyone together for our first annual fundraising event,” said Jana L. Jones, President and CEO of The Family Institute at Northwestern University.
As part of our event and in conjunction with May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, The Family Institute will honor Governor J.B. Pritzker and Senator Laura Fine, 9th District, with the Mental Health Advocacy Award for their work to pass SB3617, which allows therapists moving to Illinois to expedite their licensure to practice in our state.
“I couldn’t be prouder to accept this award from The Family Institute—an organization that has done the essential work to increase mental healthcare access for our most vulnerable Illinoisans,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Behavioral and mental health services deserve the same investment and commitment as any other healthcare system, and expedited licensure agreements are one key part of ensuring there are capable providers ready to provide that support.”
In addition, The Family Institute will honor former NFL player Ryan Mundy with the Mental Health Community Innovation Award for his development of Alkeme Health, which brings continued innovation to the mental health field, as well as for his commitment to provide mental health resources to the Black community.
Ryan Mundy states “as a Chicagoland resident raising my family in this area and community, I am honored to accept this award. Community is such a cornerstone of our overall well-being and is extremely important to what we’re building with Alkeme. Our community is integral to our success in creating generational health for the Black individuals and we’re grateful to have The Family Institute’s support in furthering our mission.”
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic, which provides free mental and behavioral therapy services for individuals, couples and families that could not otherwise afford it. For more information, to purchase tickets or to sign up as an event sponsor, please visit www.family-institute.org/gratitude-gala-2023.
Media Contact: Crystal Reynolds, Director of Marketing & Communications, creynolds@family-institute.org
ABOUT THE FAMILY INSTITUTE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Incorporated in 1969, The Family Institute at Northwestern University is committed to strengthening and healing families, couples, children and adults through the highest quality, relationship-based mental health services. As partners to see change, The Family Institute brings together research, education and clinical practice leading to growth for our clients, the next generation of therapists and the field of behavioral health.
Through the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic, The Family Institute provides therapy services at no cost to clients who qualify. The Clinic is staffed by Northwestern University graduate level therapists-in-training from the Master of Arts in Counseling and Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy programs, who are educated and supervised by highly trained licensed therapists. Our therapists-in-training work closely with licensed therapists to create a collaborative, deeply impactful, affordable therapy experience.
For more information, visit www.family-institute.org.