The Event Honors Understanding, Commitment and Action By Key Community Leaders in Breaking the Silence For Mental Health
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (December 6, 2017) – The public is invited to join a diverse cross-section of the Palm Beach County community to celebrate at the high powered, inspiring and healing call-to-action fifth annual Voice Awards Luncheon program presented by Boca Raton’s Promise and its affiliate, the Palm Beach County Action Alliance for Mental Health on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. at Broken Sound Club, 2401 Willow Springs Drive, Boca Raton.
With an audience filled with residents, educators, government officials, healthcare and business leaders, employers, employees, religious leaders and media, the event celebrates strides made by key community leaders in “breaking the silence” on mental illness countywide. They did this by encouraging, stimulating and/or holding critical community conversations to increase support for families, friends, neighbors and colleagues in crisis.
The 2017 Voice Awards will be presented in the following categories:
Arts:
Gabriela Regalado, ITV
Education:
Michael C. Kane, Ph.D., School District of PBC
Cindy Wides, Mental Health First Aid
Leadership:
Dennis Estimon, “We Dine Together”
Pamela Frazier, West Palm Beach Coalition
Lauren Zuchman, Healthier Delray Beach
Service:
Peter Davey, NAMI-Palm Beach County
Ed Frontera, Boca Raton’s Promise
“Emotional and mental illnesses are more common than many think and so this luncheon provides an afternoon of gratitude honoring those who have been making a difference for so many in Palm Beach County challenged by mental illness,” said Palm Beach County Alliance for Mental Health Chairman Rita Thrasher. She reported that statistics indicate that 1 in 4 adults will have a mental illness in their lifetime, mental illness outnumbers cancer, diabetes and heart attacks combined, that one-half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14 and 22% of middle school students reported considering suicide (2011). This impact relates to bullying, dropout, absenteeism, violence; it affects all ages, cultures, faiths, workplaces and schools. Because is not taught, nor talked about the silence fear and shame prevent those who need help and their loved ones from seeking it.
Tickets are $70 per person and can be purchased online via www.bocaratonspromise.org. Event and table sponsorships are available; please contact Gerda Klein at 561-704-6419 or [email protected]. For more information on the Boca Raton’s Promise, its mission, vision and programming and/or the Palm Beach County Action Alliance, visit www.bocaratonspromise.org, email [email protected] or call (561) 866-1850.
