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 Press Release 
For immediate release in Concert with the International Partnership for Mental Health Research, to Hold Fundraising Gala at Canadian Embassy Mike Wallace to present NARSAD’s Wellstone Leadership Award to Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (R.I.) and posthumously to writer Art Buchwald; CNN’s Frank Sesno to emcee The event is also intended to help draw focus to the impact of mental disorders and to herald increased international cooperation on research into the causes, treatments and prevention of brain and behavior disorders. The Canadian Embassy agreed to serve as the event venue in recognition of the strong level of Canada-U.S. research cooperation that exists today. For example, NARSAD and other U.S. partners have joined with Canadian research organizations to form the International Partnership for Mental Health Research, an illustration of how scientists can transcend borders and work together on issues that affect citizens of the world. The highlight of the evening is the presentation of NARSAD’s annual Wellstone Leadership Award, named in honor of the late two-term senator from Minnesota. Senator Wellstone, often described as “the conscience of the Senate”, worked tirelessly throughout his career for defenseless and forgotten citizens, including those with disabling mental illnesses. NARSAD is proud to announce that this year’s Wellstone Award will be given to Representative Kennedy of Rhode Island, and to Mr. Buchwald, the renowned columnist and humorist who died last month in Washington. NARSAD selected Representative Kennedy due to his long-standing legislative efforts on behalf of those with mental illness. He cosponsored legislation that would end insurance discrimination against mental illness, and has authored numerous other pieces of mental health legislation, including efforts to alleviate the critical shortage of child mental health care providers, and efforts to improve mental health services for seniors. He was a critical component of a bipartisan effort to end the practice of states conditioning mental health care for seriously emotionally disturbed children on their parent’s relinquishment of custody. Representative Kennedy has also taken a leading role in advocating for funding of mental health programs, including increases in the mental health block grant, creation of a new initiative to promote mental health among seniors, and appropriations for a new program that would help divert mentally ill offenders into appropriate healthcare facilities instead of jails. He has won numerous awards from other national non-profits for his exceptional efforts in this area. NARSAD selected Mr. Buchwald for his similarly exemplary efforts on behalf of those with mental illness. Through his writings and public disclosures about his own struggles, he humanized the challenges of mental illness. In talking with Mr. Buchwald about the award presentation over the past year, his wit about his struggles continued to bubble up into conversation, much as it did during his public talks about depression with his good friends Mike Wallace, of CBS’ “60 Minutes,” the late Pulitzer Prize winning author William Styron and CNN CEO Tom Johnson. These men, all of whom suffered serious depression, banded together to make public appearances to talk about depression, and dubbed themselves “the blues brothers.” Mike Wallace will present the award to Representative Kennedy and deliver a posthumous tribute to his late friend Mr. Buchwald. CNN’s Frank Sesno will emcee. The gala evening gets underway with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m., and will also feature entertainment, an exhibition of art by Canadian artists, and a raffle of luxurious jewelry from Adeler Jewelry, an Apple iPod Nano and original art. Tickets to the event are $500 per person and can be purchased by contacting NARSAD at 800-829-8289 or events@narsad.org. Proceeds from the gala will benefit NARSAD: The Mental Health Research Association, the world’s largest donor-supported organization dedicated to funding innovative scientific research on the causes, treatments and prevention of mental illnesses. Since its inception in 1987 as the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, NARSAD has distributed nearly $200 million in research grants to 2,284 scientists in the United States and 25 other countries. NARSAD research grants often provide “seed money” for fund cutting-edge research on such conditions as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, ADHD, autism and other childhood and adult disorders. Preceding the gala, on Sunday, February 25th, NARSAD will hold a free public symposium on some of the most pressing mental health issues facing Americans today. Research experts will present their latest findings on post-traumatic stress disorder, the mental health effects of war, depression in women and late-life depression. The symposium takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st Street, N.W. Reservations are recommended and can be made by contacting NARSAD at 800-829-8289 or events@narsad.org. Co-chairs for NARSAD’s “Mission Possible” gala and symposium are Sheila Rabaut, a member of NARSAD’s board of directors, and Wendy Adeler Hall. Event sponsors include the Rabaut Family Foundation, Abramson Family Foundation, employees of BAE SYSTEMS Land Armaments, Constance and Stephen Lieber, Adeler Jewelers, Janet and Donald Boardman, Teresa and Peter Clare, Bonnie and Alan Hammerschlag, Sabra and Dick Ladd, Peterson Foundation, Cypress International, Mantech International Corporation–George J. Pedersen, Mary Le Fauve, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Apex Systems Inc, Greenberg Traurig, Van Scoyoc Associates and Washington Life Magazine. NARSAD’s first “Mission Possible” symposium and gala took place in 2004 at the Spy Museum. The name for the Washington events, “Mission Possible,” reflects NARSAD’s belief that finding cures for mental illness is an attainable goal. NARSAD’s mission -- to find the causes, better treatments and cures for severe mental illnesses -- now, more than ever, needs support as government funding for research has decreased and as breakthroughs in technology allow for more rapid progress in studying the complex functions and structures of the brain. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in four Americans suffers from mental illness. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that depression alone costs U.S. businesses $44 billion annually, and the World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will likely be the world's second leading cause of disability. For more information about brain and behavioral disorders, and about some of the latest research being conducted on them by NARSAD-supported scientists, visit www.narsad.org. |
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