More than 650 supporters, partners, staff, and other friends of The Jed Foundation (JED) gathered on June 4 at the organization’s annual gala, raising more than $1.6 million to support JED’s mission protecting mental health and preventing suicide for teens and young adults.
The evening, hosted for the second time by Emmy Award-winning journalist Savannah Sellers, celebrated JED’s accomplishments and honored youth and adults who embody its mission — while also acknowledging the challenges that remain in ensuring all young people have access to the support they deserve.
“We are gathered in this beautiful space to help The Jed Foundation determine the future of an entire generation,” Sellers said in her introductory remarks. “And that’s not hyperbole. That is the reality that we face in America today.”
Sellers said she has spoken to dozens of teens in the past year and always asks “if they are feeling anxious, depressed, or hopeless” — and “every single one” has raised their hands.
“And that is why we need The Jed Foundation to be there for every single young person who needs them,” she concluded.
The sold-out gala featured performances by Tony Award-nominated actress Lorna Courtney, Tony-, Emmy-, Grammy-, and Pulitzer-winning composer Tom Kitt, BAILEN the Band, and the Brooklyn United Marching Band. JED also celebrated honorees who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to mental health advocacy.
Victoria’s Secret PINK was recognized with the 2025 Corporate Voice of Mental Health Award for its commitment to raising awareness and providing resources for young people navigating mental health challenges. The company has partnered with JED for five years, and in 2024 sponsored the PINK with Purpose Project to honor 10 Gen Z advocates, some of whom attended the gala. Each awardee received a $25,000 grant to support mental health and strengthen communities.
“Victoria’s Secret and PINK are committed to continuing this vital work, creating a world where mental health is talked about openly, where it’s safe to seek help, and where every person feels truly seen and supported,” said Leslie Nixon, AVP of Community Relations at Victoria’s Secret, who accepted the award on behalf of the company. “Let’s continue to support our communities, champion organizations like JED, and do our part to make a tangible difference for young people every single day.”
For their leadership in championing open dialogue about emotional health, Ally Love, a Peloton instructor, TODAY contributor, and founder/CEO of Love Squad, and Eric Nam, singer, actor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of DIVE Studios, were honored with the 2025 Voice of Mental Health Awards.
In her acceptance speech, Love emphasized the importance of reaching out for help when we need it — and how hard or inaccessible that is for too many people.
“This is for the parent who doesn’t feel they can ask for assistance because society somehow has told you that if you make it alone, you are some type of supreme being. This is for the women who believe that love is contingent if they are perfect. This is for the father who feels the weight of being the sole provider is their only identity. It’s for the teenager who thinks their feelings are flaws. For the friend who always checks on others but hasn’t been checked on in a very long time,” she said.
Nam talked about how he’s incorporated mental health themes into his music and the power of storytelling to create “space for others to breathe, to be seen, and to speak.”
“While the people in this room tonight may be the strongest allies to youth and their mental health, it’s important to remember – you may be the exception and not the rule,” Nam said. “Many young people still fear being honest and are often met with disbelief, discomfort, or silence when they find the courage to open up.”
As it does every year, JED also honored two young people with the Student Voice of Mental Health Awards. This year’s Student Voice of Mental Health Awards were presented by Remi Bader — content creator, model, and fashion inclusivity and mental health advocate — to Nora Yanyi Sun of Harvard University and Rohan Satija of Westwood High School.
At Harvard University, Nora Sun has focused her advocacy on expanding equitable mental health support, with a strong belief in innovation and peer-to-peer tools that meet young people where they are. In her remarks, she reflected on her vision: “I look forward to ushering in a future where mental wellbeing can be universally accessible, and The Jed Foundation will definitely be a part of that dream coming true.”
Rohan Satija, a student at Westwood High School, shared the power of storytelling as a tool for emotional health: “I found comfort and solace in the school library. Reading books about characters who felt different, characters whom I could relate to, writing stories where I could rewrite the endings, and performing in theatre productions where I didn’t have to be myself to feel seen. Storytelling became therapeutic for me, helping me improve my mental health.”
Even as the gala celebrated the accomplishments and progress that have been made, it also served as a reminder of the challenges that remain. In his remarks, JED CEO John MacPhee said that policy debates over issues such as individual rights, funding for Medicaid and other support services, and approaches to fairness and inclusion are taking their toll on young people’s mental health and sense of safety. And, he noted, many digital products and platforms are designed to maximize profits at the expense of youth well-being.
“Every young person deserves to feel supported, valued, loved, and safe as a member of the community — for who they are,” MacPhee said. “Young people thrive when they have solidity, connectedness, purpose, hope for a bright future, and the coping skills to handle challenges. They need caring adults and institutions to consistently show up for them. Let’s give them that.”
See more photos from the gala, and support JED’s transformative work.
If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone right now, text, call, or chat 988 for a free confidential conversation with a trained counselor 24/7.
You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.
If this is a medical emergency or if there is immediate danger of harm, call 911 and explain that you need support for a mental health crisis.
