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Over 3,7000 Participants Gathered at ZOO Miami, Raising $385,000 and Highlighting the Growing Demand for Mental Health Services in Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys
With more than 3,700 participants and 265 teams, the Fourth Annual Walk for Mental Health Awareness hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Miami-Dade on Saturday, May 18 at Zoo Miami raised $385,000 toward NAMI Miami-Dade’s free support groups, peer mentoring, outreach and adult and youth educational programs.
“This is our fourth year hosting the walk, and we are thrilled to see it grow in attendance and fundraising each year. This growth speaks volumes about the tremendous need in our community,” said Susan Holtzman, CEO & President of NAMI Miami-Dade. “Thanks to the generous support of our participants and donors, exceeding our fundraising goal means we can continue to expand our vital services and programs in Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys. However, the need remains great, and we invite you to continue supporting our cause—donations are open through the month of June.”
Statistics continue to highlight the critical need for mental health resources in our community. According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 5 people experience a mental illness each year. Mental health struggles have also led to a concerning suicide crisis among teens, as well as Black and underserved communities.
“There is so much we need to do to address mental health issues, and by simply talking about it, we are challenging the heavy stigma surrounding mental illness. Given the rising statistics, we have intensified our efforts to reach Black and underserved communities and to educate the broader community about mental health and the free resources available through NAMI Miami-Dade,” added Ms. Holtzman.
Acknowledging the efforts and commitment of NAMI Miami-Dade and its partners, several public officials attended the Walk, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Commissioners Eileen Higgins, Roberto J. Gonzalez, and Juan Carlos Bermudez, as well as Miami-Dade County School Board member Lucia Baez Geller.
In addition to its record-breaking turnout, the 2024 Walk for Mental Health Awareness united a variety of health and mental health organizations, showcasing the range of resources available in Miami-Dade County. Featured representatives and sponsors included Thriving Mind South Florida, the managing entity responsible for the mental health and substance use system in Miami Dade and Monroe; Westcare’s Mobile Response Units funded by Thriving Mind and providers of Miami Dade’s new crisis response system; 988, the Mental Health and Suicide Crisis line managed by Jewish Community Services, and Miami Dade Police Department, where a co-responder model brings clinicians and law enforcement together to respond to crisis calls.
NAMI Miami-Dade also had the enthusiastic support of many corporate and community sponsors and teams, including Gold Sponsors: Zoo Miami Foundation, Key Biscayne Community Foundation, Carmen’s Luxury Travel, Teva, Karuna Therapeutics, NSA Cares and Bank of America. Silver Sponsors included: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Segal Trials, West Coast University, Baptist Health, Larkin Health Systems, Cayon Development Group, The Children’s Trust, Univision Miami Contigo, Unity on the Bay, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Carisk Partners, Comprehensive Psychiatric Care, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, University of Miami Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral, and Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez. For a complete list of sponsors, go to namiwalks.org/Miami.
About NAMI Miami-Dade
NAMI Miami-Dade County is an affiliate of the nation’s largest peer-led mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of individuals affected by a mental health condition and their families. NAMI Miami-Dade offers free and confidential mental health support, education, and advocacy for individuals and their families and friends in both English and Spanish. For more information, call 305-665-2540, or visit NAMIMiami.org and connect with us on Facebook or Instagram at @NAMIMiami.
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