A Night of Celebration! Highlights From our 2022 Friend & Leader Awards Dinner

It was a night filled with moving remarks from prominent champions for youth mental health and well being. First Lady of Massachusetts Lauren Baker was honored for her work promoting youth mental health and supporting youth in foster care through the Wonderfund. She emphasized the importance of doing what we can, big or small, to support youth and help them reach their potential. “Whatever it is that you can do, you should do - because it matters, and it makes such a huge difference.”

State Representative Sean Garballey reflected on important behavioral health legislation passed during the last legislative session and the continued prioritization of mental health by the legislature. During his remarks, Rep. Garballey reflected on a previous conversation he had with former First Lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter in which she advised, “Keep fighting. Keep advocating. Do not let mental health be in the shadows. Talk about it. Make it part of the conversation.” That, he noted, is what Massachusetts has done and continues to do.

Emmy award-winning journalist and reporter for WCVB Channel 5 Ted Wayman closed the night with a powerful and moving testimony of his personal struggles with alcohol and substance use. He stressed the need for people to understand that recovery is possible and that there are many options to find help. Waymen discussed his struggles openly for the first time earlier this year on WCVB.

“There are a lot of mental health resources out there for people, and it changes lives.” he said. “Sometimes I look in a mirror because I know they changed my life.”