Mental Health Advocates of WNY to Honor the Lee Foundation

The Mental Health Advocates of WNY (MHA) will host its 57th annual dinner and auction beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at the Atrium@Rich’s. 

At the dinner, The Patrick P. Lee Foundation and WBFO will receive the MHA’s Advocacy Award for the impact they’ve made in the community through normalizing the conversation about mental health/illness through their Mental Health Initiative. WBFO’s “Mental Health Initiative” is a two-year project that is funded by The Patrick P. Lee Foundation. The project will provide in-depth coverage of mental health issues and help to build the mental health literacy of the community.

Niagara Falls School District will be presented with the Community Impact Award, as it has taken a number of steps to address the mental health needs of youth in the community. Administrators have trained their entire district in mental health first aid, invested in early social-emotional learning, and hosted a nationally known suicide-prevention speaker.

Bruce Nisbet, president and CEO of Spectrum Health and Human Services, will receive the Professional of the Year Award for his dedication to the mental health community in Western New York over the course of his 40 year-plus career.

Kyle Okposo of the Buffalo Sabres will receive the Courage to Come Back Award for his outstanding resiliency and ability to rise above his mental health challenges and share his personal experiences to help individuals who are going through similar situations. In 2018, Okposo became a campaign advocate for JustTellOne.org, addressing the issues of depression and suicide.

Doug Bronson, a dedicated court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer, is being honored as Volunteer of the Year.

Henny Harris, a retired U.S. Marine who volunteers for the MHA’s Operation Children of the Military Program, is also being honored as Volunteer of the Year.