Celebrating friends and leaders!

MAMH's Annual Friend & Leader Award Dinner salutes individuals whose work contributes to progress in awareness, health promotion, prevention and effective treatment for children and adults affected by mental health challenges throughout Massachusetts.

This year, we're raising awareness and funds for youth mental health, honoring individuals and organizations whose work has a positive, lasting impact on all Commonwealth residents.

2023 Friend & Leader Honorees

Friend & Leader Award

  • Michael Curry, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

Youth Mental Health Advocacy Award

  • Dr. Kevin Churchwell and Boston Children's Hospital

Spirit of Compassion Award

  • Lyndia Downie, Pine Street Inn
Sponsors Image 081723

Watch last year's Friend & Leader Award Dinner:

View Video

Past Honorees

Friend & Leader Award

  • Susan and Steve Pollock, 2022
  • Johnson & Johnson, Moderna & Pfizer, 2021
  • Robert F. Rivers, 2020
  • Hon. Karen E. Spilka, 2019
  • Hon. Robert A. DeLeo, 2018
  • Hon. Joe Kennedy, 2017
  • Bernard J. Carey, 2016
  • Andrew Dreyfus, 2015
  • Timothy R. Murphy
  • Nick Littlefield
  • Peter J. Scanlon, PhD
  • Jerrold Rosenbaum, MD
  • John E. Drew

Spirit of Compassion Award

  • First Lady of the Commonwealth Lauren Baker, 2022
  • Sen. Julian Cyr & Rep. Marjorie Decker, 2021
  • Hon. Cindy Friedman, 2020
  • Matt Fishman, 2019
  • Audrey Shelto, 2018
  • Joy B. Rosen, 2017
  • Joan Mikula, 2016
  • Jean & James Hunt, 2015
  • Hon. Martin Walsh, 2014
  • Deborah Enos, 2013
  • Steven A. Tolman, 2012
  • Victoria Reggie Kennedy, 2011
  • Hon. Therese Murray, 2010

Partners in Progress Award

  • Representative Sean Garballey, 2022
  • Gov. Charlie Baker, Health and Human Services Sec. Marylou Sudders, Senate Pres. Karen Spilka & House Speaker Ronald Mariano, 2021
  • Vic DiGravio, 2019
  • Mathieu Bermingham, MD, 2018
  • Hon. Frederick Berry, 2017
  • Hon. Brian Dempsey, 2016
  • Timothy O'Leary, 2016

Youth Mental Health Advocacy Award

  • UMass President Marty Meehan, 2022

Special Recognition Award

  • WCVB Channel 5
  • Hon. Seth Moulton, 2020
  • Lisa Fortuna, MD, 2019

Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Dr. Mary Jane England, 2021
  • James T. Brett, 2018
  • Phil Johnston, 2017

Lifetime Advocacy Award

  • MAMH Governing Board Member Joe D. Feaster, Jr., 2022


Dr. Mary Jane England sits with two members of her family outside at the 2021 Friend & Leader Award Dinner. They are all smiling and leaning in towards one another with a backdrop of Adirondack chairs and outdoor lights.
Guest emcee Karen Holmes Ward, of WCVB Channel 5, stands behind a podium smiling at the 2021 MAMH Friend & Leader Award Dinner. She's set along a backdrop of blue and black curtains, with a few crowd members applauding in the foreground.

Past Friend & Leader Programming

View Video
View Video
View Video