Welcome to the NAMI-NYC Gala!

Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 6-10 PM 

Ziegfeld Ballroom, 141 West 54th Street, Manhattan  

All proceeds support NAMI-NYC’s mental health programs for anyone who needs them.

Gala Host: Jamie Gray Hyder

Jamie Gray Hyder is a classically trained, Lebanese-American actor, known for her work on iconic TV shows, such as Law & Order: SVU, in cult-classic video games such as Call of Duty, and as crowd-favorite animated characters for Netflix and DC. When not on set, Jamie works as a cook in professional kitchens and as an advocate with Giving Kitchen, Student Veterans of America & NAMI. 

Corporate Leadership Award

Award accepted by Kevin Lord, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, FOX 

Kevin Lord is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Fox Corporation. In this role, he oversees the Company’s talent acquisition, colleague development, culture and belonging, compensation and benefits and employee volunteering strategies. 

Earlier, Mr. Lord served as the Executive Vice President of Human Resources for NBC News and was the HR Integration leader during NBCUniversal’s extensive transition from General Electric (GE) to Comcast ownership. Before his time at NBC, Mr. Lord held several HR leadership positions with General Electric, including Chief Human Resources Officer for GE Plastics, GE Corporate HR Leader for Commercial & Communications, Senior Vice President of Human Resources for GE Vendor Financial Services, as well as various HR roles at GE Aviation. 

Mr. Lord began his career in human resources at Burlington Industries, later moving on to similar positions at Hewlett-Packard, Colgate-Palmolive and Roche. A graduate of State University of New York (SUNY) at Brockport with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Mr. Lord also received his Master’s Degree in Human Resources from the University of South Carolina. 

Mental Health Champion Award

NY State Senator Erik Bottcher, 47^th Senate District, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Cities 1 

Erik Bottcher is the recipient of NAMI-NYC’s Mental Health Champion Award. He represents New York State Senate District 47, striving to make New York a better place to live for everyone. Growing up in a small town in the Adirondack Mountains as the only gay person he knew, Erik’s personal struggles with depression sparked in him a lifelong dedication to helping the most marginalized members of society. As a Council Member, Erik authored and passed landmark legislation expanding mental health services in family homeless shelters and strengthening suicide prevention resources for students. As a Senator, Erik helped secure the passage of Francesco’s Law — legislation requiring the safe storage of firearms in an effort to help prevent suicide and accidental shootings. Senator Bottcher lives in Manhattan and remains deeply committed to building a more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive New York for all.      

Breaking the Stigma Award  

Ari’el Stachel, American Actor, 2018 Tony Award Winner 

Ari’el Stachel is the recipient of NAMI-NYC’s Breaking the Stigma Award. He is a Tony Award® and GRAMMY® Award–winning actor, singer, and writer. His new solo play OTHER comes Off-Broadway after acclaimed runs at Berkeley Rep and Berkshire Theatre Group. Stachel received the 2018 Tony Award® for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for originating the role of Haled in The Band’s Visit on Broadway, a performance that also earned Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk nominations. On screen, he stars in the upcoming feature Death Do Us Part and has appeared in Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling (Warner Bros.) and A24’s Zola. His television credits include Law & Order: SVU, Billions, Jessica Jones, Blue Bloods, and The Night Agent. 

Ending the Silence Award 

Michelle Tenzyk, NAMI-NYC Board Member, Founder of East Tenth Group 

Michelle Tenzyk, recipient of NAMI-NYC’s Ending the Silence Award, is a NAMI-NYC Board Member and the founder of East Tenth Group, Inc., an executive coaching and leadership firm. For more than 30 years, Michelle has partnered with CEOs and executive teams to strengthen leadership and culture. Her advocacy is deeply personal: having lived with clinical depression and anxiety, Michelle understands the cost of silence—and the power of speaking openly. She is committed to reducing stigma, especially in workplaces where struggle is too often hidden behind success. Today, Michelle is in full recovery and grateful for a life filled with Joe, her Bernese Mountain Dogs, meaningful work, running, and travel. The life Michelle has rebuilt—and the experience she carries—continue to shape how she works with leaders, helping build cultures where people can speak up, be heard, and do important work without leaving their humanity at the door. 

Sponsor Our Celebration

For more information or to confirm sponsorship, email Emma Chesed at echesed@naminyc.org.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Myrna Chao

Shelley and Steven Einhorn

Stacy and Jason Helfstein

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

The Monshaw Family

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Tony & Mary Ann Pasquinelli Foundation

Sara Meltzer/ Romenesa Foundation

Jeff Schoenfeld & Matt Holbein

Howard & Marlo Spilko

Michelle Tenzyk

Board of Directors

Meet our Board Members.