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Keynote Speaker Jennifer Holliday - mental health advocate and Grammy and Tony Award-Winning Artist

Gala Honorary Co-Chairs Congressman George Miller Congressman Pete Stark Congresswoman Anna Eshoo Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren Congresswoman Susan Davis Congresswoman Doris Matsui State Assemblymember Fiona Ma, Majority Whip State Assemblymember Mary Hayashi, Assistant Majority Whip State Assemblymember Mark Leno

The Iris Alliance Fund will host its Sixth Annual Gala fundraiser on November 1, 2007 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. This event will feature keynote speaker Jennifer Holliday, best known for her role as the original Effie "Melody" White in Dreamgirls, which garnered her the 1982 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. During the course of her successful career, Holliday was in despair for more than ten years before she could admit to herself that she had more than a case of the blues. Now she shares her story of overcoming depression and stresses that seeking medical treatment for this common disease is the key to successful recovery.

This year, the Iris Alliance Fund will honor two leaders for their contributions to the mental health field, Jerry Doyle and Mary Jane Gross. Jerry Doyle is the CEO of EMQ Children and Family Services, where he developed the groundbreaking Wraparound Service model. A dedicated advocate for emotionally troubled youth for the past 40 years, Mr. Doyle also serves as a Commissioner on the Mental Health Services Act Oversight & Accountability Commission. Mary Jane Gross is the President and CEO of STARS Behavioral Health Group, where she directs more than fifty mental health programs in over fifteen locations throughout California. She has been a tireless leader, advocate, innovator and entrepreneur for quality mental health care and treatment outcomes.

The event will also feature California State Senator Darrell Steinberg, Chair of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, Assemblymember Mary Hayashi, Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commissioner and Founder of the Iris Alliance Fund, and returning master of ceremonies Kevin McCormack, Media Relations Manager at California Pacific Medical Center.

That same day, the Iris Alliance Fund will convene its annual meeting of the National Leadership Council. This year's National Leadership Council meeting will look at campus-based mental health services and the community resources that serve as critical lifesavers for young adult, particularly crisis intervention hotlines.

To view sponsorship levels and ticket information for the gala, please download the:
Gala Sponsorship Form

For more information, please call 415.773.2878 or email mail@irisfund.org