By Jennifer Huffman
Elected officials, sponsors, vintners and volunteers braved the rain on April 26 to gather at the new Mentis Wellness Campus in Napa for Blue Skies Ahead, Mentis’ annual gala, to raise funds for Napa Valley’s mental wellness, according to a news release.
“Thanks to community support and incredible generosity, over $375,000 was raised in support of Mentis,” said a news release.
Blue Skies Ahead “raised critical funds and built community around the importance of accessible, high-quality mental health care for Napa County.”
Guests savored dishes from three local food trucks — Tacos y Chisme, Heritage Eats and Tacos El Muchacho Alegre — along with cocktails and mocktails created by Spritz66, Napa Valley wines, and local beer.
The event also featured live Cajun music by CZ and the Bon Vivants, and opportunities to learn about Mentis’ impact in the community. Singing auctioneer Ellen Toscano led an auction and fund-the-future paddle raise, according to the statement.
Mentis thanked attendees who joined the event despite the rain, and those who made gifts through the auction and fund-a-need paddle raise.
“With shifting state and federal funding priorities, support from individual donors is vital to ensuring that every member of the Napa Valley community can access the mental health support they need to thrive,” the nonprofit said.
“When a child experiences mental health concerns, parents usually have no idea where to turn. Organizations like Mentis are a crucial part of our safety net. Please give, and give generously,” said Doug Carlson, addressing the crowd with a personal story about the way mental illness can impact families.
Mentis also thanked the many sponsors and volunteers. “This event would not be possible without the commitment and hard work of this community,” said Rob Weiss, executive director at Mentis.
For more information, visit mentisnapa.org.