As last-minute preparations were underway for the 2020 Advocacy Gala, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Washtenaw County was recognized on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for the group’s lasting commitment to supporting mental health in the community.
“It was entered into the Congressional Record” on Feb. 21, 2020, said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, handing a framed commendation over to Executive Director Judy Gardner and board member Lois Maharg at the start of the evening’s festivities.
The commendation, advanced by Rep. Dingell, celebrates the 2020 Advocate Gala: Taking Off the Mask. It praises NAMI Washtenaw County for its mental health educational programs, support groups, and advocacy as well as its work to correct the stigmas attached to mental illness.
By way of summation, the last paragraph reads as follows: “Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring NAMI Washtenaw County as it hosts its Taking Off the Mask Gala. NAMI Washtenaw County continues to be a critical resource to many, and its unrelenting commitment to improving the lives of those living with mental conditions makes a real and lasting difference in our community. We are grateful for NAMI Washtenaw County’s meaningful impact and wish it continued success in the years ahead.”