Child Mind Institute Raises $6.6 Million at Annual Child Advocacy Award Dinner for the Advancement of Children's Mental Health and Brain Research

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Child Mind Institute (www.childmind.org) raised over $6.6 million at its fourth annual Child Advocacy Award Dinner at Cipriani 42^nd Street Wednesday night. These critical funds allow the Child Mind Institute to continue providing life-changing mental health care for children, pursuing scientific breakthroughs, and expanding public education and outreach efforts.

The event, hosted by Meredith Vieira, honored Ram Sundaram, partner at Goldman Sachs and Child Mind Institute board member, and Pasko Rakic, MD, PhD, director of the Yale University Kavli Institute for Neuroscience. Mr. Sundaram was the recipient of the 2013 Child Advocacy Award for his foundational philanthropic contributions to children's mental health and the growth of the Child Mind Institute. Dr. Rakic received the 2014 Distinguished Scientist Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to developmental neuroscience. Both the 2013 Child Advocacy Award and the 2014 Distinguished Scientist Award were designed and donated by Michael Aram.

"Looking at tonight's honorees I can see a brighter future for all the young people who struggle with psychiatric and learning disorders, " said Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, president and founder of the Child Mind Institute. "Ram and Pasko embody the dedication, the commitment to breakthrough science and compassionate treatment, and the resolve that can make a real difference for our children and our children's children."

The evening celebrated the stories of families who have struggled with these disorders, most notably a six-year old girl joined by her parents who spoke movingly about their daughter's journey to overcome selective mutism.

The evening concluded with a hugely successful auction, led by Al Roker, to raise funds for the Child Mind Institute's Healthy Brain Network, which is pioneering innovative, collaborative approaches to brain research with the ultimate goal of developing biological tests to identify mental illness and track treatment response.

Dinner chairs included: Elizabeth and Michael Fascitelli, Debra G. Perlman and Gideon Gil, Brooke Garber Neidich and Daniel Neidich, Linnea and George Roberts, and Stephen M. Scherr.

Additional Benefit leadership and guests included: Christine and Richard Mack, Amy and John Phelan, Rula Jebreal-Altschul and Arthur G. Altschul, Jr., Mark Dowley, Julie Minskoff, Valerie Mnuchin, Claude Wasserstein, Jane Rosenthal, Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti and Lorenzo Lorenzotti, Joella and John Lykouretzos, Juliet de Baubigny and Javier Macaya, Dawn and Mark Ostroff, Coralie Charriol Paul and Dennis Paul, Danyelle and Josh Resnick, Wendy Svarre, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Kay Unger, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff and David Wolkoff, Roger Waters, Desiree Gruber and Kyle MacLachlan, Frederic Fekkai, Ellen Wiesenthal and Jason Silva.

About the Child Mind Institute (childmind.org) The Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming mental health care for children everywhere. Founded by Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz and Brooke Garber Neidich, our organization is committed to finding more effective treatments for childhood psychiatric and learning disorders, building the science of healthy brain development, and empowering children and their families with help, hope, and answers. The Child Mind Institute does not accept funding from the pharmaceutical industry.

SOURCE Child Mind Institute