Celebrating Hope: JED Gala 2025 Unites Advocates for Youth Mental Health - AHN Media Group
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July 15, 2025

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The Jed Foundation (JED) held its annual gala on June 4 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, gathering more than 650 guests for a special evening dedicated to raising awareness and taking action for youth mental health. The sold-out event raised over $1.6 million in support of JED’s mission: to protect emotional health and prevent suicide among teens and young adults.

Hosted by Emmy-winning journalist, Savannah Sellers, the gala recognized individuals and organizations at the helm of the drive for youth mental health awareness. “The mental health struggles of our young people are undeniable, as suicide remains a leading cause of death for this population,” said JED CEO John MacPhee who emphasized the urgency of their work. “The dedication of tonight’s incredible individuals, organizations, and advocates — helping JED protect and prioritize student mental health with life-saving tools, resources, and connections — serves as a positive reminder that it takes every one of us to prevent suicide and foster a kinder community here at home and across the country.”

Honoring Voices Making an Impact

Singer, actor, and DIVE Studios co-founder Eric Nam and Peloton instructor and entrepreneur Ally Love received the 2025 Voice of Mental Health Award. Both were praised for destigmatizing mental health and encouraging open dialogue.

Nam highlighted the importance of prioritizing self-care, “Mental health is universal; it impacts how every one of us shows up in the world.” His work with JED and Mindset has helped connect AAPI youth and K-pop fans to personal mental health stories. 

Eric Nam | Singer, Actor, and DIVE Studios Co-founder

Love also shared her own experiences: “Living with mental health challenges is part of my story, but it does not define who I am. ”

Ally Love | Entrepreneur, CEO/Founder of Love Squad

Victoria’s Secret PINK earned the Corporate Voice of Mental Health Award, recognized for a five-year partnership with JED focused on Gen Z engagement. Through digital tools, campus outreach, and initiatives like the PINK with Purpose Project — which awarded $25,000 grants to 10 young advocates — PINK has helped expand access to support and resources.

“PINK is all about inspiring Gen Z to show up authentically and find joy in this chapter of life,”  said Leslie Nixon, Associate Vice President of Community Relations at Victoria’s Secret & Co. “Our work with JED highlighted that supporting positive mental health is the key to fostering growth, connection, and future success. 

Leslie Nixon, Associate Vice President of Community Relations at Victoria’s Secret & Co.

Celebrating Student Advocates and Voices of Hope

Model and mental health advocate Remi Bader introduced the recipients of the 2025 Student Voice of Mental Health Award: Rohan Satija, a recently graduated Texas high school senior, and Nora Yanyi Sun, a rising junior at Harvard. Both students shared powerful reflections on their mental health journeys and their work to uplift peers through advocacy.

The evening featured performances by Lorna Courtney, Thomas Robert Kitt, BAILEN the Band, and the Brooklyn United Marching Band, each contributing to a moving celebration of resilience, hope, and connection.

To view event photos, visit JED’s Facebook photo album.
To support JED’s work, visit jedfoundation.org/donate.

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Founder of Penn Asian Senior Services Im Ja Choi Passed Away At 73

A well-known supporter of Asian American seniors and the founder and emeritus CEO of the nonprofit Penn Asian Senior Services, Im Ja Choi,  passed away on Wednesday, June 22, from lung cancer in a South Korean hospital, she was 73. 

A memorial service will be conducted on July 16 at 3:00 pm at the Evergreen Center in Philadelphia. Contributions in her name will be appreciated.

Ms. Choi was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1948, majored in literature, and graduated from Korea University. She moved to Philadelphia after marrying her childhood friend Jung Choi in 1971, where she studied organizational dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania. She was a top-producing real estate agent in the 1980s and 1990s. 

She started Penn Asian Senior Services in 2004 to help Asian American elders with linguistic and cultural obstacles. Because she couldn’t get home care for her mother, and after hearing horrible experiences from other caregivers, she founded the charity that provides in-home care and homemaking services in over two dozen languages.

She undertook the fundraising efforts and strategic planning of the nonprofit, for which the charity received grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and numerous organizations. 

Moreover, she has also opened an adult day care for immigrants with language and cultural barriers, a state-licensed vocational school for entry-level Asian health-care workers, and a seniors community center. 

In 2013, she received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. The Independence Blue Cross Foundation president Lorina Marshall-Blake wrote that the region needed more health visionaries like Im Ja Choi. Ken Yang, CEO of Penn Asian Senior Services, said Ms. Choi’s care, generosity, and love for her family and community matched her innovative leadership.

She was also recognized by the governor as a 2014 Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania for her “extraordinary service and achievements to the Commonwealth.” In the same year, she gave the commencement address at Penn State Abington where she quoted “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

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