About 350 people are expected to gather July 19 for an evening focused on mental health and wellness in South Mississippi.
The 12th Annual Don’t Worry Be Happy event for the Mental Health Association of South Mississippi will be held at the Biloxi Civic Center and begin at 7 p.m. Honorees — including three individuals, four pairs and one organization– will be highlighted on stage, raising money for the Mental Health Association and presenting auction packages for bidders.
Each year, a community member is selected to receive the Annette O’Keefe Humanitarian Award. The 2019 recipient is Dorothy P. Wilson, editor and publisher of Gulf Coast Woman Magazine. With 35 years of experience in publishing and marketing, Wilson has received numerous community honors. She is president-elect of Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce: co-chairwoman of Lighthouse Business & Professional Women and a board member of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Foundation. She is former chairwoman for the Mental Health Association of Mississippi and continues to support the organization through donations of services and furniture for homeless being relocated.
Other honorees include Biloxi Bay Area Chamber of Commerce — Yvonne Gajewski, Tina Ross Seamans, Eric Sievers, and Jean McGrury, Greg and Andrea Bufkin, Mary Casalme and Brandy Jarvis Ibos, Corey Christy, Joshua and Angelle Hahn, Elina Lee, Jeremy McHugh, and John and Anna Ward Sukmann.
Attendees will be treated to a food tasting by Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort, Cypress Taphouse, Fleur de Lis Gourmet Bakery, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, Harrah’s Gulf Coast and more. They also will enjoy live music, a silent auction and a mixology contest hosted by Tito’s.
With a history dating back to 1963, The Mental Health Association of South Mississippi now has direct service programs of support for people with mental health challenges and prevention education. These include a drop-in center for adults, homeless outreach, supportive housing, wellness education and peer support. MHA is the National Institute of Mental Health’s state outreach partner and the only Mississippi affiliate of Mental Health America.
DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY!
Friday July 19, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.