Each year at the NAMI National Convention, we honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in furthering the goals of our movement. Included below are our awards winners.
The Rona and Ken Purdy Award to End Discrimination recognizes the sustained contributions of an individual or organization to raise public awareness, reduce stigma and advance our mission to build better lives for people with mental illness and their families.
| 2021 | D. Brian Hufford, J.D. |
| 2020 | Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. |
| 2020 | Linda Brady, Ph.D. |
| 2019 | Taraji P. Henson |
| 2018 | Sue Abderholden |
| 2017 | Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority |
| 2016 | Shannon Jaccard |
| 2015 | NAMI New York City Metro |
| 2014 | Wil Wheaton |
| 2013 | The Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) |
| 2012 | Ron Barber |
| 2011 | Doris Buffet |
| 2010 | Glenn Close |
| 2009 | Nathaniel Ayers |
| 2008 | Jane Pauley |
| 2007 | Jonathan Charles Alder |
| 2006 | The Honorable Richard Cody |
| 2005 | Jamie Blyth |
| 2004 | Jean Singleton Liechty |
| 2003 | Laura Lawless |
| 2002 | Sally Moorman |
| 2001 | Carrie Fisher |
| 2000 | Ken Steele |
The Lionel Aldridge Champions Award recognizes an individual living with mental illness who demonstrates courage, leadership and service in their work to promote recovery and ensure that all people living with mental illness live full lives in their communities. NAMI’s highest peer award is given in the spirit of our organization’s ongoing commitment and devotion to supporting a movement and community that is inclusive of people living with mental illness, their family members and friends.
| 2021 | Nadine Lewis |
| 2020 | Bill Carruthers |
| 2019 | Mauro Ranallo |
| 2018 | John Freeburg |
| 2017 | Thomas Wilkins |
| 2016 | Johnny Limbaugh |
| 2015 | Terry Taggart |
| 2014 | Jason DeShaw |
| 2013 | Peggy Swarbrick, Ph. D. |
| 2012 | Bonnie Kelly |
| 2011 | Mark Vonnegut, M.D. |
| 2010 | Quentin Schroeter |
| 2009 | Bruce Van Dusen |
| 2008 | Jean Campbell, Ph.D. |
| 2007 | Kitty Dukakis |
| 2006 | Anne Pearce (Patty Duke) |
| 2005 | Jim McNulty |
| 2004 | William MacPhee |
| 2003 | Hikmah Gardiner |
| 2002 | Bryce Miller |
| 2001 | Maurice Benard |
| 2000 | Fred Levine |
The Richard and Betsy Greer Advocacy Award honors NAMI advocates whose leadership and vision has advanced policy and advocacy efforts that impact individuals living with mental illness and their families.
| 2021 | Ken Norton |
| 2020 | Peggy Huppert |
| 2019 | Matthew Shapiro |
| 2018 | Greg Hansch |
| 2017 | Timothy Clement |
| 2016 | May Farr |
| 2015 | Jim Ogle |
| 2014 | Senator Creigh Deeds |
| 2013 | Eva Eastwood |
| 2012 | Peggy Straw and Gordon Bopp |
| 2011 | Joel (Buddy) Wier, III |
| 2010 | Jim and Diane Hall |
| 2009 | Rev. Craig Rennebohm |
| 2008 | Jane Novak |
| 2007 | Naomi Verdugo |
| 2006 | Joe and Joann Zwack |
| 2005 | Julie Tait and Family |
| 2004 | Carol Carothers |
| 2003 | Gary and Sandra Mihelish |
The Sam Cochran Criminal Justice Award recognizes exemplary individuals whose work in the criminal justice system has improved the fair and humane treatment of people with mental illness.
| 2021 | Judge Dan Eisenstein |
| 2020 | Pat Strode |
| 2019 | Judge William J. Boyce |
| 2018 | Judge Peter J. Garcia |
| 2017 | Mark Gale |
| 2016 | Rick Raemisch |
| 2015 | Jackie Lacey |
| 2014 | Sheriff Thomas Dart |
| 2013 | Senior Corporal Herb Cotner |
| 2012 | Sheriff Sue Rahr |
| 2011 | Chief William McManus |
| 2010 | Chief David Kunkle |
| 2009 | Judge Stephen Manley |
| 2008 | Lt. Deanne Adams |
| 2007 | Vernon M. Keenan |
| 2006 | Judge Steven Leifman |
| 2005 | Officer Frank Webb (Houston PD) |
| 2004 | Sergeant Carol Oleksak (Albuquerque PD) |
The Young Leader Award recognizes young adults who exemplify exceptional leadership among their peers to foster a culture of recovery and resiliency that helps people living with mental illness live full lives in their communities.
| 2021 | Annie Vitti |
| 2020 | Patrick Dowling |
| 2019 | Diana Chao |
| 2018 | Eleni Gogos |
| 2017 | Rachel Ritchie |
| 2016 | Amanda Lipp |
| 2015 | Alexis Hill |
| 2014 | Amanda Swindle |
| 2013 | Stacy Hollingsworth |
The Multicultural Outreach Award honors effective efforts to ensure that diversity and inclusion are high priorities within NAMI.
| 2021 | NAMI Contra Costa County |
| 2020 | Shanti Das |
| 2019 | Lorenzo Lewis |
| 2018 | AJ Mendez |
| 2017 | Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Tennessee Chapters |
| 2016 | Elaine Peng |
| 2015 | NAMI Wisconsin |
| 2014 | NAMI Ohio |
| 2013 | Brenda Wesley |
| 2012 | Gareth Fenley |
| 2011 | NAMI San Antonio |
| 2010 | Martha Silva |
| 2009 | Jackie Lukitsch |
| 2008 | Luisa Perez |
| 2007 | NAMI San Diego |
| 2006 | NAMI Tennessee |
| 2005 | NAMI Southern Arizona |
| 2004 | Lupe Morin |
| 2003 | NAMI Dallas |
| 2002 | NAMI New Jersey |
| 2001 | NAMI of Greater Kansas City |
The Outstanding NAMI Affiliate Award is bestowed upon a NAMI Affiliate that demonstrates exceptional leadership, strong community presence, outreach to diverse communities and exemplary stewardship of the NAMI mission.
| 2021 | NAMI Bucks County and NAMI St. Tammany |
| 2020 | NAMI Greenville |
| 2019 | NAMI Fox Valley |
| 2018 | NAMI Juneau |
| 2017 | NAMI Greater Houston |
| 2016 | NAMI Rochester |
| 2015 | NAMI Western Nevada |
| 2014 | NAMI Greater Cleveland |
| 2013 | NAMI Austin |
| 2012 | NAMI Beaufort Country S.C. |
| 2011 | NAMI San Diego |
| 2010 | NAMI San Antonio |
| 2009 | NAMI Central Ozarks |
| 2008 | NAMI New York City Metro and NAMI Mid-Carolina |
| 2007 | NAMI of DuPage County (IL) |
| 2006 | NAMI Southwest Louisiana |
| 2005 | NAMI Pinellas County (FL) |
| 2004 | NAMI Metro Baltimore |
| 2003 | NAMI Collier County (FL) |
| 2002 | NAMI Fort Wayne (IN) |
| 2001 | NAMI Mercer (NJ) |
| 2000 | NAMI Memphis |
The Outstanding NAMI State Organization Award recognizes exceptional efforts on the state level in carrying out the NAMI mission as defined by the NAMI Standards of Excellence.
| 2021 | NAMI Georgia |
| 2020 | NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania |
| 2019 | NAMI Washington |
| 2018 | NAMI Texas |
| 2016 | NAMI Alabama |
| 2015 | NAMI Massachusetts |
| 2014 | NAMI Virginia |
| 2013 | NAMI Wisconsin |
| 2012 | NAMI California and NAMI North Carolina |
| 2011 | NAMI Connecticut |
| 2010 | NAMI New Hampshire |
| 2009 | NAMI Minnesota |
| 2008 | NAMI Illinois |
| 2007 | NAMI Utah |
| 2006 | NAMI Louisiana |
| 2005 | NAMI Kansas |
| 2004 | NAMI South Carolina |
| 2003 | NAMI Missouri |
| 2002 | NAMI Idaho |
| 2001 | NAMI Florida |
| 2000 | NAMI North Carolina |
The Gloria Huntley Award is presented by the NAMI Restraints and Seclusion Committee for exemplary work in elimination restraint and seclusion.
| 2020 | Terry Kupers, M.D. |
| 2019 | Ron Honberg |
| 2016 | Bill Lichtenstein |
The Ken Steele Award recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual living with mental illness to improve quality of life, increase empowerment and promote integration and inclusion for other peers.
| 2020 | Lucy Wilmer |
| 2019 | Christi Collins |
| 2018 | Leah Thedford |
| 2017 | Christine Thompson |
| 2016 | Alicia Smith |
The Distinguished Service Award is given in recognition of exceptional efforts to further NAMI’s goal of improving the lives of people living with mental illness. *This award is discontinued as of 2020
| 2019 | Robert K. Heinssen, Ph.D. |
| 2018 | Mary Elizabeth “Tipper” Gore |
| 2017 | Chirlane McCray |
| 2016 | Eric T. Schneiderman |
| 2015 | Sen. Darrell Steinberg |
| 2014 | V.P Joe & Dr. Jill Biden |
| 2013 | Gary Mihelish, D.M.D. |
| 2012 | Gen. Peter Chiarelli ( Ret.) |
| 2011 | Joyce Burland, Ph.D. |
| 2010 | Rep. Patrick Kennedy |
| 2009 | Stella March |
| 2008 | Judge Steven Leifman |
| 2007 | Henry J. Steadman, Ph.D. |
| 2006 | Gunnar & Susan Christiansen |
| 2005 | Rosalynn Carter |
| 2004 | Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton |
| 2003 | Sen. Paul Wellstone (posthumously) |
| 2002 | Michael Hogan, Ph.D. |
| 2001 | Laurie Flynn |
| 2000 | David Satcher, MD, Ph.D. |
The Outstanding NAMI Member Award is the highest honor given by NAMI to a member in recognition of long and effective work toward accomplishing NAMI’s goals. *This award is discontinued as of 2020
| 2019 | NAMI Members in Pennsylvania |
| 2018 | Jessica Gruneich |
| 2017 | Pastor Lesley E. Jones |
| 2016 | Toni Hoy |
| 2015 | Diane Kratt |
| 2014 | Judy and Donald Turnbaugh |
| 2013 | Doug and Ruth McKnight |
| 2012 | Kathy Brandt |
| 2011 | Rev. Hal Taylor |
| 2010 | Jacqueline Shannon |
| 2009 | Roscoe Swann |
| 2008 | Jim & Carol Howe |
| 2007 | Evelyn Miller and Don Looney |
| 2006 | Janet Susin |
| 2005 | William Harwood |
| 2004 | Marcia Mathes |
| 2003 | Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. |
| 2002 | Fred Frese, Ph.D. |
| 2001 | Ray Sinor |
| 2000 | Eleanor Owen |
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).
