APA Foundation Gala at San Francisco City Hall

The APA Annual Meeting is a busy four-and-a-half days of rushing to sessions, exchanging knowledge, and making new connections. The APA Foundation Gala offers the perfect opportunity to relax and connect in one of San Francisco’s most iconic locations: the magnificent City Hall.

On Monday night, May 18, the Foundation will return to the site of APA’s memorable 175th anniversary celebration for an unforgettable evening in support of a mentally healthy nation. Proceeds from the Gala will be directed to the APA Foundation’s programmatic work in schools, workplaces, faith communities, and beyond. Secure your spot and buy your tickets today: apaf.org/gala.

What can you expect at the APA Foundation Gala? Enjoy exceptional food and drink, a silent auction, and an evening of dancing. Plus, VIP tickets grant access to a private lounge perfect for networking with psychiatry’s leading advocates. San Francisco City Hall, an American landmark, is the site of the historic UN Charter signing in 1945 and APA’s 175th Anniversary Gala in 2019. Now it’s your turn to make history by purchasing a ticket and meeting us there.

New this year: The Foundation administration invites each APA district branch (DB) to decide where we’ll make our next community donation via a friendly challenge. The 2026 Gala Challenge adds a fun incentive to join us at City Hall. The DB that sends the highest percentage of its membership to attend the Gala will get to select a 501(c)(3) organization to receive a $10,000 gift from the Foundation in the DB’s name.

“Mental Health Care Works, our flagship public awareness campaign, recently exceeded 1 billion impressions—that’s a milestone worth celebrating with the entire APA community,” said Marketa M. Wills, M.D., M.B.A., CEO and medical director of APA and chair of the APA Foundation Board of Directors. “It’s wonderful to bring together so many of our members, partners, donors, staff, and friends under one roof in service of a mentally healthy nation at the Gala, and even more so when we have a beautiful venue in which to gather.”

In addition to raising awareness of the importance of mental health care, the Foundation’s work is changing mental health outcomes in underserved communities across the United States. Your attendance at the Gala funds mental health outreach to faith leaders, professional development opportunities for the future leaders of psychiatry, increased mental health support for students across the country, the preservation of American psychiatry in the Melvin Sabshin, M.D., Library and Archives, and so much more. Help us create a mentally healthy nation where we live, learn, work, worship, and play!

“The APA Foundation Gala is a signature event of the APA Annual Meeting and one of the most meaningful ways that our APA members and friends of the Foundation can support our movement towards a mentally healthy nation for all,” said Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., executive director of the APA Foundation. “With our Mental Health Care Works campaign entering its fourth year and gathering even more momentum, we have so much to celebrate. There’s nobody we would rather share this achievement with than you, APA members and champions, who are the inspiration behind our campaign and the cornerstone of the Foundation’s work.”

General admission tickets are available for purchase prior to the Gala or at the venue on the evening of the event. Enjoy an elevated attendee experience with a VIP ticket, $400 of which is tax-deductible. You might also consider sponsoring a mentee’s attendance at the Gala to help them expand their network and share an evening off the clock with them. By attending the Gala with your colleagues, friends, and family, you help amplify our impact while enjoying an unforgettable party for a purpose.

Learn more about the Gala and purchase your tickets today at apaf.org/gala. ■