Annual Gala Celebrates Suicide Prevention Progress, Honoring Changemakers and Researchers on May 7

NEW YORK (April 13, 2026) - On May 7, hundreds will gather at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City for an evening of hope, celebrating strides in suicide prevention and honoring changemakers in the field. Hosted annually by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the largest private funder of suicide prevention, the 37th Annual Lifesavers Gala will honor Olympian Gracie Gold, media personality Carson Daly, The JED Foundation founders Phil and Donna Satow, and researchers Jane Pearson and Holly Wilcox. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit afsp.org/lifesavers-gala-2026/.

“Mental health affects everyone, regardless of who you are or what you do,” said Olympian Gracie Gold. “After opening up publicly about my experiences, I realized how important it is that we have honest mental health conversations and remind others they are not alone.”

All proceeds from the Lifesavers Gala support AFSP’s suicide prevention research, public education, and policy and advocacy efforts. Hosted by author, artist, and content creator Michell C. Clark, the evening cultivates community and honors those whose work helps save lives.

“I’ve just tried to be real about my mental health, so people know they’re not the only ones going through it. The more we talk about it, the less heavy it feels — and hopefully it makes it a little easier for someone else to reach out and get help,” said media personality and co-host of NBC’s TODAY and The Voice, Carson Daly. “It’s an honor to be recognized for what is so personal and important to me.”

AFSP Honorees:

Public Service Lifesaver Award: Gracie Gold — Two-Time U.S. National Figure Skater Champion, 2014 Olympic Bronze Medalist, and New York Times Bestselling Author

Gracie is a passionate mental health advocate who detailed her struggles and journey in her 2024 memoir, Outofshapeworthlessloser: A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out. As a figure skating champion and Olympian, she reminds athletes to prioritize their mental health just as much as their physical health and reach out for support.

Public Education Lifesaver Award: Carson Daly — Co-host of NBC’s TODAY and The Voice

Carson is a media personality who has been open about his struggles with anxiety and panic since 2018, sharing his healing journey and encouraging others to seek support. He has co-hosted AFSP’s and Audacy’s I’m Listening show, a mental health initiative that shares valuable resources and raises mental health awareness.

Humanitarian Lifesaver Award: Phil & Donna Satow — Founders of The JED Foundation

After losing their son, Jed, to suicide in 1998 while he was away at college, Phil and Donna Satow made it their mission to reduce suicide rates among young adults and college students. In 2000, they founded The JED Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting students’ and young adults’ mental health. Since its founding, The JED Foundation has helped schools implement mental health safety nets through JED academic programs and presentations, collaborated with influential artists and celebrities to expand their reach, supported mental health legislation and collaborated with partner organizations on campaigns.

Lifetime Research Award: Jane Pearson, Ph.D. — Special Advisor to the Director for Suicide Research, National Institute of Mental Health

Dr. Pearson leads the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Suicide Research Team, is an adjunct professor at The Johns Hopkins University, serves on the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Research Task Force, and is an American Psychological Association Fellow. Notably, she assisted in the development of the first Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Suicide in 1999 and the first U.S. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.

Annual Research Award: Holly Wilcox, Ph.D., MA — Professor, Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Dr. Wilcox’s research is centered around advancing public health approaches to suicide prevention, including policies, early intervention, and developing continuous, connected systems of support. As a professor at Johns Hopkins, she teaches a “Suicide As a Public Health Problem” course and established a multidisciplinary suicide prevention research group there.