NAMI Anne Arundel County Announces Fifth Annual Mental Health Gala And Awards Dinner

Eight years ago, to support his son, Fred Delp became an active volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter for Anne Arundel County. A former Navy aviator, Delp worked his way through the volunteering ranks of NAMI Anne Arundel County and now serves as its executive director. A small staff of three employees are aided by the generous efforts of volunteers and fellow family members of individuals with mental illnesses.

NAMI’s mission is to “positively impact the lives of individuals living with mental illness and their families and friends in and throughout Anne Arundel County, Maryland, by reducing stigma and providing support, education and advocacy.”

Delp shared, “One of our big goals is to continually reach more people. We’ve reached over 1,000 so far in the county. We’d like to reach more than that.”

To accomplish this goal, NAMI offers a variety of programs, including support groups for family members, peer-to-peer education classes and support groups for individuals facing mental illness, and initiatives like “end the silence” that provide mental health educational talks for middle- and high-school students.

NAMI also has developed educational classes for veterans dealing with mental illness. The nonprofit works to educate family members about resources available through state and county governments, acting as a conduit to help families find assistance within the greater community.

This winter, Delp has been meeting with state representatives to urge for more funding allocations to statewide mental health initiatives in the 2026 Maryland budget.

At a national level, NAMI has worked to expand its services and offer support groups for children and teenagers under the age of 18 who are affected by mental illnesses. In Anne Arundel County, the chapter Delp leads has reached out to underserved groups including minorities and Spanish-speaking residents. The organization hopes to recruit Spanish-speaking family support group leaders and class facilitators soon.

On May 17, NAMI Anne Arundel County will host its fifth annual mental health gala and awards dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Annapolis. Delp explained, “The purpose of this gala is to raise awareness for mental health and mental illness.”

The team members at NAMI Anne Arundel County view their galas as opportunities to have mental health agencies and providers meet and share resources and institutional knowledge to nurture connections between community resource providers.

Moreover, the galas are a time to honor two to three Anne Arundel County residents, whether hospital or state agency employees or volunteers, who have gone above and beyond to help those with mental illness and their families.

The accolades they receive, known as the Shining Star awards, are given in memory of deceased loved ones by families who want to recognize the providers, counselors and volunteers who work tirelessly to help improve mental health in Anne Arundel County. Recipients will be named at the gala in May.

Delp expressed enthusiasm about this year’s keynote speaker: Daniel Gillison Jr., the CEO of NAMI. As the organization’s senior leader nationwide, Gillison plans to bring a thoughtful and invigorating speech for this year’s event.

Tickets are $125 prior to April 30, or $150 after that date, and can be purchased at www.namiaac.org/gala.

To connect with NAMI Anne Arundel County for help for your family, or to become a chapter volunteer, go to www.namiaac.org or call 443-569–3498. If you or a family member are in immediate danger, call 911, 988 (suicide and crisis lifeline), or 410-768-5522 (Anne Arundel County Crisis Response).