Rise Together: A Gala of Healing, Honor, and Hope

Rise Together marks a milestone as HIR Wellness Institute’s first fundraising gala, a night dedicated to celebration, community, and collective healing. This inaugural event brings together supporters, partners, friends, and our relatives to uplift the work of HIR Wellness Institute and ensure that vital mental health and wellness services remain accessible to Indigenous and historically underserved communities and survivors of violence.

Through this gala, HIR Wellness Institute celebrates the wisdom, resilience, and leadership of the women who inspire and sustain our work—our staff, our community, our survivors, and the generations yet to come. Guided by the lived experiences of women and femmes who carry the profound labor of healing and transformation, we remain unwavering in our commitment to mental health that is relational, honors cultural ways of being, and is rooted in justice for all.

This year, we are especially honored to celebrate our visionary Founder and CEO, Lea S. Denny, who will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee for Community Mental Health and Leadership on December 21, 2025. This prestigious recognition reflects her trailblazing contributions to mental health justice, her leadership in transforming systems of care, and her unwavering dedication to the healing of our communities.

The evening will feature a delicious buffet dinner, live entertainment, and inspiring stories of resilience and community strength. Together, we will honor the power of healing, celebrate leadership, and raise critical funds to continue building accessible, culturally responsive, and community-driven mental health services.

Join us for an unforgettable night as we RISE TOGETHER,

in HEALING, HONOR, and HOPE.