The AIM Center announced the recipients of its inaugural Mental Health Hero Awards, recognizing individuals, organizations, advocates, and community leaders whose work is helping advance mental health awareness, access, recovery, and support throughout Chattanooga and beyond.
The Mental Health Hero Awards were created to recognize the many different ways our community can contribute to a more inclusive, recovery-focused approach to mental health. Each award category highlights a distinct area of impact, from advocacy and equity to community partnership, professional care, storytelling, and personal recovery.
The 2026 recipients are:
The Civic Hero Award
The Civic Hero Award recognizes an individual or company making a meaningful impact on mental health awareness, access, or support in the greater Chattanooga community.
2026 Recipient: LaDarius Price, PEAK
The Corporate Champion Award
The Corporate Champion Award recognizes a business or organization advancing mental health through policies, programs, workplace culture, or community investment.
2026 Recipient: Volunteer Behavioral Health
The Program Partner Award
The Program Partner Award celebrates a community organization or partner whose collaboration within the mental health field has strengthened programs, services, or outreach.
2026 Recipient: Ellen Heavilon, Signal Centers/HART Gallery
The Advocacy Hero Award
The Advocacy Hero Award recognizes an individual, group, or policymaker driving systemic change for mental health through advocacy, public awareness, or policy efforts.
2026 Recipient: Frances McDonald, Mark Making
The Healing Hero Award
The Healing Hero Award honors a licensed mental health provider or care professional whose clinical excellence, compassion, and commitment have significantly improved access to or quality of care in our community.
2026 Recipient: Jean Cobb, River Valley Health
The Equity in Action Award
The Equity in Action Award recognizes an individual or organization actively advancing equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices within the mental health field.
2026 Recipient: Joe Jenkins, The BRAVE Effect
The Recovery Hero Award
The Recovery Hero Award honors an AIM Center Clubhouse Member or AIM Resident whose leadership, resilience, and commitment to recovery inspire others within our community.
2026 Recipient: Aaron Jonathan Baker, AIM Center
The Voice for Change Award
The Voice for Change Award recognizes a journalist, media outlet, or communications leader who has elevated mental health awareness through thoughtful, impactful storytelling.
2026 Recipient: Marsha Mills, Rhyme N Chatt
The Rising Hero Award
The Rising Hero Award honors a young adult between the ages of 16 and 25 demonstrating leadership and advocacy in advancing mental health awareness, access, or peer support throughout their community.
2026 Recipient: Molly Hampton, Students Organizing Students
The Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual whose long-term dedication to mental health has created a lasting impact in Chattanooga or the surrounding region.
2026 Recipient: Jean Blackburn, Bowen Theory Education Center
Together, these awards reflect the many people and organizations working to make mental health support more accessible, equitable, and recovery-focused.
They also highlight the importance of approaching mental health as a community effort, with meaningful change taking place through advocacy, partnership, leadership, and connection.
The inaugural Mental Health Hero Awards will take place Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 6 p.m. at The Westin Chattanooga. The evening will bring together community members, advocates, organizations, and supporters for an evening of recognition, connection, storytelling, dinner, entertainment, and a silent auction, while raising support for AIM Center’s programs and services.
Tickets are now on sale, with individual tickets available for $125 and tables of 10 available for $1,750. Community members are encouraged to attend and help celebrate the people and organizations helping create a stronger, more inclusive, and recovery-focused Chattanooga.
To purchase tickets or learn more about the Mental Health Hero Awards, visit https://bit.ly/MentalHealthHeroAwards
