We loved every minute of our bright night!
And we are so grateful to everyone who made our 10th anniversary a huge success — including the 180 attendees who were there with us on Friday, December 9th in downtown DC to mark this milestone achievement. One of the most amazing parts of the night was bringing our entire community together: students, club sponsors, our school district partners, our board & staff, and our generous network of donors and supporters, including our event sponsors!
highlights of the evening included:
student showcase
Nine schools from our DMV network of OMM clubs showcased the awesome work they’re doing to change school culture around mental health. We loved seeing our student leaders describe to our supporters how they have learned from OMM to prioritize their mental wellness — and to encourage their peers to do the same. We’re so glad the following clubs could represent their schools at Our Bright Night!
DC Public Schools:
- Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
- Columbia Heights Educational Campus
- School Without Walls High School
Fairfax County Public Schools:
- Frost Middle School
- Oakton High School
- Poe Middle School
Montgomery County Public Schools:
- Quince Orchard High School
- Poolesville High School
Prince William County Public Schools:
- Battlefield High School
an inspiring program
Our wonderful board member, Diane Ross, emcee’d the program portion of Our Bright Night — and shared her experience as an OMM club sponsor (and also got the crowd to laugh a lot, because after 25 years as a school psychologist, she’s now a stand-up comic!). The program included a 10-year look-back video, featuring current and past OMM student leaders.
And our Executive Director, Lauren Anderson (who was recently named a 2022 Washingtonian of the Year) took the stage to talk about her own mental health journey — and how her struggles after her brother Josh’s suicide led her to start Our Minds Matter, so that all teens have access to mental health support in their schools.
reconnecting with old friends & new
The best part of the night? Celebrating this landmark anniversary with so many people who believe in our work — and so many students, who are driving that work every day. And of course, our 360 photo booth, which captured the celebratory feeling of the night!
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend Our Bright Night — and to our incredible sponsors, whose generosity helped us to reach our goal of raising $150,000!
