We need your help to make our 2026 APA Foundation Gala the most successful on record so we can continue our work supporting the mental health of communities everywhere. Join us at San Francisco City Hall on Monday, May 18, 2026. Purchase a ticket and enjoy a fantastic evening with fine food, beverage, dancing, and our silent auction featuring trips to exciting destinations, exclusive signed memorabilia, and much more. The District Branch with the highest percentage of tickets purchased (relative to size) wins: So please spread the word to your colleagues, family and friends.
How the Challenge Works
Highest Participation Wins
The District Branch with the highest % of tickets purchased (relative to size) wins.
$10,000 Donation
Winning Branch selects a 501(c)(3) charity to receive $10,000 from APAF in the Branch’s honor.
Automatic Entry
Buy your ticket before May 18 at Noon PT and you’re automatically counted toward your Branch's total.
Guests Count Too
Tickets purchased on behalf of family & friends count toward your Branch.
An Unforgettable Experience
Join us Monday, May 18, 2026 at San Francisco City Hall for:
- Fine food & beverages
- Music & dancing
- Silent auction featuring exclusive travel packages, exclusive experiences, signed memorabilia, fashion items, and more.
- $200 of each ticket is tax-deductible
Why It Matters
APAF is on a mission to create a mentally healthy nation where people live, learn, work, worship, and play. Every Gala ticket supports the APA Foundation’s work to advance mental health nationwide:
Providing mental health literacy in schools, workplaces and faith communities through our signature Notice. Talk. Act.® programs.
Connecting underserved communities to the mental health care they need via awards, grants and programs.
Changing behaviors and attitudes toward mental health via our award-winning Mental Health Care Works campaign.
Growing the mental health leadership pipeline through our Fellowships program. In 2025 we welcomed 200 Fellows, our largest cohort to-date.
The Details
- APAF will determine a purchaser’s District Branch membership based on the District Branch associated with the Member as listed in the APA Member database based on the email address used when purchasing the Gala ticket.
- Credit will be given to a District Branch for tickets purchased by District Branch members for non APA members including family members, friends etc.
- The challenge ends on May 18, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Pacific Time.
- The Winning District Branch will be announced at the Gala!
The American Psychiatric Association Foundation (“APAF”) is the sponsor of the APA Foundation District Branch Gala Challenge (“Challenge”). Participation in the Challenge is limited to APA District Branches. Individual persons are not entrants and will not receive prizes directly. The Challenge begins upon announcement and concludes on May 18, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time (“Challenge Period”). All tickets purchased prior to the Challenge Period start date will be counted and attributed to the corresponding District Branch as part of this Challenge. Any ticket purchases made after this time will not be counted toward the Challenge. Each Gala ticket purchased by an APA Member during the Challenge Period will be credited to the District Branch with which that Member is affiliated, as reflected in the APA Member database. District Branch membership will be determined based on the District Branch associated with the Member’s email address used when purchasing Gala ticket(s). Tickets purchased by APA Members for non-members (including family members, friends, or guests) will be counted towards the purchasing Member’s District Branch.
The winning District Branch will be the District Branch with the highest percentage of ticket purchases made during the Challenge Period relative to its total membership size. The percentage will be calculated as follows: (number of Gala tickets purchased by APA Members affiliated with the District Branch) divided by (the total number of APA Members who belong to that District Branch). APAF’s determinations regarding District Branch membership, ticket attribution, and calculations are final and binding. In the event that two or more District Branches achieve the same highest percentage of ticket purchases relative to total membership during the Challenge Period, the District Branch with the greater total number of Gala tickets purchased by affiliated APA members during the Challenge Period will be deemed the winner.
APAF will not disclose any personally identifiable information to any third party when identifying the winning District Branch. The winning District Branch will be entitled to designate one 501(c)(3) charitable organization to receive a $10,000 donation from APAF. There is no other prize or cash value available to any individual or entity under this Challenge. The winning District Branch shall be notified after conclusion of the Challenge and the Executive Council of the winning District Branch shall choose and submit the name of their selected 501(c)(3) charitable organization in writing to APAF by email to [email protected] by no later than 5pm Eastern on June 8, 2026. Payment will be made to the charitable organization directly from APAF by June 29, 2026. APAF may recognize the winning District Branch in connection with the donation. APAF reserves the right to interpret and apply these Challenge Rules and to resolve any disputes arising from the Challenge.