With a passion for philanthropy, Amy Caruso began The Mental Health Gala as a way of coping with her own personal struggles. Seeing friends and family around her dealing with all forms of mental illness pushed her to take this step in making a difference in the community. 

In three short years, The Mental Health Gala has grown from a small friends and family event, to over 350 people at the laat in-person gala in May 2019.  It was named Ottawa's Best Black Tie Event at the 2020 Ottawa Awards. This special awareness campaign has been surpassing expectations, and to date, has raised an overall total of $130,500. Amy has been recognized by The Royal as a community leader and has attended their Inspiration Awards and their Leaders in Mental Health Breakfast. In 2019, Amy received multiple awards within the city for her charitable work, and was announced one of 40 key persons who have made a tremendous impact through leadership with the Royal Ottawa Foundation, helping to transform the landscape of mental health in our community. 

This year, Amy will be donating funds raised to The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).