Award Nominations Now Open!

About the Event

The Inaugural Mental Health Hero Awards is a signature fundraising event celebrating the individuals, organizations, and advocates who are making a meaningful impact in the mental health field across Chattanooga and beyond.

This inspiring evening honors the heroes who lead, advocate, and partner with the AIM Center to advance recovery, access, and dignity for adults living with serious mental illness. You’ll enjoy an elegant evening of recognition, connection and storytelling, highlighting the achievements of our awardees while supporting AIM Center’s life-changing programs. From community champions to legacy leaders, the event brings together those who stand up for mental health and demonstrates how Chattanooga comes together to create hope, opportunity and lasting impact.

Award Categories

The Civic Hero Award

Honors an individual or company making a meaningful impact on mental health awareness, access, or support in the greater Chattanooga community.

The Corporate Champion Award

Recognizes a business or organization advancing mental health through policies, programs, workplace culture or community investment.

The Program Partner Award

Celebrates a community organization or partner whose collaboration within the mental health field has strengthened programs, services or outreach.

The Advocacy Hero Award

Recognizes an individual, group, or policy maker driving systemic change for mental health through advocacy, public awareness or policy efforts.

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.

The Equity in Action Award

Recognizes an individual or organization actively advancing equity, inclusion and culturally responsive practices within the mental health field.

The Recovery Hero Award

Honors an AIM Center Clubhouse Member or an AIM Resident whose leadership, resilience, and commitment to recovery inspire others within our community.

The Voice for Change Award

Recognizes a journalist, media outlet, or communications leader who has elevated mental health awareness through thoughtful, impactful storytelling.

The Rising Hero Award

Honors a young adult (ages 16 to 25) demonstrating leadership and advocacy in advancing mental health awareness, access or peer support throughout their community.

The Lifetime Achievement Award

Honors an individual whose long-term dedication to mental health has created lasting impact in Chattanooga or the surrounding region.

Award nominations open April 1st and Close May 30th 2026.

Nominations Now Open!

Ticketing Information

General Tickets

Cost: $125 per person

Includes entry into event, access to silent auction with mobile bidding, a delicious dinner, cocktail hour with hors d’ourves and more!

Sponsor a Table

Cost: $1,750 for ten guests

Includes: Early entry into the event, access to silent auction with mobile bidding, a delicious dinner, cocktail hour with hors d’ourves, reserved premiere seating, special mention in the event program and event signage, valet parking for all your guests and more!

Tickets go on sale on July 1, 2026. Sponsorships available now!

Event Details

When: Thursday, October 29th, 2026

Where: The Westin Chattanooga

Time: 6 PM EST

Who: YOU!

Attire: Formal (Wear your best black and gold!)

Meet our Event Chair & Committee

Aaron Collier was born and raised in Chattanooga and now calls Signal Mountain home, where he lives with his wife, Laurie, and their three children. He has spent the past 15 years of his career at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee as a Principal Digital Product Manager. Mental health has touched Aaron’s life in meaningful ways, and those experiences have shaped his belief that no one should face those challenges without support. When AIM Center asked him to chair the Mental Health Heroes Committee, the answer was an easy “yes!”. He sees the event as an opportunity to celebrate the people doing this work and to build the resources that make it possible. Aaron is a proud Board Member of AIM Center, advocate of mental health in our community, and excited to help bring this event to life!