Alex Boniello and Patti Murin Will Co-Host NAMIWalks NYC

Broadway's Alex Boniello, star of Dear Evan Hansen and Patti Murin, star of Disney's Frozen will serve as the official co-hosts at the 13th annual NAMIWalks NYC community fundraising event on Saturday, May 11 (10 AM, South Street Seaport Promenade).

Held during Mental Health Awareness Month, the annual 5k event is the country's largest mental health fundraising walk ($625k raised in 2018) with 5,000 expected participants walking to fight discrimination, erase the stigma associated with mental health conditions and raise money to provide year-round services - including 30 different peer-led support groups and educational programming - all available free of charge to 13,000 New York City families and individuals living with mental illnesses.

"NAMI-NYC is honored to have Broadway's leading stars, Patti Murin and Alex Boniello shine a bright light on our advocacy and fundraising efforts during mental health awareness month," said executive director Matt Kudish. "Patti's deeply personal essay about her own anxiety struggles was not only brave, but she normalizes her lived experience and connects her incredible voice to so many struggling to cope and seek out the support they need."

Kudish continued, "the transformative power of Dear Evan Hansen has propelled the mental health conversation into the national spotlight and lessened the negative stigma associated with the words "mental illness" through its emotional story and healing music and lyrics."

Since the first walk was held in 2007 with just 1,000 participants, NAMIWalks NYC has raised nearly $5,000,000 to date with over 30,000 participating walkers comprised of local families and friends affected by, or living with mental illness. Run-DMC co-founder Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray, filmmaker Paul Dalio and mental health advocate Jaclyn Stapp have previously served as NAMIWalks NYC grand marshals.

To register, volunteer or donate to NAMIWalks NYC, visit www.namiwalksnyc.org or call 212-684-3365.