Dave Nee Foundation Announces Dana and Hart Perry as 2009 Ray of Light Award Recipients

The Dave Nee Foundation has announced that its Ray of Light Award for 2009 will go to Dana and Hart Perry. The Award recognizes the Perrys’ efforts in promoting mental health and preventing suicide, particularly through their recent documentary, Boy Interrupted, about the death of the Perrys’ son, Evan, by suicide. The Perrys will accept the Award at the Foundation’s Benefit Gala on November 13, 2009, at Edison Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan.

Boy Interrupted has aired on HBO and has been screened at numerous film festivals. The film, directed by Dana Perry with Hart Perry serving as cinematographer, tells the story of Evan’s struggle with bipolar disorder and his family’s response, while asking difficult questions about suicide and mental health issues.

“The Dave Nee Foundation is proud to honor the Perrys, the life of their son Evan, and their remarkable film,” said Wynne Kelly, Secretary of the Foundation. “Making and releasing Boy Interrupted was an extraordinary act of courage by the Perrys. Not only does the film recount the heartbreaking loss of their child, but it challenges preconceptions about bipolar disorder and suicide, while dramatically raising public awareness of these important issues.”

The Dave Nee Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that seeks to support and encourage organizations devoted to preventing suicide among adolescents and young adults through diagnosis, treatment, education, and research. The Foundation’s unique program, Uncommon Counsel, educates law students about depression, its prevalence in the legal profession, and the availability and effectiveness of treatment. For more information, please visit www.daveneefoundation.org.