Alex Boniello and Patti Murin to Host Largest Mental Health Fundraising Walk

Dear Evan Hansen's Alex Boniello and Frozen leading lady Patti Murin will host the 13th annual NAMIWalks NYC community fundraising event on Saturday, May 11.

Held during Mental Health Awareness Month, the annual 5k event is the country's largest mental health fundraising walk. With 5,000 expected participants, the walk serves to fight discrimination, erase the stigma associated with mental health conditions, and raise money to provide year-round services 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 in a statement. "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."

NAMIWalks NYC has raised nearly $5 million to date with over 30,000 participating walkers including local families and friends affected by or living with mental illness.