Editor's note: The following is a press release.

More than 200 friends of Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology and members of the child psychology community will attend a gala on Friday (May 4) to raise funds for training mental health providers for children, who are an underserved part of American society when it comes to mental health services.  

The gala will take place at the Newton Marriott beginning at 6 p.m. and will honor two providers who have dedicated their lives to the care of  children - Dr. Arnold Kerzner and Dr. Edward Zadravec.

One in five Massachusetts children are impacted by mental health problems. More than 60 percent of parents who seek mental health services for their children are unable to find care. The number of counselors and therapists adequately trained to care for them is surprisingly small. MSPP is committed to reversing these numbers by educating skilled professionals specifically to treat children and families and by providing direct services to those in need.

Proceeds will help MSPP: 

• Provide scholarships to promising students for MSPP’s new concentration, Children and Families of Adversity and Resilience,
• Create a comprehensive Social-Emotional Learning Initiative, to support teachers who educate "the whole child" for academic and life success,
• Expand MSPP’s community mental health initiatives and trainings via our Freedman and Brenner Centers, which provide low and no-cost services to area schools and nonprofits, as well as thousands of families in need.

Dr. Kerzner is an innovative child psychiatrist, educator, administrator and family advocate. At the event he will receive the MSPP Mental Health Humanitarian Award. Read Kerzner's bio here.

Dr. Zadravec is receiving the Dr. Florence H. Legman Mints Alumni Award. An MSPP alumnus, class of 1995, he is the Associate Director of School Based Services at Wediko Children’s Services. Read his bio here.