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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Singer-actress Selena Gomez announced Thursday she will host a gala benefit evening Oct. 4 in Los Angeles for her Rare Impact Fund, which aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and expand access to mental health services and education for young people.
Confirmed talent for the evening includes Emmy-winning actor Martin Short -- one of Gomez's co-stars in the Hulu series "Only Murders in the Building" -- and Grammy-nominated music producer Marshmello. Additional performers and entertainment will be announced later.
Gomez, 31, has spoken candidly about her struggles with mental health over the years. She said she has attended various voluntary programs to manage anxiety, panic attacks and depression. Three years ago, the "Getaway" star revealed she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
"There is nothing more important to me than getting young people access to the resources that they need to support their mental health," Gomez said in a statement.
"This is a personal mission and the reason that I created the Rare Impact Fund. I am incredibly proud to host the inaugural Rare Impact Fund Benefit and look forward to an inspiring night of raising funds for these life- saving services and showcasing the impact we have made so far."
The Disney alum created the fund in 2020 with the goal of raising $100 million to address youth mental health. Her beauty line, Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez, donates 1% of sales directly to the Rare Impact Fund, and the fund raises additional money with the help of philanthropic foundations, individuals, corporate partners, and the Rare Beauty community, according to the fund.
The fund currently supports 23 organizations across the world, which include organizations located in North America, Canada, Europe and elsewhere. Gomez says that, so far, the Rare Impact Fund has directly helped more than 740,000 young people, 10,000 teachers and administrators, and 367 educational systems.
From 2017 to 2020, the "Bad Liar" singer served as an executive producer on the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why," which sparked many discussions about the struggles contemporary teens and young adults face.
Tickets to the first annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit: A Night of Radiance & Reflection -- at the NYA West studio and event space -- range from $2,500 and $3,000 for individuals, and with sponsorship tables available. Tickets are available at https://rareimpactfund.org/rare-impact-benefit/.
For more information on the fund, see https://rareimpactfund.org/.