Fashion designer to keynote mental health gala, fundraiser

Fashion designer Elena Elivnyak, who created costumes for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1” will speak at Columbia River Mental Health Foundation’s May 3 gala and fundraiser.

Elivnyak was also featured in Season 10 of “Project Runway.”

According to a news release from the foundation, Elivnyak has a passion for behavioral health and one of her fashion lines was inspired by the loss of her sister.

Elivnyak, along with staff and clients of Columbia River Mental Health Services, will share stories of hope and healing at the fundraising gala.

Vancouver-based Columbia River Mental Health Services serves more than 5,700 people annually and aims to remove the negative stigma around behavioral health treatment.

Funds raised by the foundation are aimed at improving the lives of CRMH clients who are getting treatment but struggle to meet other needs that their public or private health plans don’t cover.

“Without this additional support, many recipients of mental health and chemical dependency services struggle to complete their treatment programs and to remain healthy and in recovery,” the foundation said in a news release.