Selena Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund Benefit Secures $3 Million for Youth Mental Health Programs

Selena Gomez gathered musicians, advocates, and philanthropic partners at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Wednesday night for the fourth annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit, raising approximately $3 million to expand youth mental health resources worldwide.

According to reporting by Billboard, the high-profile gathering featured a live auction and paddle raises designed to support grassroots organizations delivering mental health care and education to young people. Gomez founded the Rare Impact Fund in 2020 alongside the debut of her cosmetics venture, Rare Beauty, with the explicit goal of embedding philanthropic mental wellness work into her brand before product sales even started.

Speaking to Billboard on the red carpet prior to the benefit, Gomez explained that her personal wellness experiences continue to inform her advocacy. She noted that she has long been upfront regarding her personal mental health journey and remains eager to draw public attention to expanding accessible resources for others.

A central highlight of the evening arrived when Gomez introduced the Katherine Short Legacy Award, created in memory of Katherine Short, a clinical social worker who passed away by suicide in February at age 42. Katherine was the daughter of Gomez’s friend and acting co-star Martin Short. Short joined Gomez on stage to help present the inaugural honor, offering reflections on his family’s grief while urging the public to treat mental illness as a physical disease requiring empathy and medical intervention rather than stigma, according to Billboard.

The inaugural honor was awarded to La Familia Counseling Center, a Sacramento-based nonprofit group recognized for more than 50 years of direct community service. The organization works to bridge social services and behavioral health assistance for families in need.

Live musical performances and reflections from participating artists also framed the evening’s mission. Singer and songwriter Bella Kay performed at the gathering and told Billboard that creative disciplines and songwriting served as crucial outlets during personal challenges in her youth, encouraging young people grappling with emotional burdens to recognize they are not alone.

Soul singer Leon Bridges also took the stage at the benefit. Bridges shared with Billboard that mental wellness is a universal concern across all communities, highlighting the importance of giving back and pointing to his own foundation initiatives in his hometown as part of an ongoing commitment to community service.

According to Billboard, the Rare Impact Fund has now raised more than $30 million since its establishment in 2020, directing capital toward nonprofit partners globally to eliminate barriers to mental health support.