Honorees
Each year at the Thresholds Gala, we honor individuals, organizations, foundations, and community partners whose leadership advances equity, expands opportunity, and uplifts the dignity of people living with mental health and substance use conditions.
Darrious Hilmon
Executive Director, CAN TV
Darrious Hilmon brings nearly 30 years of leadership in marketing, communications, and fund development. As Executive Director of Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV), and host of the Emmy Award-nominated program Chicago Noir, he champions digital literacy, access, and meaningful community engagement. Hilmon has held senior leadership roles with the Chicago Urban League, Chicago State University, and Youth Guidance, leading record-setting fundraising and transformative partnerships.
SASHA-ANN SIMONS
WBEZ Host, In the Loop
Sasha-Ann Simons is the host of In the Loop and former host of WBEZ’s Reset. A trusted voice in journalism for nearly two decades, she brings care and compassion to conversations about mental health, housing, race, and economic mobility. Sasha-Ann’s career spans television news, public radio, and national reporting with outlets including PBS NewsHour and WAMU. She is the recipient of multiple journalism honors, including Murrow and Lisagor awards.
James P. and Brenda S.
Grusecki Family Foundation
Established in 2002, the Grusecki Family Foundation supports the performing arts, education, and housing and social services across Chicago. For more than a decade, the Foundation has been a steadfast partner to Thresholds’ Veterans Project, providing annual grants to sustain essential mental health services. Their support funds our Client Assistance Fund and key clinical staff, ensuring veterans can stabilize symptoms, meet basic needs, and move toward lasting recovery.