Walk with Purpose Mental Health Fashion Show gala

WALK WITH PURPOSE

A Mental Health Fashion Show Gala

October 2, 2026 | 5:00 PM
JW Marriott Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids, Michigan
Black Tie | Honoring Mental Health 

Fashion. Art. Culture. Entertainment. Purpose.

On October 2, Grand Rapids will come alive for Walk With Purpose, a premier mental health fashion show gala where fashion, art, culture, entertainment, and philanthropy converge for an extraordinary evening of creativity, connection, and purpose.

Walk With Purpose brings together visionary designers, artists, performers, community leaders, philanthropists, and guests from across West Michigan and beyond. Together, we will create an experience that goes far beyond the traditional fashion show—one that uses creativity to spark conversation, challenge stigma, celebrate resilience, and inspire hope.

Here, the runway becomes a platform for storytelling. Art becomes a language for emotion. Performance becomes a catalyst for connection. And an elegant evening becomes an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

We are honored to welcome Mayor David LaGrand of Grand Rapids, who will deliver a special address during the evening, joining distinguished leaders and special guests in supporting an important conversation about mental health and community well-being.

We are also pleased to welcome Commissioner Kilgore A. Marshall, who will deliver a special speech and contribute to the evening’s message of awareness, compassion, and positive community impact.

AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENING OF FASHION & ENTERTAINMENT

From the moment guests arrive, Walk With Purpose will offer an elevated black-tie experience filled with beauty, energy, artistry, and inspiration.

The evening will feature breathtaking runway presentations showcasing exceptional collections from talented designers and creative visionaries. Each presentation will bring its own perspective and artistic expression while contributing to the larger message of resilience, identity, hope, and human connection.

But the runway is only the beginning.

Live Performance by Michigan Ballet Academy

Prepare to experience the beauty and emotional power of dance as Michigan Ballet Academy takes the stage for a captivating live performance. Through movement and storytelling, the performance will add depth and emotion to an evening dedicated to creative expression and healing.

A Special Performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony Mosaic scholars 

The Grand Rapids Symphony mosaic scholars will bring the power of live music to the celebration, creating an unforgettable atmosphere and demonstrating the profound ability of music to move, inspire, and connect us.

Live Art by Maivena Gaye

Maivena Gaye will create a live art experience before our guests, allowing them to witness a work of art emerge in real time. This dynamic presentation will offer a visual expression of emotion, creativity, healing, and storytelling—transforming the artistic process itself into part of the evening’s experience.

Together, fashion, dance, music, spoken word, and visual art will create a multisensory celebration that demonstrates just how powerful creativity can be when it is connected to purpose.

RED CARPET. DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. REAL CONVERSATIONS.

The Walk With Purpose experience begins the moment you step onto the red carpet.

Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy red carpet interviews conducted by Mrs Universe 2025 delegate Rashmy Nair, spotlighting designers, artists, performers, community leaders, special guests, and other notable attendees.

The evening will also provide exceptional opportunities to network and build meaningful connections with people who share a passion for fashion, creativity, philanthropy, community, and mental wellness.

Live Spoken Word by Oluwafemi Toure

Adding a powerful voice to the evening, Oluwafemi Toure will deliver a moving spoken word performance that brings raw emotion, truth, and reflection to the stage. Through poetry and storytelling, this moment will deepen the evening’s message of mental health awareness, resilience, and human connection.

A SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT: KING & QUEEN OF THE GALA

One of the evening’s most exciting moments will be the crowning of the King and Queen of the Gala.

Selected during the event, these individuals will be recognized for qualities such as leadership, excellence, creativity, character, and community impact.

The newly crowned King and Queen will receive special prizes and exclusive recognition, making this a memorable highlight of an already extraordinary evening.

MORE THAN A FASHION SHOW

Walk With Purpose is a call to action.

Mental health affects individuals, families, workplaces, schools, and entire communities. Yet stigma can make it difficult for people to speak openly, seek support, or let others know when they are struggling.

This event is designed to help change that.

By bringing mental health awareness into a space filled with fashion, beauty, art, music, and celebration, Walk With Purpose creates an inviting environment where important conversations can begin.

Where fashion becomes expression.
Where art creates connection.
Where performance tells a story.
Where conversation creates understanding.
Where awareness inspires action.

Every part of the evening is connected to a larger vision: to encourage openness, reduce stigma, celebrate resilience, and strengthen the relationships and resources that help people heal and thrive.

THE POWER OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Art can communicate what words sometimes cannot.

A designer can tell a story through fabric, color, and form. A musician can express emotions that are difficult to put into words. A dancer can communicate an experience through movement. A spoken word artist can give voice to feelings that are often unspoken. An artist can turn emotion into something visible and powerful.

That is the heart of Walk With Purpose.

By bringing these creative disciplines together, we hope to create an experience that encourages empathy, inspires reflection, and reminds us that no one should have to navigate life’s challenges alone.

This is not simply an evening about what we wear or what we see on stage.

It is about what we believe in.
It is about who we stand beside.
It is about the community we want to build.

SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH IN WEST MICHIGAN

Walk With Purpose is proud to raise funds and awareness for be nice or else., a nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health education, awareness, and suicide prevention.

Through this partnership, the event supports efforts to educate communities, encourage open conversations, reduce stigma, and promote mental wellness throughout West Michigan.

When you attend Walk With Purpose, you are doing more than attending a spectacular evening of fashion and entertainment.

You are helping amplify a message that matters.

You are helping create space for conversations about mental health. You are helping support awareness and prevention. And you are joining others who believe that compassion, education, connection, and community can make a lasting difference.

AN INVITATION TO DESIGNERS & CREATIVE VISIONARIES

We are honored to invite talented designers and creative visionaries to showcase their collections as part of this extraordinary celebration.

Walk With Purpose offers designers an opportunity to present their work before an engaged audience of fashion enthusiasts, artists, community leaders, philanthropists, and distinguished guests—while using their creativity to support a cause that reaches far beyond the runway.

Fashion has the power to inspire.
Fashion has the power to challenge perspectives.
Fashion has the power to tell stories.
Fashion has the power to bring people together.

This is an opportunity to use that power with purpose.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Guests will experience an evening featuring:

• Black-tie elegance
• Red carpet arrivals and interviews
• Breathtaking runway presentations
• Collections from talented fashion designers
• Live performance by Michigan Ballet Academy
• Special performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony
• Live spoken word by Oluwafemi Toure
• Live art experience by Maivena Gaye
• Crowning of the King and Queen of the Gala
• Special prizes and recognition for the Gala royalty
• Networking with artists, designers, community leaders, philanthropists, and special guests
• Special address from Mayor David LaGrand
• Special speech from Commissioner Kilgore A. Marshall
• Distinguished guests and community leaders
• Meaningful conversations surrounding mental health, hope, healing, and resilience
• An opportunity to support mental health education and suicide prevention

TICKETS

General Admission — $45

Join us for the full Walk With Purpose experience and enjoy an extraordinary evening of fashion, art, entertainment, networking, and mental health advocacy.

VIP Admission — $70

Elevate your evening with VIP access and enjoy an enhanced experience surrounded by exceptional fashion, artistry, distinguished guests, and meaningful connections.

WALK WITH US

On October 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM, step onto the red carpet and into an evening unlike any other.

Experience the runway.
Feel the music.
Hear the spoken word.
Witness art come to life.
Celebrate extraordinary talent.
Meet inspiring people.
Hear voices that matter.
And stand behind a cause that touches every community.

Come dressed to impress.
Come ready to connect.
Come ready to be inspired.

Most importantly, come with purpose.

Because when fashion, art, entertainment, compassion, and community come together, something powerful happens.

Conversations begin.
Perspectives change.
Stigma is challenged.
Hope grows.
And change becomes possible.

WALK WITH PURPOSE

October 2, 2026 | 5:00 PM

JW Marriott Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Fashion with purpose. Art with meaning. Entertainment with impact. A community walking toward hope.