In 1976, Vivian Meehan started an eating disorder support group in her living room because nowhere else existed for her daughter. Fifty years later, that single room has grown into a national helpline, 20 weekly virtual groups, and a mentorship network serving over 400 people every week.
Our Golden Gala represents the exact same thing: a room full of people who care. And we saved you a seat!
In-person guests are invited to a welcome reception followed by dinner shared among colleagues and friends. At 8pm CT, we will gather for our main program—also available via our national livestream—to honor ANAD’s decades of service, share stories of hope, and look ahead toward a bright future of healing. We’ll conclude the night by celebrating the joy of community and support with music and dancing.
Renee D. Rienecke, PhD and co-author of DISOBEY will be attending the Golden Gala and available to sign books at an author’s table.
Meet the Flame of Hope Recipient & Keynote Speaker Danny O'Shea
Earlier this year, Danny captured hearts—and an Olympic gold medal—with his breathtaking performances and powerful message of living and competing with joy. An elite pairs figure skater with a career spanning over two decades, Danny is a multi-time U.S. National Champion and Four Continents Champion. Known across the figure skating world for his technical mastery, artistic depth, and extraordinary resilience through setbacks and injuries, his journey on and off the ice exemplifies strength and perseverance.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Danny has been deeply candid about his personal journey with disordered eating in elite sports. By using his platform to advocate for mental health awareness, body acceptance, and recovery, he is helping break long-standing stigmas surrounding athletes and body image, redefining what it truly means to be a champion.
In recognition of his authenticity, leadership, and dedication to breaking stigmas and stereotypes, ANAD is proud to present Danny with our 2026 Flame of Hope Award during this special evening.
Meet the emcee Stephanie Covington Armstrong
Stephanie (she/her) is a groundbreaking voice in the eating disorders community.
Her memoir, Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat: A Story of Bulimia, courageously shattered the pervasive myth that eating disorders only affect affluent, white women. Having survived childhood trauma, foster care, and food insecurity, Stephanie developed bulimia as a way to cope with overwhelming pain. By sharing her raw, deeply personal journey of overcoming shame and finding food freedom, she brought much-needed visibility to the unique struggles faced by Black women and women of color—a population historically overlooked and underdiagnosed in eating disorder treatment.
Through her passionate advocacy, she continues to highlight the complex intersections of race, trauma, and recovery, empowering individuals from all backgrounds to dismantle perfectionism, heal their relationship with food, and reclaim their worth.