Access Institute’s 2025 Gala Celebrates Art and Community at Pier 27

Access Institute–a nonprofit working toward mental health care accessibility–hosted its Annual Spectrum Gala & Art Auction on March 20, transforming Pier 27 into a vibrant celebration of art, community and purpose. Pier 27’s soaring event space, with its wraparound views of the Bay, housed a thoughtfully curated experience that trained a spotlight on the work of more than 50 artists. The works on view, organized around the theme of a “healthy and vibrant San Francisco,” were up for sale in a lively and competitive auction, which unfolded over the course of the night with a soundtrack provided by San Francisco-based EDM DJ DEVYN.

Attendees were also treated to a delicious gourmet supper, featuring luscious bites like local Dungeness crab and Bay shrimp cakes, and “Animal Style” burger bites, drizzled in a secret sauce inspired by In-N-Out.  The evening also featured guest speaker Manny Yekutiel, who shared his personal experience and spoke powerfully about the critical role Access Institute and affordable mental health care play in building a healthy, vibrant San Francisco. California State Senator Scott Wiener was in attendance, and made remarks on the importance of expanding access to mental health care across the city. The night raised more than $330,000, which will go to support Access Institute’s mission of providing free and low-fee mental health care to San Franciscans with the greatest needs.