Designer, Activist and Founder of The Mental Health Coalition honored for leadership in efforts to Make an Impact in Ending the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health
The Ruderman Family Foundation announced today that renowned designer, activist, and Mental Health Coalition founder Kenneth Cole has been named the recipient of the 2025 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion. The announcement recognizes Cole’s transformative leadership in confronting mental health stigma and building a national movement for inclusion through storytelling, awareness, and action. The formal presentation of the award will take place in Spring 2026 in New York City.
“Nearly five years ago, I founded the Mental Health Coalition (MHC) with a clear understanding: we can and must confront the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health that prevents millions from seeking the essential treatment they deserve,” says Cole. “This award from the Ruderman Family Foundation is a meaningful reminder of how inclusion can change and save lives, continuing our efforts to destigmatize and prioritize mental health fostering happier, more productive, and more connected communities.”
The announcement coincides with Cole and the Mental Health Coalition’s preparations for the 3rd Annual Wellbeing at Work Day—an initiative focused on cultivating happier, more productive workplaces nationwide. The initiative, taking place on December 2, 2025, in New York City, brings together CEOs and business leaders across industries who are committed to wellness in the workplace. Cole’s leadership in workplace mental health reflects the same values of inclusion, innovation, and social responsibility that define the Ruderman Family Foundation’s mission.
Cole’s recognition places him among a distinguished roster of past recipients who have used their platforms to advance inclusion and, like him, have been recognized for their efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. These include celebrated actor and recording artist Selena Gomez, decorated Olympian Michael Phelps, five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love, award-winning actress Eva Longoria, and Academy Award–nominated actor Taraji P. Henson. Other past honorees have been recognized for advancing inclusion in different arenas, including world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli, Academy Award–winning actress Marlee Matlin, and former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin.
“Kenneth Cole has redefined what it means to lead—not only in fashion, but in culture,” said Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation. “For decades, he has used his platform to confront stigma, challenge silence, and elevate the voices of those too often overlooked. In the realm of mental health, his leadership has united advocates, organizations, and everyday individuals into a movement that is both visible and impactful. He has used his influence not to speak over others, but to empower them to speak for themselves—to share their stories, claim their space, and be heard. His work is a powerful reminder that inclusion means visibility, vulnerability, and action, and that true change happens when we create space for every voice at the table.”
Through the Mental Health Coalition, Cole has brought together more than 50 of the nation’s leading mental health organizations—including NAMI, Mental Health America, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention—to create a first-of-its-kind alliance of nonprofits, corporations, creators, researchers and experts. MHC was founded to break stigma through powerful messaging and strategic unification. Since its founding in 2020, the Coalition is leading the nation in the way we talk about and change the conversation around mental health as well as marrying needs to resources so everyone has access to support. Their free mental health resource library aggregates over 500+ life-saving resources while their impactful campaigns lead the charge in dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health by addressing its social and structural roots.
The award also recognizes Cole’s long-standing commitment to social justice and inclusion, which spans decades of advocacy in areas such as HIV/AIDS awareness, homelessness, LGBTQ+ rights, and gun violence prevention. As one of the first designers to weave social impact into the fabric of fashion marketing, Cole has used his brand to amplify voices that are too often ignored.
Now in its 11th year, the Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the inclusion of people with disabilities and other marginalized communities. Named after Foundation founder Morton E. Ruderman, the award celebrates those who advance equity and opportunity through innovation, advocacy, and leadership.
