Brief
Selena Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund Benefit Raises Nearly $3 Million
The Hollywood Palladium event honored Martin Short’s late daughter and highlighted mental‑health advocacy.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Selena Gomez hosted the fourth annual Rare Impact Fund Benefit on Oct. 14, 2026 at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium, raising nearly $3 million for youth mental‑health initiatives, Billboard reported.
The evening introduced the inaugural Katherine Short Legacy Award, named for Martin Short’s daughter who died by suicide in February at age 42. The award recognises individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to mental‑health service; the first recipient was La Familia Counseling Center, a Sacramento nonprofit with more than five decades of community work.
Martin Short appeared onstage with Gomez to present the honor. Short spoke about his family’s grief and stressed that mental illness should be treated as a disease, echoing the Rare Impact Fund’s goal of expanding access to care and reducing stigma.
Gomez told Billboard on the red carpet, “I honestly get more excited about this than most events I’m invited to, and I think that’s because of what I’ve witnessed the Impact Fund has truly done.” She added, “We created this fund before we even sold a single product, so this has always been our mission.” The singer also reflected on her own mental‑health journey, saying, “I’ve always been honest and upfront about my mental health and things that I will continue to struggle with and learn how to live with.”
Performing artist Bella Kay said the cause was “everything” to her, noting that supporting mental‑health work felt “extremely purposeful.” She also shared that songwriting and creativity help her cope with personal hardships.
Key facts
- The Rare Impact Fund Benefit raised nearly $3 million for youth mental‑health programs. (billboard.com)
- The inaugural Katherine Short Legacy Award was presented to La Familia Counseling Center. (billboard.com)
- Selena Gomez hosted the event at the Hollywood Palladium on Oct. 14, 2026. (billboard.com)
- Martin Short spoke about treating mental illness as a disease and presented the award. (billboard.com)
- Bella Kay performed and said supporting the cause was “everything” to her. (billboard.com)
Sources
- [1] billboard.com — originally reported as “Selena Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund Benefit Raises Nearly $3 Million, Honors Martin Short’s Late Daughter: ‘This Has Always Been Our Mission’”
