Selena Gomez and Martin Short paid tribute to the actor\u2019s late daughter, Katherine Short, with an award at the Rare Impact Fund Benefit on Wednesday night. <\/p>\n
The Rare Beauty founder unveiled the new Katherine Short Legacy Award in memory of the 42-year-old \u201cwho passed away by suicide\u201d<\/a> on Feb. 23 <\/p>\n \u201cThere is one part of tonight that means a lot to me,\u201d\u00a0she told attendees during the star-studded event at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, per People<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cKatherine was a social worker who devoted her own career to helping people through some of their hardest points.\u201d <\/p>\n Selena Gomez and Martin Short paid tribute to the actor\u2019s late daughter, Katherine Short, at the Rare Impact Fund Benefit on Wednesday night. (Seen here: The \u201cOnly Murders in the Building\u201d co-stars.) Getty Images for Rare Beauty<\/p>\n Gomez announced the new Katherine Short Legacy Award in memory of the social worker. (Seen here: Martin and Katherine.) WireImage<\/p>\n \u201cThis award will carry her name forward by honoring people who have made that same kind of commitment to their communities,\u201d Gomez, whose organization raises money for youth mental health services, continued.<\/p>\n The actress, 34, opened up about her \u201cmany years\u201d of friendship with Martin, adding, \u201cI know how deeply he loves his family. I\u2019m very grateful that he\u2019s here tonight to help us present it for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n Gomez\u2019s \u201cOnly Murders in the Building\u201d co-star, 76, then joined her on stage to accept the award with an emotional speech.<\/p>\n \u201cThis award will carry her name forward by honoring people who have made that same kind of commitment to their communities,\u201d Gomez said. (Seen here: Martin and Katherine.) WireImage<\/p>\n The Disney alum (seen here) then welcomed Martin on stage. Getty Images for Rare Beauty<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a very difficult year for me, needless to say,\u201d\u00a0Martin said.\u00a0\u201cIt has been the heartbreak of our family, as you can imagine.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cBut we have also understood in the last eight months \u2014 I think my whole family has understood \u2014 that mental health and cancer, which took my wife, for example, are both diseases,\u201d he said, referring to his late wife, Nancy Dolman, who died in 2010 following an ovarian cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are diseases, and sometimes diseases are terminal.\u201d<\/p>\n The actor then vulnerably opened up about Katherine\u2019s \u201clong\u201d fight with \u201cextreme mental health issues,\u201d including borderline personality disorder.<\/p>\n The National Institute of Mental Health <\/a>defines borderline personality disorder as \u201ca serious mental illness that affects how a person feels about themselves and others and makes it hard to function in everyday life.\u201d <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tWant more celebrity and pop culture news?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with Page Six Daily.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a very difficult year for me, needless to say,\u201d Martin (seen here) said. Getty Images for Rare Beauty<\/p>\n The actor (seen above) described mental health as a disease. Getty Images for Rare Beauty<\/p>\n \u201cShe did the best she could until she couldn\u2019t,\u201d Martin continued in his speech. \u201cMy pain about losing my daughter will always be present in my heart, and I think that\u2019s simply because what we deeply love we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cInnerspace\u201d star praised his daughter\u2019s work as a clinical social worker and the \u201copen\u201d and \u201ccompassionate conversations about mental health\u201d that she committed herself to through her profession.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what an honor it is for me to be [here] helping present this award, which honors those creating lasting impact through their commitment to mental health and well-being,\u201d Martin concluded. <\/p>\n A rep for Martin confirmed Katherine\u2019s death in February with a heartbreaking statement that read, \u201cThe Short\u00a0family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are diseases, and sometimes diseases are terminal,\u201d Martin (seen here) continued. FilmMagic<\/p>\n Katherine (seen here with Martin) died by suicide in February. Penske Media via Getty Images<\/p>\n Katherine\u2019s death certificate confirmed she passed away <\/a>due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound while at her Hollywood Hills, California, home.<\/p>\n