Past Annual Awards Dinner Honorees
Honoring a Legacy of Leadership, Courage, and Compassion
Each year, Younity is proud to recognize individuals, volunteers, and partners whose extraordinary commitment has directly supported our mission: empowering victim-survivors, preventing violence, and building stronger, safer communities.
From elected leaders and grassroots advocates to tireless volunteers and visionary partners, our honorees reflect the very best of what it means to stand with those impacted by domestic and sexual violence.
Their work has profound, lasting effects on the lives of our clients and strengthens Younity’s ability to provide critical services. Their voices inspire us, and their actions continue to shape the path forward.
Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award Recipients
Presented annually to a leader who has championed justice, equality, and the empowerment of those most vulnerable to abuse.
Previous Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award Recipients:
1995: Cokie Roberts, award-winning correspondent for ABC & NPR, and best-selling author
1996: Ann Richards, Governor of Texas, and Mary Alice Williams, television anchor and executive
1997: Diane Sawyer, award-winning television journalist and anchor
1998: Pat Ciarrocchi, television anchor and journalist
1999: Anna Quindlen, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author
2000: Star Jones, attorney, journalist, and host of The View
2001: Ann, Pat, and Sandy, domestic violence survivors who appear in the video, Bridges to Safety
2002: The Honorable Lindy Boggs, former ambassador and congresswoman from Louisiana
2003: Linda Fairstein, Chief, Sex Crimes Unit of the Manhattan DA’s office, and best-selling author
2004: Emily Mann, Emmy Award-winning playwright and artistic director of McCarter Theatre
2005: Kent Manahan, Emmy Award-winning reporter, producer, and host for NJ NETWORK
2006: Nina Totenberg, National Public Radio’s award-winning legal correspondent
2007: Nell Merlino, creative force of Take Our Daughters to Work Day & CEO of Count Me In
2008: Dr. Jean Kilbourne, acclaimed author, lecturer, and filmmaker
2009: Dr. Nancy Snyderman, NBC Chief Medical Editor and bestselling author
2010: C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers Head Coach of Women’s Basketball, and 2009 Basketball Hall of Famer
2011: Faith Ringgold, world-renowned artist and author
2012: Dr. Stacey Patton, author, journalist, and advocate for abused and neglected children
2013: Lee Woodruff, best-selling author, journalist, and advocate for injured veterans
2014: Joe Torre, Baseball Hall of Famer, and founder of Safe at Home Foundation
2015: Minh Dang, Human Rights Activist and Scholar
2016: Tamron Hall, Co-Host of NBC’S TODAY and anchor of MSNBC’S NewsNation
2017: Kayla Harrison, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist
2018: LY Marlow, Founder & CEO of Saving Promise
2019: Tony Porter, CEO of A Call to Men
2020: Cancelled due to Covid-19
2021: Cancelled due to Covid-19
2022: Elizabeth Smart, Child Abduction Prevention Advocate (held virtually via Zoom)
2023: Troy Vincent Sr., Former Philadelphia Eagles Cornerback, EVP Football Operations at NFL
2024: Bonnie Watson Coleman, U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District
Edwin W. Schmierer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service
Presented to a dedicated volunteer whose generosity, leadership, and service have made a direct and lasting difference in the lives of Younity’s clients, helping us provide critical support to those in crisis.
2023: Edwin W. Schmierer, Volunteer of 36 years and Namesake of Younity’s Volunteer Award
2024: Anne Mavis, Advocate for Crisis Response Teams of Mercer County
Community Partner Award
Presented to a valued organization or business whose partnership with Younity has strengthened our programs, expanded our reach, and made a tangible impact on the individuals and families we serve.
2024: Isles, Inc.
A Family Legacy of Impact: A Mother and Her Daughters
In photo: Barbara Boggs Sigmund (right), and past honorees journalist Cokie Roberts (Barbara’s sister) and former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, Lindy Boggs (Barbara’s mother).
