More than 280 supporters, community leaders, advocates, volunteers, and friends gathered on May 28 at Trenton Country Club for Younity’s 30th Annual Awards Dinner, an evening that celebrated resilience, honored extraordinary changemakers, and raised critical support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Together, guests contributed more than $53,800 through the evening’s Fund-a-Need appeal, silent auction and raffle, helping ensure that survivors and their families can continue to access safety, counseling, advocacy, housing, and support when they need it most.
As Younity prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, the evening served as both a reflection on how far the organization has come and a reminder of the work that still lies ahead.
Throughout the night, a common theme emerged from speakers, honorees, and community partners alike: healing begins when people show up for one another.
In her remarks, Younity CEO and President Nathalie S. Nelson reflected on the organization’s roots and the enduring legacy of founder Barbara Boggs Sigmund.
“Community is not just a nice idea,” Nelson said. “It is what helps people survive, heal, and rebuild.”
That spirit of community was reflected in this year’s honorees.
The Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award was presented to PBS News Hour journalist Amna Nawaz, whose reporting has helped elevate conversations around violence, justice, and the experiences of survivors. In accepting the award, Nawaz reflected on the many painful realities that too often do not make sense. Then she pointed to what does.
“What does make sense,” Nawaz said, “is the people who show up when you need them to show up, who step up when the need is there, who see and live the pain and then turn it into purpose.”
The Edwin W. Schmierer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service was presented to Tina Karkera, a dedicated Younity advocate whose work places her alongside survivors during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Karkera described advocacy not as heroism, but as the simple act of showing up.
“When Younity’s advocates see a survivor, we ask just one question: What do you need?”
She compared the role of an advocate to carrying a small candle into a dark tunnel, offering hope and support until a survivor can begin to see a path forward.
The Younity Award for Outstanding Community Partner was presented to the Trenton Community Street Team, recognized for their commitment to violence prevention, community engagement, and supporting residents throughout the City of Trenton. Accepting the award on behalf of the organization, Director Perry Shaw emphasized the importance of meeting people where they are and helping them discover their own path forward.
“We don’t do things for them,” Shaw said. “We do things with them.”
The evening also included remarks from survivor Risa, who shared her journey of rebuilding safety and stability for herself and her children after experiencing domestic violence. (Read her full story here.)
“Younity helped me and gave me a voice,” she told guests.
Through counseling, advocacy, housing support, and other services, Risa found the tools and confidence to move forward. Speaking about the future she is building for herself and her children, she shared, “I’m not quite there yet, but I’m on the way,” a statement that drew applause from the audience and served as a powerful reminder that healing is possible.
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson led the evening’s Fund-a-Need appeal, inspiring guests to invest directly in services that provide safety, healing, and hope for survivors and their families.
The success of the evening was made possible by the generosity of sponsors, donors, volunteers, board members, staff, community partners, and everyone who chose to stand with survivors.
Last year alone, Younity answered 8,430 hotline calls from survivors seeking safety, guidance, and hope. Trained advocates responded to 566 survivors in hospitals, police departments, and other moments of crisis, while counselors provided services to 401 survivors and housing programs helped 333 adults and children find safety. Despite a 10 percent increase in demand for services, Younity continued to stand beside survivors when they needed support most. As Nelson reminded guests during the evening, “Behind every number is a person, a family, and a story.”
As the organization looks toward its 50th anniversary in 2026, Younity remains committed to the mission that has guided its work for nearly five decades: ensuring that no survivor faces abuse alone.
Together, we are stronger than abuse.
