Hope & Healing Gala
Friday, April 17, 2026
Tickets are now available for our annual Hope & Healing Celebration at Red Butte Garden. This is a night to celebrate the healing progress our community has made, and the strength of survivors.
This year, 3,016 individuals utilized our services. This number is not possible without your constant support. Join us for a night out with drinks, food, dancing, music and community.
We will also have an Opportunity Drawing featuring exciting prizes from Utah businesses. All proceeds will support the growth of the RRC's Mobile Response, Advocacy, Clinical, Community Engagement and Prevention programs.
THE MOOD
ENTERTAINMENT, DINNER & DRINKS
FORMAL ATTIRE
VENUE
RED BUTTE GARDEN ORANGERIE
300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
PILLAR OF HOPE & YOUTH RISING AWARDS
The Rape Recovery Center (RRC) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Pillar of Hope and Youth Rising awards, recognizing individuals and organizations whose leadership, advocacy, and compassion have made a profound impact on survivors of sexual violence across Utah.
RABBI AVREMI ZIPPEL
Pillar of Hope Award
Rabbi Avremi Zippel is a powerful voice for survivors, particularly male survivors of child sexual abuse. Through his public speaking, writing, and advocacy, Rabbi Zippel has courageously shared his own lived experience to break stigma and foster healing. His work encourages survivors to release shame and seek support, while also engaging with legal systems and collaborating with agencies across Utah to strengthen recovery and healing resources. His openness has created space for critical conversations and has inspired countless individuals to come forward and begin their healing journeys.
SONYA MARTINEZ-ORTIZ
Pillar of Hope Award
Sonya Martinez-Ortiz is recognized for her transformative leadership as Executive Director of the Rape Recovery Center from 2020 to 2025, where she championed equity and survivor-centered care by expanding services to historically underserved populations, including incarcerated individuals through partnerships with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Utah Department of Corrections, and later into Juvenile Justice and Youth Services. She also broadened the Center’s reach to Tooele County, strengthening access in rural communities, while helping shape the Utah Standards of Care and secure sustainable statewide funding for sexual assault services. Additionally, she established the Healing is Justice Endowment, creating a lasting foundation for survivor support—an enduring legacy that continues to advance a more equitable and compassionate response to sexual violence across Utah.
AMARYLLIS BAND
Youth Rising Award
The Amaryllis Band, led by Tessa Carlson, is being honored for their grassroots advocacy and commitment to feminist values and violence prevention. Tessa Carlson, a Utah student leader, independently organized a benefit concert to support the Rape Recovery Center, raising $500. As the leader of her school’s feminist organization, Tessa actively engages her peers in conversations around gender equity and violence prevention. Her passion for advocacy and her plans to pursue a future in social work or policy reflect a deep and ongoing commitment to creating safer, more just communities. The Amaryllis Band’s collective participation in this effort highlights the power of youth-led action and creative expression in driving meaningful change.
Hope & Healing Sponsorships
Advocate
RANGE $5,000-$9,999
Friend
RANGE $1,000-$4,999
Special Thanks
In-Kind
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Yes, casual table seating will be available throughout the evening.
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Yes, there will be plenty of parking in the main Red Butte Garden lot, and behind the Orangerie on the North side of the main building. ADA parking is available near the venue, along with a pickup and drop-off area near the main entrance.
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The event will end at 10 pm.
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Yes! You can donate by clicking the link below.
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Yes! When you purchase the ticket, add their name. We also have an option to buy a ticket for a survivor, and an option to buy a ticket for a staff member.
Frequently asked questions
Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question.