September 9, 2026
/
As Avalon Healing Center celebrates 20 years of service, healing, and hope, we are proud to recognize the incredible individuals and partners who have made a lasting impact on our mission and the survivors we serve.
Our 20th Anniversary Awardees represent the compassion, dedication, advocacy, and commitment that have helped shape Avalon throughout the years. Their contributions remind us that meaningful change happens when a community comes together to support survivors and create a future where every voice can be heard.
We are honored to celebrate these outstanding awardees during our Waves of Change 20th Anniversary Celebration and thank them for the impact they continue to make.
Congratulations to all of our deserving awardees! Thank you for being part of Avalon’s journey and helping us create waves of change for the next 20 years and beyond.
We are honored to recognize Shoma Pal with our Waves of Change Award at our 20th Anniversary Celebration.
Shoma’s story with Avalon began when we were still known as WC SAFE. She helped secure our first-ever funding and served as a founding member of our first Board of Directors. Historically, she has been Avalon’s longest-serving board member and has played a pivotal role in the growth and success of our organization.
Her vision, leadership, generosity, and unwavering belief in survivors have helped Avalon grow into Michigan’s largest and most comprehensive sexual assault center—serving more than 30,000 survivors of sexual violence over the past 20 years.
Shoma, thank you for believing in Avalon from the very beginning and for helping us create waves of change that continue to move our mission forward. We are so proud to call you an Avalonian.
We are honored to recognize Debi Cain as a Waves of Change Awardee at our 20th Anniversary Celebration.
Debi is being honored for her extraordinary leadership, vision, and dedication to the domestic violence and sexual assault movement and for the lasting impact she has made across Detroit and throughout Michigan.
Through her leadership as Executive Director of the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board (MDSVPTB), Debi helped build an outstanding statewide infrastructure that has helped Michigan become a leader in best practices for programming, funding, and survivor-centered services.
Her ability to mentor, inspire, advocate for, and lift up others has strengthened the movement and helped organizations like Avalon grow and serve more than 30,000 survivors of sexual violence.
For decades, Debi has been a champion for this work. Now, Avalon is proud to celebrate her and the waves of change she has helped create. Debi, thank you for paving the way, lifting others up, and believing in the power of this movement. We are honored to celebrate you!
We are honored to recognize the McGregor Fund at our 20th Anniversary Celebration aboard the Ovation Yacht on September 24, 2026.
For two decades, the McGregor Fund has been an extraordinary partner in Avalon’s journey. From providing some of our first foundation grants, to creatively helping us build organizational capacity, to becoming the first foundation to publicly support our capital campaign, McGregor has believed in Avalon and the survivors we serve from the very beginning.
Their innovative approach to philanthropy, commitment to breaking down barriers, and unwavering focus on the people and communities their grantees serve have made a lasting impact on Avalon.
We truly would not be celebrating 20 years without the creativity, vision, partnership, and support of the McGregor Fund team and Board of Directors. McGregor, thank you for believing in our mission, investing in our future, and helping Avalon remain here to serve survivors for 20 years and counting. Your partnership has helped create waves of change that continue to move us forward.
We are honored to recognize Tanya Abdelnour as a Waves of Change Awardee at our 20th Anniversary Celebration aboard the Ovation Yacht on September 24, 2026.
Tanya is being honored for her compassion, leadership, and unwavering dedication to sexual assault survivors and for the extraordinary impact she has made within Michigan’s criminal justice system.
From serving as one of the founding prosecutors of the Sexual Assault Team (SAT) within the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, to her invaluable work with the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), and now through her leadership with Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM), Tanya has helped advance best practices, training, and resources across our state.
Her vision and dedication have made a life-changing difference in the lives of thousands of survivors and have played an important role in helping Avalon grow into Michigan’s largest and most comprehensive sexual assault center. Tanya, thank you for your leadership, your compassion, and your commitment to creating a justice system where survivors are heard, supported, and believed. We are honored to celebrate you!
We are deeply honored to announce the creation of the Michael Pivoz Impact Award, an annual award recognizing an individual, community partner, corporation, or foundation that has made a significant impact on improving the response and care provided to those affected by sexual violence.
We are especially honored to present the inaugural Michael Pivoz Impact Award posthumously to Mike Pivoz at our Waves of Change 20th Anniversary Celebration aboard the Ovation Yacht on September 24, 2026.
Mike’s impact on Avalon is woven into our very foundation. From helping establish Avalon’s bylaws and incorporation, to serving as our longtime Treasurer, navigating challenging financial moments, and generously giving his time, resources, compassion, and expertise—Mike helped build the organization we are today. Because of his dedication and belief in Avalon, more than 27,000 survivors of sexual violence—and counting—have received life-changing care and support.
Mike was truly one of a kind. His legacy will continue through this award and through the countless lives touched by the work he helped make possible. We are honored to carry his legacy forward and celebrate the impact he made on Avalon, our community, and survivors. We look forward to welcoming Mike’s family as we celebrate his life, his service, and his enduring impact during this very special evening.
Join us as we celebrate all those who have helped Avalon reach this incredible milestone.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available for Waves of Change!
#AvalonHealingCenter #WavesOfChange #20YearsOfHealingAndHope #WavesOfChangeAward #Unmuted #SupportSurvivors #DetroitNonprofit #HealingAndHope #MakeWaves