Faces of Courage
Faces of Courage 2026 will take place on April 30th, 2026 at the Boise Centre. Now in its fifth year, Faces of Courage brings our community together for an evening of impact, inspiration, and support for survivors in the Treasure Valley.
This year, we are honored to welcome all four of Gabby Petito’s parents—Nichole and Jim Schmidt, and Joseph and Tara Petito—as our keynote speakers. Through their advocacy, they’ve become powerful national voices for domestic violence prevention, using their family’s story to help survivors feel seen, heard, and supported.
Gabby Petito was a 22-year-old travel blogger who disappeared during a cross-country trip with her fiancé. The discovery of her murder, and the nationwide search that followed, sparked urgent conversation about domestic violence. Following the release of the documentary The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies and Social Media on Netflix, advocates across the country reported a significant rise in survivors coming forward for help.
The Petito and Schmidt families continue to transform their unimaginable loss into action, awareness, and hope—and we are deeply grateful to have them join us in Boise.
Faces of Courage raises essential funds to ensure every survivor can find safety, legal support, counseling, crisis intervention, and compassionate care.
Tickets go on sale January 26. Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Click here to learn more about becoming a sponsor.
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History of Faces of Courage
Faces of Courage has featured some of the nation’s most powerful voices in survivor advocacy. In 2025, Katrina Brownlee shared her remarkable journey from surviving a near-fatal shooting to rising through the ranks of the NYPD and founding Young Ladies of Our Future.
In 2024, Drea Kelly moved more than 600 attendees with her account of surviving abuse during her marriage to R. Kelly. The year before, Maggie Nichols—“Athlete A” and the first gymnast to report Larry Nassar—delivered an unforgettable message of courage and accountability. In 2022, child abduction survivor and author Elizabeth Smart inspired the room with her story of resilience.
Each year, Faces of Courage raises critical funds that sustain Faces of Hope’s free, immediate crisis services for survivors across the Treasure Valley.
See more photos from the 4th annual Faces of Courage benefit gala.
