Mariska Hargitay and Olivia Benson

The birth of the Joyful Heart Foundation

“When I started playing Detective Olivia Benson on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit a decade ago, my eyes were opened to the silenced epidemics of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse in this country. It wasn't just in the scripts for the show, but in the many emails I received from viewers disclosing their stories of abuse, many for the first time.


I felt a great responsibility to these brave men and women and wanted them to know that they had been heard and that they could have hope. I studied the subject, trained to become a crisis counselor, and used my visibility as an actress to become an advocate. The result was the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing support and encouragement for survivors.

When people are abused and assaulted, it is like the doors to their souls slam shut. The goal of Joyful Heart is to let the light, and the life, back in--to banish the darkness and let the healing begin."

- Mariska Hargitay, President and Founder, Joyful Heart Foundation

The mission of the Joyful Heart Foundation is to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.

Joyful Heart is not a crisis center and does not provide emergency services including: crisis intervention, counseling, housing, legal or financial assistance. We are able, however, to connect you to information and resources where these services are available. We encourage you to take the next step and contact the appropriate resource.

A closing thought from Mariska:

“It is my wish that you live the healthiest, most fulfilled lives you can, in full acknowledgement and awareness of the demands of your calling. May you find ways, in the midst of your mission to serve and protect others, to do the same for yourselves.”

With admiration and gratitude,

www.joyfulheartfoundation.org

Me and Ro supports The Joyful Heart Foundation through a customized piece of jewelry reflecting the beliefs and ideals of Robin Renzi, founder and CEO. Her art is inspired by human need to adorn and communicate through jewelry. She created the FEARLESSNESS pendant, which serves as a reminder that embracing fearlessness inspires one to approach life with an open heart and to be strong in the face of adversity. 100% of the proceeds from this pendant go directly to The Joyful Heart Foundation.