Jenn Brinn & Andrea Kleid I wanted to let you know about an amazing event Joyful Heart had the privilege to be a part of in August, the RAINN Benefit Concert. The event was held in NYC at the Cutting Room on West 24th Street. We partnered with two incredible young women from Nashville, Andrea Kleid and Jenn Brinn, who created the inaugural RAINN Benefit Concert Tour in 2006 to educate and empower survivors of sexual assault. Both women work in the music industry and share a passion for music and its affect on humankind. It was this shared passion of using music to change the world one song at a time along with the understanding of the power of music that brought them together in 2006 to create PixieVoice Promotions and launch the inaugural RAINN Benefit Concert Tour. Last years first sold out showcase in Nashville featured talented local and regional artists and the event raised over $2,200 in much needed funds for the Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The success of that one show sparked a course of action that led to seven Benefit Concerts for 2007 across the country at some of the most prestigious venues and featuring some of the most influential artists to date. When Jenn contacted Joyful Heart to partner up for the New York City part of the tour, we jumped at the opportunity! We had a presence at each concert but only in NYC were we able to make it big! Many people showed their support, offered their time and joined me for a night of incredible talent and inspiration. We look forward to teaming up with Jenn and Andrea next year for the third annual RAINN Benefit Concert Tour!

Pam Swider Founder of Women for Hope (www.womenforhope.com) Women For Hope is a website where you can learn, share, shop and give back. It was started by Pamela Swider and her husband Tom. Pam is a sexual assault survivor and had come to the point in her life when she wanted to give back to those who helped her on the road to recovery. She also wanted to help other women who were facing traumas or hardships. With Tom having a background in psychology and having used his martial art training to teach self-defense, he understood her motivation and was right on board to help. They put their heads and hearts together and Women For Hope was born. The website provides information about women-related issues, along with resources where help can be found. There is a section where women can share their stories. Pam knows that sometimes just knowing you are not alone can be just the thing you need to give you the hope to face another day. At the heart of Women For Hope is the shopping section. This area features products made by women-owned companies made for women. Currently the store carries awareness jewelry which is made by Pam and Tom. In addition, there is a bath and body product line called Backyard Soaps. Two new product lines will be added soon, a soy candle line and a fun t-shirt line. 10% of the proceeds from this shop are donated to various nonprofit organizations that Women For Hope has partnered with. One of these organizations is the Joyful Heart Foundation. Pam even created a special Sexual Assault Bracelet with the Joyful Heart Foundation in mind. It includes a sterling silver dolphin to honor the work that JHF does.

Wesley Usher Sanctuary Created in NYC Hospital for Survivors of Sexual Assault One expects certain things upon walking into an Emergency Department; beige walls, fluorescent lighting, various lifesaving equipment placed throughout. What survivors of sexual assault find at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, however, is quite different. Patients are still walking into a state-of-the-art medical facility, but one that has been completely transformed thanks to the talents of Wesley Usher, artist and volunteer Advocate with The Mount Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention (SAVI) Program. Ms. Usher, prompted by her dedication to work with survivors of sexual assault, recently coupled her compassion with her talents as an artist to complete a renovation of the exam room used in The Mount Sinai Hospital's Emergency Department used specifically for treating survivors of sexual assault. This space has now been transformed into a sanctuary filled with bamboo, moonlight and tree frogs far removed from the sterile atmosphere of a typical exam room. Research indicates that the physical environment in which medical attention is given can have a significant effect on that person's overall hospital experience, as well as their recovery. In particular, scenes depicting nature and natural settings are considered to be most beneficial. In the case of a survivor of sexual assault, the hospital experience often has implications for how they choose to proceed with the judicial process, which has significant implications in terms of prosecuting sexual offenders in our city. For over 23 years, The Mount Sinai SAVI Program has offered free and confidential counseling services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Last year alone, SAVI was able to provide services to 553 survivors in 11 Emergency Departments in Manhattan and Queens. SAVI continually strives to provide survivors of sexual assault with the highest quality of care and this project, like many others, adds exponentially to this cause. Wesley Usher's Website: www.lifeasmyth.com *** includes before and after pictures of the room SAVI's Website: http://www.mssm.edu/savi/

Amelia Nemitz We received the following letter and frankly we feel it speaks for itself... Dear Mariska Hargitay, It is my pleasure to share a tender story that you unknowingly played a large part in making happen. My daughter, Amelia, celebrated her 16th birthday on March 12th. As we planned her celebration, she wanted to know if it would be okay to ask her friends to make a donation to her favorite charity in lieu of gifts. Besides making this mom extremely proud, Amelia and her friends raised $1,050.00 for the Joyful Heart Foundation. Amelia has always has a generous heart, but her admiration for you lead her to learn about the Joyful Heart Foundation and gave her one more outlet for her energies. You inspired her to learn more about survivors of sexual assault and the healing that takes place at every level. Now she's shared her knowledge about the organization with many of her friends and hopefully planted her own seeds of inspiration. I appreciate your giving-spirit and want you to know the affect you have is far and wide... and in this case very personal to me. Perhaps one day Amelia will have the opportunity to meet you in person and express her appreciation for the positive force you've been in her life and that of so many others. You are appreciated. Kindest regards, Joy A. Nemitz A very proud mom Kneeling in front: Amelia Nemitz From left to right: Carolyn Fox, Nicole Houghton, Katie Fox, Kristen Bendinelli, Marissa Talvy, Kelly Lisanti, and Alex Andreassan

Lark Atkin Here's what Lark has to say about raising awareness and spreading the word... What originally started as a fitness goal has morphed into my own personal mission to make women fearless one pedal stroke at a time by spreading The Joyful Heart Foundation's name mile after mile on a simple Felt road bicycle. I was searching for a charity jersey one day in hopes of finding one for JHF. There wasn't one, and so I decided to make myself into a bill board. I'm working with a jersey designer to produce a cycling jersey that features JHF's fearlessness motto. In the meantime, I've been able to apply the web address on the bike as well as my brain bucket and I find no greater joy than being asked at stoplights, gas stations, and pack rides what The Joyful Heart Foundation is about. My ultimate goal is to establish an annual ride where all proceeds from competitors will benefit the foundation. I'm developing a 100 mile route that would mirror the battle of a survivor. So all you west coast cyclers, keep your tire pressure high and chains greased: when the time arises you can help make women fearless... one pedal stroke at a time. Let blessings chase you in the street! Lark

Molly J. Buyske Again, we received the following letter and Molly says it best in her own words... Dear Joyful Heart Foundation, Enclosed are two checks totaling $500. I hope that this helps you in your endeavor to help sexual assault and rape survivors. I am proud to raise money for your foundation as I believe and support whole heartedly what you are doing. This year to raise money I painted three chairs with various themes. I then sold them at our Christmas Country Store. Then, one of my friends at school asked me if she and her dad could buy a chair, so I painted another one for them. This was a very fun project and a great way to raise a little money. Plus, it was really fun and quite relaxing to just paint for a while. Once again, I think this foundation is doing amazing work. Keep it up! Sincerely, Molly J. Buyske

Jefferson Parker Owner/Director: Bikram's Yoga College of India San Rafael, CA When Jefferson approached JHF with the idea of doing a 30 Day Yoga Challenge to help raise funds and awareness for Joyful Heart we were thrilled to be apart of something that promotes physical wellness, engages the community in giving back and is just plain fun! With 12 students participating, they raised over $5,575.00 with the support from over 43 sponsors to help fund Joyful Heart's Wellness Programs! We are so grateful to all those who participated. This is a wonderful idea that anyone can do in their community at their local yoga center, gym or roadrunners club. Thank you Jefferson for creating such a wonderful program!

Annie Langseth Creator of the Joyful Heart Art Auction (JHAA) Annie Langseth was already familiar with Joyful Heart in her senior year of college when she decided to combine her passion for art with that of community service to hold the first Joyful Heart Art Auction (JHAA) on her campus at The University of North Dakota. The auction, held during April to honor Sexual Assault Awareness Month, benefited Joyful Heart as well as a local Grand Forks organization, The Community Violence Intervention Program. Along with Annie, a group of tireless volunteers gathered original works of art that were auctioned off on April 7th, 2006. The event was a huge success! Another wonderful community event that helped raise funds and awareness on a local and national level! Thanks to Annie and everyone involved for making this a fantastic and easy model others can do in their communities. Click here to read an article on the event: http://www.dakotapurveyor.com/jhaa.html

Scott Duquette Program Administrator: intenSati Take on the Challenge Imagine yourself living a limitless life: Take on the Challenge Take on living the life you were born to live. intenSati is all about living consciously and making the best choices daily through intention and movement. intenSati invites you to take on the challenge of freeing yourself from your limits. Join their community this May as they support one another in attaining that vision for thirty days of releasing an unhealthy habit or taking on a healthy habit! You put aside a certain amount of "Karma-Cash" each time you do whatever it is that you feel limits you. The Karma-Cash will support The Joyful Heart Foundation. Visit www.intensati.com for more information! We are so grateful that intenSati is partnering with Joyful Heart to help spread the vision of living limitlessly.