Latest news with #JoyfulHeartFoundation
Time Magazine
20-05-2025
- Time Magazine
Mariska Hargitay
To millions of TV viewers, Mariska Hargitay is Olivia Benson, the tough but compassionate NYPD captain who has been tackling crimes for the past 26 years on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Away from the cameras, Hargitay channels that same fierce dedication into her real-world role as a powerful advocate for survivors of sexual assault. Hargitay's Joyful Heart Foundation, which she launched in 2004, focuses on changing the way society responds to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse through education, advocacy, and strategic grants. Since 2010, it has prioritized tackling the vast backlog of untested rape kits in the U.S.—crucial DNA evidence that is often left unprocessed, which can delay justice and potentially allow repeat offenders to remain free. Through its End the Backlog campaign, the foundation has identified tens of thousands of untested kits, funded training to clear the backlog, and driven policy changes. Its six pillars of reform—which include mandating statewide kit tracking, testing timelines, and victim notifications—have now been fully adopted by 21 states and the District of Columbia, with 11 others close behind. In 2024, Hargitay shared a more personal connection to her foundation's work. In an essay published by People, Hargitay revealed that she had been raped by a then-friend when she was in her 30s—a fact that took her decades to come to terms with. 'I couldn't process it,' she wrote. 'I was building Joyful Heart on the outside so I could do the work on the inside.'
Time Magazine
20-05-2025
- General
- Time Magazine
Sarah Haacke Byrd
While billions of dollars are donated to charitable causes every year, less than 2% are dedicated to organizations that focus on women and girls. Women Moving Millions aims to change that dynamic. Since its founding in 2007, the organization's members have donated more than $1 billion to nonprofits that support women and has set a new goal of donating an additional $1 billion over the next five years, says CEO Sarah Haacke Byrd. Byrd joined WMM in 2018 after serving as managing director of the Joyful Heart Foundation, where she led a campaign to end a backlog of thousands of untested rape kits in police storage across the U.S. Under her leadership, WMM has supported initiatives ranging from health care equity to climate change, focusing on how these issues affect women and girls. Members have also helped fund films that promote women's rights, including the 2024 Oscar-nominated documentary To Kill A Tiger, which told the story of a father's fight to prosecute the men who sexually assaulted his 13-year-old daughter in rural India. In 2023, WMM members donated $157 million, with 85% of members donating more than their initial pledge of $1 million, with a median increase of $3 million. 'My passion is building a really strong, connected funding system for the movement for women's rights,' Byrd says. 'Our role is to ensure that their voices and perspectives and needs are heard.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sarah Haacke Byrd
Credit - Aurora Rose—While billions of dollars are donated to charitable causes every year, less than 2% are dedicated to organizations that focus on women and girls. Women Moving Millions aims to change that dynamic. Since its founding in 2007, the organization's members have donated more than $1 billion to nonprofits that support women and has set a new goal of donating an additional $1 billion over the next five years, says CEO Sarah Haacke Byrd. Byrd joined WMM in 2018 after serving as managing director of the Joyful Heart Foundation, where she led a campaign to end a backlog of thousands of untested rape kits in police storage across the U.S. Under her leadership, WMM has supported initiatives ranging from health care equity to climate change, focusing on how these issues affect women and girls. Members have also helped fund films that promote women's rights, including the 2024 Oscar-nominated documentary To Kill A Tiger, which told the story of a father's fight to prosecute the men who sexually assaulted his 13-year-old daughter in rural India. In 2023, WMM members donated $157 million, with 85% of members donating more than their initial pledge of $1 million, with a median increase of $3 million. 'My passion is building a really strong, connected funding system for the movement for women's rights,' Byrd says. 'Our role is to ensure that their voices and perspectives and needs are heard.' Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Law & Order's Mariska Hargitay Celebrates Landmark Accomplishment
might save lives and improve public safety as Captain Olivia Benson on her show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but she also works just as hard to do the same in real life, consistently trying to raise awareness of sexual abuse, domestic abuse and other issues and support the fight to prevent abuse and help survivors. On May 13, she highlighted an exciting accomplishment for everyone working hard in the same fight, sharing a post on her Instagram Stories about South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signing a bill into law that criminalizes the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. With this action, all 50 states in the U.S. now have laws making this a crime. 🎬 🎬 The post was originally shared by the Joyful Heart Foundation, which is a nonprofit founded by Hargitay that works to "transform society's response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors' healing, and end this violence forever." Others celebrated the historic moment as well, such as one person who wrote, "There are so many who have worked incredibly hard to advocate for this and a major congratulations is in order 🫶." "This is AMAZING news!! Thanks for all your work on this Joyful Heart!" said someone else about the accomplishment. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24 hours a day through RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. If you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence, help is available 24 hours a day through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
South China Morning Post
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Who were Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay's parents Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay? Her dad was a former Mr Universe – and her mum a former Playboy Playmate and film star
Mariska Hargitay has faced significant challenges despite her public success. While accepting the 2024 Hope Award for Depression Advocacy at the Hope for Depression Research Foundation's Annual Hope Luncheon, the Law & Order : Special Victims Unit star opened up about her journey through trauma and healing. Mariska Hargitay on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Photo: @nbclawandorder/Instagram 'I lost my mother when I was three years old,' the 60-year-old actress shared during her speech, per Mirror US. 'I grew up in a house of people dealing with the tragedy in their own way because there was so much grief, there wasn't room to prioritise anyone.' She also revealed she endured sexual trauma later in life, which took years to process. Advertisement Mariska Hargitay, right, with husband Peter Hermann. Photo: @therealmariskahargitay/Instagram These experiences, along with stories from other survivors, inspired her to create the Joyful Heart Foundation. 'I built a whole foundation that responded to trauma and survivors the way that I wanted to be responded to,' she said. Curious about Mariska Hargitay's roots? Here's a closer look at her parents, Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield. Mickey Hargitay was Mr Universe in 1955 Mickey Hargitay was a bodybuilding champion turned actor. Photo: @therealmariskahargitay/Instagram Mariska's father, Mickey Hargitay, was born Miklós Hargitay in Budapest and immigrated to the US in 1947. He rose to fame as 1955's Mr Universe before transitioning to acting, starring in over a dozen films, including four with his wife Jayne Mansfield, including The Loves of Hercules and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Mickey died in 2006 at 80 after battling cancer. Jayne Mansfield was an actress and Playboy Playmate Jayne Mansfield was a 1950s and 60s pin up. Photo: @therealmariskahargitay/Instagram
