Project Jason - Assistance for Families of the Missing

Project Jason - Assistance for Families of the Missing

U.S. Justice Department’s OVC Names Project Jason President Kelly Jolkowski 2010 Volunteer for Victims Honoree



Mother of missing son honored for helping other families cope

when their loved ones go missing





OMAHA, NE and WASHINGTON D.C. – April 16, 2010 – The U.S. Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) today named Kelly Jolkowski as the 2010 Volunteer for Victims Honoree. The announcement came at the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony Friday, April 16, 2010 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. The awards are part of the OVC’s National Crime Victims Rights Week, April 18-24. Jolkowski was one of eight people honored by the U.S. Justice Department for their work assisting victims of crime.



Jolkowski is President and Founder of Omaha, Neb.-based Project Jason, a nonprofit that assists families of missing adults and children. She became a volunteer for the cause of missing persons after her son, Jason, disappeared in 2001. Because Jason’s age placed him as an adult, she found it difficult to identify a source for advice or comfort. She determined no family should experience this loss without assistance, and founded Project Jason, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.



Ernie Allen, President and CEO of The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, said: “We congratulate Kelly Jolkowski, volunteer for families of the missing, for being among the honorees in this year’s National Crime Victims’ Service Awards. We thank the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office for Victims of Crime for recognizing such a worthy member of our community in such a significant and prominent manner. Furthermore, we applaud Kelly Jolkowski, whose outstanding work on behalf of the missing and their families resulted in this deserved honor today. We are proud of her, and fortunate to benefit from her knowledge, her talents, and her dedication.”



Colleen Nick, CEO of The Morgan Nick Foundation, said: “Our organization has been witness to Kelly's work for a number of years, and we have seen her powerful commitment in action as she guides the families of the missing through their darkest hours,” said Colleen Nick, CEO of The Morgan Nick Foundation, which provides a support network to parents and families of missing children. ”She provides hope and strength for these families and awareness for their missing loved ones. We are delighted that she has been singled out for this distinguished honor.”



“I’m honored to accept this award on behalf of all missing persons, the families who miss them, and in my son’s name,” said Jolkowski upon receiving the award. “The secondary victims, the families, deserve a voice, and to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect as they go through what is undoubtedly the most difficult time in their lives. This is what I do, and for this work to be honored can be a catalyst for the change of the mindset of the public as it pertains to the aid given to these suffering families.”





About the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)



The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) was established by the 1984 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to oversee diverse programs that benefit victims of crime. OVC provides substantial funding to state victim assistance and compensation programs-the lifeline services that help victims to heal. The agency supports trainings designed to educate criminal justice and allied professionals regarding the rights and needs of crime victims. OVC also sponsors an annual event in April to commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW). OVC is one of seven components within the Office of Justice Programs,



About the OVC National Crime Victims’ Rights Week



Each April since 1981, OVC has helped lead communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/index.html





National Crime Victims’ Service Awards



OVC annually recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding service in supporting victims and victim services. The award recipients, who are selected from public nominations in eight categories, are extraordinary individuals and programs that provide services to victims of crime. The honorees are announced just before National Crime Victims’ Rights Week commences and honored at the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards (http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/events.htm).



The 2010 National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony: Friday, April 16, 2010

Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Washington, DC, 2:00–3:30 p.m. Eastern time.





About Project Jason



Project Jason, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families of missing persons . The organization offers tactical guidance, emotional support, and hope for families continuing their searches for answers.



The families working with Project Jason benefit from increased public awareness of their missing loved ones through a variety of outreach and educational activities. The families are also guided toward existing resources available to help with their efforts. Project Jason is based in Omaha, Nebraska.



For more information about Project Jason’s objectives, activities and services, go to http://www.projectjason.org

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