May 5, 2010 – When Mariska Hargitay started playing Detective Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” over a decade ago, the content of the scripts, as well as the work she did to prepare for the role, opened her eyes to the epidemics of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.
Mariska founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 with the intention of helping survivors heal and reclaim their lives. Today, Joyful Heart’s mission is to heal, educate and empower survivors of these crimes and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.
The Consulate General of Monaco and the Monaco Government Tourist Office in New York are proud to support Mariska and her amazing team in their “Joyful Revolution” as sponsors of the annual gala on May 5, 2010 in New York City. The evening, hosted by actresses Shohreh Aghdashloo, Marcia Gay Harden, Debra Messing and Hilary Swank, with the participation of Chris Meloni, Maria Bello, Alec Baldwin and George Stephanopoulos, honored the Entertainment Industry Foundation and its president Lisa Paulsen for their support of the Joyful Heart Foundation. The event also recognized the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which revolutionized the way violent crimes against women are prosecuted and prevented, and the way communities respond to survivors.
A celebrity auction which included a stay in Monaco as part of a “jet setter” package, along with exclusive prizes such as a home-cooked dinner by Mario Batali or a visit of the “30 Rock” set led by Alec Baldwin, helped raise funds for the foundation.
For more information please visit www.joyfulheartfoundation.org
