Joyful Heart Foundation

When Mariska Hargitay began playing Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , the content of the scripts opened her eyes to the epidemics of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse. But what really opened her eyes and heart was the thousands of letters and emails she received from survivors disclosing their stories of abuse. Mariska founded Joyful Heart in 2004 with the intention of helping survivors heal and reclaim their lives. Today, their mission 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.