The Jenna Foundation will work diligently, in Jenna’s spirit, to end violence in our society. We will teach children and adults the tools of violence prevention. We will make support, advocacy, education and mentoring the building blocks for a society that, we hope, will lose no more Jennas.

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Strategic Goals:

• Maintain a low cost mentoring program through schools. Allow school districts to make their decision on implementing the program based solely on quality rather than budget considerations. We must break the cycle of violence at the youngest ages.
  
  
• Establish a free community outreach center to reach victims and provide a known, trusted place for primary and secondary victims to find peace, counseling, referrals, anger management. Use these centers for preventive education as well.
  
  
• Develop a community-wide gateway for delivering victim services. Efficiencies of scale create better use of scarce resources.
  
  
• Endow the Jenna Foundation for Non-Violence in order to provide a centralized fund dedicated to supporting other community non-violence efforts.
  
  
• Raise public awareness of non-violence issues and strategies through local, state, and national activities.

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Current Activities

Mentors for Jenna
Currently we have nearly 150 high school students who will mentor almost 750 elementary or middle school students. Nearly 3,500 children have received training in violence prevention, civility, responsibility, conflict resolution, and tolerance over the past eight years.

We have trained over 30 adult role models in mentoring for violence prevention.

Old Turtle Project
We have donated over 300 copies of Old Turtle, a children’s book we found among Jenna’s possessions and which we were told she constantly read. We have given this book to Catholic Charities Family Mentoring Project, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Dept. Abused Persons Unit, various schools, church and public libraries, and individuals. Old Turtle delivers her message of peace, tolerance, caring, and non-violence with beautiful watercolor illustrations.

Annual New York State Cyber Safety Summit
The Jenna Foundation was a founding co-sponsor of this annual event, with planning now underway for 2008. Scheduled for October 28th and 29th on the Capitol Plaza in Albany, this day-long seminar will feature a variety of workshops and nationally-rcognized speakers, and is open to all parents, students, educators, law enforcement, civic leaders and concerned citizens interested in making the Internet a safer place for families. There is no cost to register. Visit the event web site for more information.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week
The Jenna Foundation is proud to serve with a coalition of local agencies who come together each year to recognize this important week within Onondaga County.  This is an annual opportunity to educate our community about the rights of crime victims and the services available to them, and, at the same time, support victims of crime through a Vigil Ceremony – to be held on Thursday, April 17th, 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, 310 Montgomery Street in Syracuse.  This a time of reflection and a message of hope and healing, open to all victims of violent crime, their families and supporters, and the professionals who serve them.

Inmate Education Project
Reduce recidivism through post secondary education, thereby reducing violent crimes. Collaborating with Council of State Governments and the Open Society Institute.

Public Speaking:
Jenna Foundation Executive Director Janice Grieshaber continues to speak around New York State. This is an opportunity to explain who and what we are and to talk about Old Turtle, The Jenna Foundation’s trademark book and fundraiser. Janice is available to speak at your school, group or organization. Please contact us for more information.

Council of State Governments (CSG):
This group, including Jenna Foundation Executive Director Janice Grieshaber, has actively researched Restorative Justice practices in New York State (NYS). There has been special attention to Restitution and implementing existing laws intended to benefit victims of crime. Janice facilitated the allotment of $400,000 in the NYS budget for the establishment of a program to be implemented in Onondaga and Monroe Counties to provide training and oversight for a program dedicated to Restitution.

State Government:
Janice advocated for Penny's Law and worked with Assemblywoman Cathy Young in the successful implementation of this important legislation, and has also worked on the passage of numerous other pieces of legislation. Janice continues to partner with Chauncey Parker, Director of New York State Criminal Justice Services, on a variety of programs, including inmate education and expansion of the DNA Database, which will allow for cataloging of many thousands of DNA samples currently sitting in storage.

Federal Government:
Janice is New York State Co-Chair for FORCE 100, a national coalition of 100 crime victims and crime victims advocates working towards passage of a constitutional amendment for victims' rights. Led by Collene Campbell, former mayor of San Juan Capistrano, California, this group endorses the amendment proposed Senator John Kyl (R-AZ) and Dianne Fienstein (D-CA). Collene Campbel lost three family members – her son Scott, her brother racing legend Mickey Thompson and his wife Trudy – in two separate murders six years apart. In the United States Senate, this is Joint Senate Resolution 1, and in the House of Representatives it is Joint House Resolution 48. The proposed amendment puts crime victims on an equal footing with the accused or the convicted. While criminal defendants have almost two dozen separate Constitutional Rights, fifteen of them provided by amendments to the United States Constitution, there is not a single word in the Constitution pertaining to crime victims. This group supports this amendment and the people behind it in an effort to remedy that injustice. If you would like like to register your support, please do so by sending an email with your contact information to Janice Grieshaber.

Individual clients:
The Jenna Foundation for Non-Violence receives requests for help from a variety of persons in need of support and advocacy. There are phone consultations with individuals who have been the victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence, street violence or who are the family members of a homicide victim. Most of these are directed to other agencies for counseling, although some choose to maintain a telephone lifeline for ongoing support from The Jenna Foundation for Non-Violence. We also work with the District Attorney's office when necessary to provide support and resources for families of homicide victims.

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Fundraising Events / Public Awareness Events

Jenna's Day – every June 14, Jenna's Birthday.

Sweet Charity Ball – scheduled for Friday, October 24th, 2008. Save the date!

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Honors and Awards

2007 Janice Grieshaber receives the Leadership Award from the New York State Office for Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination, in recognition of her hard work in establshing the annual New York State Cyber Safety Summit, held every October in Albany.

2006 Mentors for Jenna named "Program of the Year" by the National Association of
Peer Programs.

2006 Janice Grieshaber is named by Senator John A. DeFrancisco as the "2006 Woman of Distinction" for the 50th Senate District in New York State.

2006 Janice and Bruce Grieshaber receive the Gold Award for dedication and service from the Cayuga Counseling Services, Cayuga County, New York.

2005 Janice Grieshaber receives the Champion for Children Award from the national Fight Crime: Invest in Kids organization.

2004 Bruce Grieshaber receives Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, $10,000 Volunteer Achievement Award.

2003 Executive Director Janice Grieshaber receives Women in Business Award.

2002 Executive Director Janice Grieshaber and Board President Bruce Grieshaber receive Post-Standard Achievement Award.

2002 Executive Director Janice Grieshaber receives Jefferson Award.

2002 Executive Director Janice Grieshaber receives honorary PhD.

2001 Community Service Award – United States Attorney, Northern District.

1998 Advocates of the Year – New York State Governor’s Conference on Criminal Justice.

1998 Foundation of the Year – Onondaga County District Attorney’s Community Outreach Program.

Advisory Boards

National Council of State Governments – Eastern Region Steering Committee for Criminal Justice Issues.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids – Janice Grieshbaer was named to the National Board of Directors during September, 2007.

Niagara University Criminal Justice Advisory Board.

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