The arrival of 2008 is an important milestone for The Jenna Foundation for Non-Violence. It has been a decade since the historic passage of "Jenna's Law" – effectively eliminating parole for violent felons in New York State – and the beginning of the organization’s mission to help build safer communities.
Since then The Jenna Foundation has established a school-based mentoring program, offered support to victims of crime and become a community leader in furthering safety and education initiatives.
The organization was established in 1998 by Jenna Grieshaber’s parents and sister in response to her November 6, 1997 murder in Albany, New York, by a paroled violent felon. It’s the mission of The Jenna Foundation to work diligently, in Jenna’s spirit, to end violence in our society. Jenna Grieshaber grew up in the Camillus, New York area and attended West Genesee High School.
The Mentors for Jenna program, where teams of high school mentors visit fifth grade classrooms to teach a curriculum in non-violence, is now embedded within the Syracuse City School District, and on-target to involve every building by 2009. This represents rapid growth in the last few years, and an ever-widening impact on the lives of young people in our neighborhoods.
In 2006, Mentors for Jenna was recognized as “Program of the Year” by the National Association of Peer Programs – a distinction for participating high school mentors, their volunteer faculty coordinators, the fifth grade classes and teachers.
This is a year of critical growth for the mentoring program, and a time when the foundation is expanding its role in support of collaborations such as the annual New York State Cyber Safety Summit, the Onondaga County observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week and an ongoing partnership with Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national initiative to establish Pre-K and early intervention programs.
As a parent, member of the local business community, or concerned citizen, you are encouraged to consider an investment in building a society that, we hope, will lose no more Jennas. Your contributions are needed for the work of The Jenna Foundation to continue.
A sponsorship program in support of Mentors for Jenna is about to enter its second year, and there are many opportunities for sponsorship and donations around the foundation’s annual Sweet Charity Ball, scheduled for October 24th, 2008. No donation is too small, and all proceeds directly support the mentoring and community awareness programs operated by The Jenna Foundation.
For more information, call (315) 422-0339 or contact us via e-mail.
The Jenna Foundation for Non-Violence was established in 1998 by Jenna Grieshaber’s parents and sister in response to her November 6, 1997 murder in Albany, New York, by a paroled violent felon. It’s the mission of The Foundation to work diligently, in Jenna’s spirit, to end violence in our society – through a school-based mentoring program, crime victim advocacy, and ongoing community awareness and legislative initiatives.
