Joan's Joy

Joan’s Legacy

Joan’s Law	Joan’s Law New Jersery, Signed April 3, 199 7 Joan’s Law Federal Version October 30, 1998 Justice for Victims’ Law Signed November 17, 2000 Joan’s Law New York September 15, 2004 Joan’s Law l New Jersey July 21, 2017
White Butterfly Sculpture & Garden	Joan Angela D’Alessandro September 7, 1965 – April 19, 1973 Joan was a loving and brave little girl who was full of life and would stand up for others. She was a spunky, caring and balanced child who liked daffodils, dogs, dancing, whistling, and high diving. Her special colors were green and orange. She joked around and enjoyed the piano and her favorite song, “Ode to Joy.” She was proud to be a Girl Scout Brownie. While delivering cookies on Holy Thursday of 1973, Joan became the victim of a heinous crime at the hands of a neighbor who lived three houses away. Concerned communities, those who searched for her and the nation learned of her fate on Easter Sunday. With this loss of innocence, society’s emphasis on child safety changed overnight
Helping Kids	Though our broadly scoped Fun, Education and Safety Program. Just this past year many children from the Holey Center in Hackensack , Davis House in Newark and Covenant House in Newark went to Mets baseball games, Great Adventure, A Concert at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall and more. Theses outings give them positive experiences and influences to help guide their lives. Recently the program was expanded to support Nerve Alone Again to help victim’s of domestic violence.
Everyone’s White Butterfly	It was in April 2006, the second time that Joan’s mom visited the site where Joan had been left in Harriman State Park, NY, that she saw a white butterfly. It was fluttering behind the split boulder in which Joan was found. Since then, the white butterfly has become a sign of Joan’s joyful and free spirit, giving many a sense of hope, love and peace. Have you seen a white butterfly?
Child Safety Program	Joan’s joy provides a child safety program to local schools created by the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center and trains teachers and parents how to spot, report and prevent child abuse.
Standing up for Victims	Rosemarie advocates for standing up to for other and speaks up for the rights and victims. As well as counseling and mentoring those dealing with tragedy and change.