At about 4am, I woke Jim up and told him that I was in labor, but because there was no break in the pain, I could not be for sure how soon the baby would come, so I thought it best that we went to the hospital.

At the hospital, time dragged on and on. The pain never subsided, nor did my water fully break. The next morning, the doctor broke my water. After that, the labor pains intensified, and I finally started to dilate, but I never progressed past five on the scale. I was becoming rather weary from lack of sleep and the continual pain. I did not understand why I did not have labor pains like everyone else with breaks in the pain. No one else understood either. At some point, they finally gave me a pain reliever, but it was not strong enough. By the afternoon of the 23rd, there was growing concern about the situation, as I now had a fever, and I did not dilate past five. They took an x-ray of my pelvis to see if they could determine the reasons behind what was happening. They did not come to any conclusions from the x-ray results. They also were concerned because of air reaching the baby, since my water was broke, and my fever continued. Sometime late that day, it was decided that I would have a c-section in the early morning, because they could not wait any longer.

I don’t think I slept at all, as I had been in pain for 36 hours with no relief, and I was very concerned about what was happening to me and our baby. In the morning, they asked if I wanted to be awake during the c-section. I was so tired, that I told them to put me to sleep. I was also nervous about the surgery, as I had never had to stay in a hospital or have surgery in my entire life. I figured it was better, for those reasons, to not be awake. (I did choose to be awake for the birth of my second son, Michael, but that was a planned c-section.)

When I woke, I was in recovery. I was told that Jason had been taken to another hospital, because they had a special neo-natal section, and the one I went to did not. They told me they were giving him anti-biotics as a precaution. As I had just gone through a traumatic labor and then surgery, I had a harder recovery. I was not allowed to go and see him, and they did not release him to come back to the hospital I was in. That first night, I remember lying awake, listening to the sounds of the hospital, longing to see my son. A hot tear rolled down my cheek, as I listened to the sounds of other babies and their mothers cooing softly to them in the night.

It was five days before they allowed me to go and see Jason in the other hospital. I slowly made my way to him. He was lying in the incubator with several tubes extending from him for the antibiotics and liquids. His eyes were closed, but I could still see that he was beautiful. They did not allow me to hold him. I could only try to stroke his little body with my hands. I wondered if he could sense that his mother had finally come to see him, and that it was her hands that tried to find a way to let him feel love.

It would never be fully understood or known why the labor happened as it did. As Jason grew, it was clear something was wrong. It was thought that he has slight brain damage from the labor and the fever. This resulted in his having learning disabilities in the areas of speech and language, plus some fine motor coordination issues.

I wrote this in regards to his learning disabilities. It appears on his featured profile on the former National Center for Missing Adults site when it existed and Kym Pasqualini and crew ran it so well.

“Jason has learning disabilities in the areas of speech and language. His brain does not process things the way most do. People who didn’t know him would often make fun of him. School bullies would pick on him. Some thought he is mildly mentally retarded, but the truth is, he is of above average intelligence. What was truly amazing to me was that he chose a career that flew right into the face of the very thing that was hardest for him. He decided to be a radio D.J.. Sure, he had some glitches along the way, but people grew to respect him and to love him. Who wouldn’t? I am so proud of him.”

A day later I was released from the hospital, and then a couple of days later, Jason was finally allowed to come home. We were now all together, a family unit whose bond could never be broken regardless of distance or time. Little did we know that this bond would be altered almost 20 years later, as Jason disappeared 11 days before his 20th birthday.

Just as I hoped nearly 24 years ago that my touch could be felt by him, and that he knew I was his mother, I now reach out to him and hope that he knows how much I love him. Somehow, I think he does.

Written on 6/24/05

For more information about Jason's case, please see:

http://projectjason.org/forums/topic/42-missing-man-jason-anthony-jolkowski-ne-06132001/

The Missing Spouse Support Group meets via telephone the second Thursday of the month. Members call in to a secure conference line provided by Project Jason.

Begining in February 2016, a support group for all other case types will begin. The Missing Person Support Group will take place on the third Thursday of each month.

The times for both of these support groups is 5:30pm PST, 6:30pm MST, 7:30pm CST, and 8:30pm EST.

Qualifications: Immediate family members of missing persons registered with Project Jason may participate.

Topics Covered: In each session, there will be both group questions and open discussion time. Topics cover a wide range of issued faced by families of the missing including trauma, emotions, frustrations, relationships, and more.

Here are comments made by members of the Missing Spouse Support Group about the impact of participation on their lives:

"I would encourage all families of the missing to consider participating in Project Jason's monthly phone conferences. Once a month it is a couple hours to surround yourself with people that "get you." When so much is out of control in your lives of having a missing loved one it is great to come together with people that understand.  

Not only will you get an emotional boost you will also get ideas from the participants from their sharing of how they have handled various situations from the search, to living daily with a loved one missing, to financial and legal considerations.  It is a couple of hours to concentrate on you and build friendships with people who understand."

Maureen Reintjes, NamUs Advocate

"Taking part in Project Jason's monthly conference call has had a profound impact on me. Having a loved one go missing is possibly the hardest situation to experience. Having people to talk to about it in an open honest forum is helpful and healing on so many levels. I now consider the other families of the missing my friends as we have spoken of heartbreak, fear,anger, frustration, sadness, disbelief and the many emotions that come with having someone unexpectedly disappear from your life.  We talk about everything starting with telling our stories to coping skills to issues with the investigation or frustration with law enforcement to dealing with difficult family situations to learning to move on.

Kelly gently guides us and offers her wisdom and let's us vent and ask questions. Sometimes she has guest speakers to aid us in different aspects. We are all in different stages so some of us are able to offer guidance or logistics or a shoulder to cry on. I am so grateful to Kelly for giving us this forum. It is truly a giant hug in a phone call."

Joyce Tang
Wife of Jerry Tang, Missing 11/29/2005

http://projectjason.org/forums/topic/408-missing-man-jerry-tang-ca-11292005/

"When no one around you knows or understands the depths of your anguish - there is still a fellowship of friends who you can connect with.  They truly do understand as no one else can - they are the only ones, because they struggle to breathe the same way you do!  It's called "a fellowship of suffering".  

For me personally, I could find no one who could relate, and thus their words and acts of kindness could not pierce the pain or lighten the load.  But connecting to new friends who share the suffering gave me some needed hope.  Other than The Lord Himself, such fellowship with others who completely understand is a source of comfort and healing unavailable anywhere else!  This is 'our fellowship' - it is an exclusive club no one else can afford to join - so please allow new friends into your life, friends who truly understand."  

Kerry Messer
Wife, Lynn Messer, Missing 7/7/2014

http://projectjason.org/forums/topic/3929-missing-woman-lynn-messer-mo-782014/

If interested in joining, please email us at assistance@projectjason.org

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865644274/Deseret-News-heroes-of-2015-7-people-who-made-a-difference-this-year.html?pg=all

Deseret News heroes of 2015: 7 people who made a difference this year

By Deseret News Staff
Published: Wednesday, Dec. 23 2015 6:30 a.m. MST
Updated: Friday, Dec. 25 2015 4:51 p.m. MST


Most heroes don't think of themselves as extraordinary people. If you were to ask any of the people on this list if they think of themselves as heroes, they'd probably say no. What they all have in common, however, is a desire to make a difference.

Most heroes don't think of themselves as extraordinary people.

In fact, if you were to ask any of the people on this list if they think of themselves as heroes, they'd probably say no.

What they all have in common, however, is a desire to make a difference.

This year's list includes a doctor who has dedicated much of his life's work to a subject many of us avoiding thinking about until it's too late: sickness, aging and death. Atul Gawande isn't just a doctor, he's a father and a journalist who has shined a light on subjects like the spread of Ebola and the the long-term impacts of the Affordable Care Act.

“Our most cruel failure in how we treat the sick and the aged is the failure to recognize that they have priorities beyond merely being safe and living longer," he said.

While Gawande is fairly well known, some of the heroes on this year's list are not. One of those is Kelly Murphy, a mom who helps families cope with loss. And then there's Amrita Ahuja. A native of Mumbai, India, Ahuju has a Ph.D. in business economics from Harvard, but her interests lie beyond simply understanding how markets work, or how companies can maximize profit. Instead, Ahuja wants to figure out how to do the most good with the least amount of money possible. Call it efficient charity. Ahuja and her team are working to bring clean water to millions in the developing world and slow the spread of HIV.

This year, the Deseret News has selected seven heroes, one for each of our areas of editorial emphasis. While these heroes come from all walks of life and all corners of the globe, each has found a way to make the world a better place. We hope their examples can inspire us all to do the same, in ways both big and small.

Family: Kelly Murphy

Her son’s disappearance on June 13, 2001, launched Kelly Murphy on a journey that has helped thousands of families figure out how to take the next step as they cope with the loss of a loved one.

Jason Jolkowski, then 19, was last seen taking the garbage cans to the curb of their home in Omaha, Nebraska. He then waited for a ride to his job. He never got there. He simply vanished, and no clues have ever been found.

Murphy coped with anguish and other emotions, some that may never completely resolve. But she didn’t stop moving. She launched Project Jason, an organization that helps families who have missing loved ones figure out their next step, whether it’s getting media attention to help in the search or learning to live a somewhat normal life in extraordinarily challenging circumstances.

There are a lot of people coping with such a loss. The FBI and the National Crime Information Center collect more than 800,000 missing person reports each year, with 105,000 annually that never get solved. Murphy also helped Jason’s Law get passed in Nebraska, establishing the state’s missing person clearinghouse.

Murphy lives in Renton, Washington, where she works full time for a company that sells outdoor gear and clothing, but as president and founder of Project Jason she is still fully engaged with the organization. It provides families with tips, private community boards, access to free online counseling with a qualified counselor and an annual “Keys to Healing” retreat that brings together loved ones of those who are missing to share ideas and help each other heal.

Read about the other heroes by clicking on the link above.

Deseret News is the leading newspaper in Utah, offering a rich perspective on faith and family issues as well as in-depth local coverage of education, politics, business, and, of course, sports.

DeseretNews.com is the leading newspaper website in Utah, with approximately 3 million unique visitors each month.

Project Jason thanks Deseret News and reporter Lois Collins for highlighting the cause of missing persons.

Families of the missing who are interested in hosting me, please email milesforthemissing@projectjason.org.

CDLjobs.com Partners With Project Jason To Help Locate Missing Persons

Written by Kelly Murphy

Denise Anne Harrison

July 20, 1957-October 5, 2015

A flower garden is a beautiful place and contains calming and healing elements. Your eyes see the magnificent colors and you smell the sweet fragrance. You can breathe it in deeply and begin to feel a peace deep within. A garden is one of many blessings we have in life, should we be open to what it can do for us.

There was once a garden that was not real and made entirely of pixels! It was in an online virtual world called Second Life and was created by my friend and colleague, Denise Harrison. 

Denise spent countless hours creating and maintaining this unique place, called Garden for the Missing. In the garden, she placed posters of missing persons amongst the beauty of the trees, bushes, flowers and other plant-life. Birds sang and butterflies meandered throughout the garden. Your avatar could sit on a bench and take in the visual treat, and at the same time, view hundreds of posters of missing persons. In its glory days, hundreds of people daily visited the garden.

Garden for the Missing

Once Denise created the garden, she began to search for a missing persons assistance nonprofit who might share her vision of what the garden meant and could do in terms of awareness for missing persons. She researched all she found and decided that she best liked the philosophies and work done for families of the missing by Project Jason.

She contacted me and we had several discussions and phone calls about it. I registered on Second Life so that I could visit the garden personally. After getting to know her and seeing the wonderful place she had created, we knew we should use this vehicle to help the families.

Denise didn't have a missing loved one, nor did she know someone who was missing. What she had was a rare gift: someone outside of our circle who truly cared and understood the pain as much as one could without experiencing it themselves. She also had the gift of great intellect and a most generous spirit.

The Garden for the Missing became quite popular in Second Life. Members even held fundraisers for us and it was chosen as a featured location many times. The word was getting out about missing people and what the families experience and why nonprofits like Project Jason need the public's assistance to do their work.

Then something unexpected happened. It didn't happen overnight or within weeks. We became good friends, as close as sisters and perhaps more. I was so grateful to have someone I could trust and who understood my work and the need. Aside of that, we just got along wonderfully, and had many of the same philosophies  about life and love. We spent numerous enjoyable hours talking to each other on the phone and through email.

Eventually, we were blessed to be able to meet in person at a conference. Denise also became a Project Jason board member. She gave of herself and her skills and talents willingly to the organization and friend she loved.

The majority of you reading this never knew her and may not have even heard of her and that was fine with her. She didn't need recognition or public accolades. She was just happy to give of herself and make a difference in the lives of others.

I want to share with you some of her accomplishments with Project Jason:

• Success of first virtual garden featuring missing persons
• Created Project Jason "office" in Second Life, also the first virtual world presence of a missing persons assistance nonprofit
• Obtained AL Governor's reward fund for missing LaQuanta Riley
• Co-wrote and developed comprehensive guide for families of the missing on how to work with media
• Wrote numerous press release templates for families of the missing to use
• Attended several missing person conferences to gain a better understanding of the cause to increase her effectiveness as a board member
• Worked with her father to try to pass missing person legislation in AL 
• Wrote and sent many press releases for Project Jason and families of missing persons
• Wrote articles for and about Project Jason that were published online and in local magazines
• Wrote the successful submission for the Nebraska Governor's Points of Light award for me
• Wrote the successful submission for the Federal Volunteer for Victims award for me
• Assisted with two rebuilds of the Project Jason website and played a key role in the layout and edit of content on the site
• Worked as my assistant and gave comfort and love to family members attending annual Project Jason Keys to Healing coping skills retreat

She decided that her journey with the illness was going to remain private, other than to be shared with immediate family members and a few close friends.  She didn't want people to feel sorry for her or worry about her. She wanted life all around her to go on as it always had. This was an unselfish act and another gift of love to others. As her illness progressed, the need for privacy made even more sense, as her time to rest needed to be uninterrupted, and she never knew when she would feel up to talking or conversing via email.

Denise then faced radiation and 4 rounds of chemo, each one stronger then the last. Originally, doctors told her that after the 3rd round, there would be no more options. After round 3, they did determine there was a 4th chemo mix they could try, but after that, there would nothing more they could do. They did toward the end, find a newer drug they could try that had fewer side effects, and worked in a different way. She had received one round of that treatment when her health rapidly declined and she was taken by ambulance to the hospital wherein she passed away on October 5, 2015 .

The last time I saw her was when she came to our retreat in the late summer of 2013. Even though she was ill, she did her usual fantastic job of assisting me and being there for the families we serve. After the retreat, Jeff and I were going to take her to the airport, but we did have time to stop at a local park where there is a tree planted in honor of my missing son, Jason, as well as a plaque placed for him. As we stood there, I became very emotional. I wanted to say a prayer, but the words would not come. Denise took my hand and Jeff took the other, and she said the most beautiful and meaningful prayer I can recall hearing. It was so perfect and clearly borne out of love. I'm glad that was our last moment together other than the goodbye at the airport.

During her illness, we spoke now and then about her journey. We found many similarities between being terminally ill and living with ambiguous loss. For both of us, part of the journey was to find the "new normal". Life would never again be normal in a typical way, and it is important to keep up routines as much as possible, and as needed, alter those routines to fit your needs, whether it be a temporary need or not. We also compared notes about gratitude and blessings and the importance of recognizing how very blessed we are. Each moment is a gift as is every life and person in it.

Denise bore the hardship of her illness with grace and dignity. She kept working until the end, caring so much about doing a good job and helping others. She told me about the aches and pains and losing her hair, but she never complained, she just explained.

She always told me she learned much from me with my situation, but I would say I learned more from her. I don't know that I could have handled the same situation as she did. She taught me how to be a better friend, and more about gratitude than I could have imagined. I learned more about how not to sweat the small stuff, as they say, and when it's no longer small stuff. Even then, as she faced the approaching end of life, she made sure to ask me how I was doing and also to ask about Jeff, my family, and his.

I like to think that she is now in a very special garden, prepared just for her. Its beauty surpasses the garden she once made of pixels and any garden on earth, or even of our most vivid imagination. She is pain free and completely at peace. She can rest and has none of our earthly concerns.

One thing I know is that love is eternal and transcends all space and time. The love I have for my friend Denise, and the love she has for me will always be. I will miss her wisdom, wit, grace, generous spirit, and presence here, but all those things and more are the gifts she gave to me, which I will keep and remember always.

Goodbye for now, my friend. Know that you are loved and cherished by many.

Funeral arrangements and her obituary can be found below.

It is Denise's wish that donations in lieu of flowers be made to Project Jason.

Donations can be mailed to:

Project Jason

PO Box 59054

Renton, WA  98058

Online donors can find two ways to donate on this page:

http://projectjason.org/how-you-can-help.html

A Precious Life in Photos

(To see a larger image, click on the photo)

Childhood

With her brother Dale

Teen Years

Photos Continued Below

Jim worked to pass Patricia's Law as apart of Project Jason's Campaign for the Missing in NJ, his home state. One aspect of this law is that it mandates the collection and entry into federal databases of the DNA of both missing and unidentified persons. Since the law has not been passed in NY state, best practice procedures were not in place, and Patricia remained among the unidentified for many years, needlessly.

Jim never stopped searching for his beloved Pat, mother of his two children. He also never hesitates when asked to help another family member of a missing person. Jim joins us as a special guest of Project Jason's monthly missing spouse support group.

We recorded this very special session, and are making this available to all families, as there is much to learn from Jim's story.

You can listen to the audio here: http://www.projectjason.org/download/audio/JimViolaInterview.mp3

Some topics covered in this audio interview include:

• How Jim and his children coped with Pat's disappearance
• How they handled holidays and other special occasions
• Jim's persepctive on hope and the continued search for his wife
• Tips for families with a missing loved one
• The importance of Patricia's Law and the mandated collection and entry into federal databases of identifiers, such as DNA on both the missing and unidentified person side
• The tragic end to his decade+ long search

Jim Viola's Website: http://patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/
More about Patricia Viola: http://projectjason.org/forums/topic/177-in-loving-memory-patricia-viola-nj-2132001/
Campaign for the Missing: http://projectjason.org/what-we-do/campaign-missing.html

Project Jason's Missing Spouse Telephone Support Group is held the second Thursday of each month in the evening.  

For additional information, email us at information@projectjason.org


 

A very mobile-friendly design with easier navigation are hallmarks of Project Jason's newly redesigned website. The new look debuted on November 6th and also features faster page load times. All of these attributes will make it easier for site visitors to find the critical information they need in a timely manner, whether its to search for a particular missing person case, or to seek services as a family member of a missing person.

Project Jason's logo has a crisp, new look and there are several features on the all-new main page of the website to capture the interest of site visitors and encourage more exploration and thus awareness for the cases of the missing persons families whom we serve.

One feature is the return of the monthly Featured Missing Persons. This section has a new layout and with thousands of website visits each month, the hope is with increased awareness, answers for the families and case resolution may result. There is a featured missing child and adult, along with the "Always Remembered" missing person. Project Jason believes that all missing persons are equally important, regardless of the age of the person or length of time missing.

In addition to this homepage feature, on all of the other pages of the site rotating photos with links to registered missing persons are highly visible at the top of each page. Printable posters for each registered case are found in the Awareness section, and download counters demonstrate to the families of the missing that people do care, and are trying to help.

Project Jason is grateful for the redesign work done by Board Member and Webmaster Jeffrey Messick, and to Patrick Coan for the logo design and rework for this release.

About Project Jason

Project Jason, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families of missing persons. The organization offers tactical guidance, emotional support, and hope for families continuing their searches for answers.

The families working with Project Jason benefit from increased public awareness of their missing loved ones through a variety of outreach and educational activities. The families are also guided toward existing resources available to help with their efforts.

Project Jason is based in Renton, Washington.

For more information about Project Jason’s objectives, activities and services, go to http://www.projectjason.org

It's easy....just follow these simple steps:

Click on this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-0256753

Bookmark the site. Share the link above on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Email...etc.

Click on "Start Shopping" and help!

Thank you!

Project Jason is pleased to present our video "Living Life in the Not-Knowing." This video was written and narrated by Kelly Murphy, President and Founder of Project Jason. It provides a glimpse into the day in the life of a family with a missing loved one. Kelly shares how ordinary moments are never the same when faced with this tragedy. Photos of her missing son, Jason, the Project Jason namesake, are shown from his birth to young adulthood as the not-so-ordinary day unfolds.

Project Jason, a 501 c 3 nonprofit, was founded in the aftermath of Jason's disappearance and the revelation that there were few organizations to help, especially in the case of a missing adult. Jason remains among the missing, but his legacy and namesake organization goes on, helping thousands of families in his name and generous spirit.

Watch the video:


 
How to Help: http://projectjason.org/how-you-can-help.html

In honor of Jason, his birthday and his generous spirit, we have launched a fundraising campaign. The birthday present image you see on this page will be used to show our progress toward the goal of raising $5,000 by October 6th, the 10th anniversary of Project Jason.

You will find a quick reference to Project Jason's accomplishments and information about how we utilize donations by continuing to scroll down in this thread.

Please feel free to forward this information to help us reach every supporter possible.

What follows is a letter written by Jason's mother, Kelly, marking this sad occasion:

Dear Jason,

It's now been twelve very long years since we were privileged to be with you. It seems so hard to believe. I don't know that I can comprehend the enormity of this event and put into words how difficult it is to have lived without knowing what has become of you.

In twelve years, so many life changes can happen. For example, your little brother graduated from high school, joined the National Guard, served in Afghanistan for a year, and is now engaged to be married next year. It would be so wonderful if you were here with us for that event.

In twelve years, unless you have been robbed of your life, I'm sure many changes have occurred for you as well. I'd love to share in those and remain hopeful that you are still with us. I realize that anything is possible, and you may not be able to, of your own free will, make it back home.

Recently, a new age progression photo was created for you. It shows what you might look like today. What a strange world we live in when we have to see a child grow up within a fake photograph. Oh, what I would give for a real one, but better yet, to see your brilliant smile in person, hear your laugh, and feel your arms around me.

Jason, I feel like I have cried so many tears for you that it could create an entire river, one that gained momentum, chiseling through rock and eroding away the plants at the bank, ripping them out by the root and nothing escaped the torrent. Those of us with a loved one missing know that like the newly created river, the wake leaves everything, every moment, every person, impacted.

The only thing we could not have predicted is the good that has come from your disappearance. While I would give anything to have you back, that is not in my control, just like the river. But the river, despite its harsh beginnings, gave rise to new life. Fish now jump in the waters and frogs sing along the banks. New plants sprang up along the banks and trees grew, providing shade and sustenance to the birds who graced the branches and the deer who graze upon the vegetation on the ground below.

And a new organization, your namesake, was born.

While much has been accomplished in the 10 years Project Jason has served other families, it is not without its growing pains. There is apathy to the plight of the missing and a lack of understanding of the trauma faced by the effected families. They too, cry rivers of tears.  Their lives have been turned upside down and everything that was normal has been uprooted and taken away.

Jason, your 32nd birthday is fast approaching. I know you would want us to continue on with this very important work, so in honor of that day, we are launching this birthday campaign.  We know you would wholeheartedly approve of any means that allows us to continue to provide hope and guidance to these suffering families, with the end goal of reuniting them with their loved ones. With the help of people who care, we can ensure our river of hope provides sustenance to the families we serve and a gentle, guiding hand, like the protective shade of the riverbank trees.

Someday, somewhere, I will see you again, Jason. I have confidence in that. There is always hope, hope for answers, resolution, and for a bright future. 

Love transcends all space and time, and my love for you will always be, no matter how and where the river of life flows.

Love always,

Mom

Jason's Birthday Campaign begins on June 13, 2013, the twelve year mark of his disappearance. June 24th is Jason's 32nd birthday, and October 6 is the ten year anniversary of the founding of Project Jason.  Suggested donation amounts include $10, $12, $13, $24, and $32. Supporters who can afford more can combine amounts or give whatever amount they're moved to provide.

To help us help the families of the missing, mail your donation to Project Jason, PO Box 11275, Yakima, WA 98909, OR go to our website, www.projectjason.org, and click on either the PayPal or Network for Good button at the bottom of the page under "How You Can Help". We'll also show the progress towards the October goal on the "birthday present" image shown on the main page of our website.

Also, if you'd like, we'll send you an image you can display on any website or social media site that shows you supported the campaign. In addition, if you let us know you want your name to be on a public list of Birthday Campaign donors on our site, we'll gladly add it.

What does Project Jason do with your donation?

Project Jason is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization and does not utilize paid fundraisers or other employees. There is no overhead as the volunteers work out of their homes. Every effort is made to stretch each dollar to the fullest.

Ongoing costs include monthly telephone and long distance, website space and domain names, PO box, paper, ink, postage, and related office supplies, poster, ID kits, and brochure printing costs, and fees to keep IRS documentation current.  Our largest expense is for our annual Keys to Healing retreat, the world's only coping skills retreat for families of both missing adults and children.

Families of the missing are never charged for any of our services. Previous funding has also allowed us to ensure that staff who work directly with the families of the missing have had the proper training to provide appropriate support and services to those whom we serve.

Future funding will enable us to continue to add new awareness programs to aid in the location of missing persons. It will ensure we are able to obtain the tools and technology necessary to begin and maintain these programs. Funding, both private and corporate, is needed to be able to continue our annual retreat.

If you have any questions about donations, sponsorships, or the organization, please email us at information@projectjason.org

All donations are tax deductible. Project Jason is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization.

Project Jason Quick Facts

Did you know that......

Project Jason has distributed more than 16,800 personal ID kits, including a Spanish translation?

As of 06/09/2013, Project Jason has facilitated the distribution of more than 239,785 posters nationwide through their various poster campaigns?

Project Jason has mentored several volunteers to action and passed legislation in 9 states that positively affect missing persons cases?

Project Jason has served over 1,000 families since their inception in 2003?

Project Jason hosts an annual coping skills retreat for families of the missing?

Project Jason, in partnership with Target Media, places information about 4 missing persons each month in national trucking magazines which have circulations of 150,000 each?

Project Jason has had a direct impact in the location of numerous missing persons, including a teen missing for 2 years, a sister missing for 7, and a son missing for 14?

Project Jason is the first and only assistance organization to offer free, professional counseling online with one of the nation's leading counselors?

Project Jason was the first nonprofit of its type to open an office in the popular virtual world, Second Life, bringing the cause of the missing to a new audience, telling the stories of the missing in an intimate and intriguing style?

We are depending on your generosity to help us continue our work, the work done in Jason's name.

Kelly Murphy Jolkowski, founder of Project Jason, has attended this conference numerous times, and served on this year's planning committee.  She will speak at the conference this year.

Readers, please forward this link to law enforcement, family members of missing persons, and other involved persons, organizations, or agencies.

Responding to Missing & Unidentified Persons National Training Conference

February 27-March 1, 2013 | Appleton, Wisconsin

Main Conference Site: https://www.ncjtc.org/CJCI/conferences/missing/Pages/missing.aspx

Each year, tens of thousands of people vanish under suspicious circumstances. In the United States there are over 100,000 active missing persons’ and unidentified human remains cases each day. It is extremely important to improve access to critical information and bridge gaps in resources between law enforcement agencies, forensic professionals; national, state, and local service providers, and families of the missing. This national conference addresses the critical training needs of those who work to solve these cases, and provides a unique opportunity to build multi-disciplinary approaches to investigating missing person and solving unidentified remains cases. Attend this training to learn about the latest available information systems and technology, investigative practices, and ways to develop effective inter-agency collaboration and protocol.

This 7th Annual National Training Conference will help participants navigate the complex investigative issues necessary to bring resolution to families of the missing, law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.

Attend this conference to learn the importance of having an inter-agency protocol to build and implement a strong, viable plan for responding to missing persons’ cases.

Who Should Attend

    Law Enforcement:  Administrators, Investigators, Patrol, K-9 search and rescue officers, medical examiners, coroners, and members of the forensic community

    Education:  Administrators, academic counselors, school resource/liaison officers and campus security officers

    Community:  Coalition members, faith-based personnel, representatives from non-profit organizations, advocates supporting aging/at-risk populations, and families of the missing

    Service Occupations:  National and State clearinghouse staff, victim and child welfare advocates, social service and medical professionals

Questions?

For questions about the Responding to Missing & Unidentified Persons National Training Conference contact Lisa Bell at belll@fvtc.edu or (888) 370-1752.

Kelly Jolkowski, president and founder of Project Jason, is one of the foremost experts in the field of missing persons in the United States. She is one of the few non-law enforcement people trained at the criminal justice program at the premier college specializing in missing persons and has more than 100 hours of professional training on missing persons from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The U.S. Department of Justice and Fox Valley Technical College.

Kelly was recently named as a member of the Advisory Planning Committee for the Responding to Missing and Unidentified Persons National Training Conference hosted by Fox Valley Technical College, National Criminal Justice Training Center.  In her role as member, she works alongside several respected law enforcement and government representatives, scientists, and nonprofit agency representatives to plan the 2013 conference.

The Criminal Justice Center for Innovation (CJCI) at Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC), a component of the Criminal Justice Division, sets as its mission to address the diverse and evolving needs of criminal justice and community service professionals by developing and providing specialized resources, innovative training and onsite technical assistance.

For more information: http://www.fvtc.edu/public/content.aspx?ID=1278&PID=106

Project Jason is pleased to announce they have a newly redesigned site and logo. The nonprofit, serving families of the missing since October of 2003, has added many new features which will enhance the website navigation experience for the families as well as supporters. It will create additional awareness for the missing persons whose families need answers and the public's assistance to obtain those answers.

The logo has been redesigned to reflect Project Jason's core values and vision. The circle represents the care of the organization surrounding the suffering families to guide and comfort them. The red is the warmth of those with first-hand experience....as we've been there and we understand comfort. The blue is the calm presence of a trained and professional organization that specializes in guidance and peace of mind for families who simply don't know what to do or how they should feel.

Various widgets occupy the right side of the screen and provide information at a glance, making it easy for website users to find what they need, whether it is guidance for a missing loved one, or ways the public can help us and help the families we service.

The footer found at the bottom of each page gives handy contact information as well as quick links for persons who have been moved to support us. There's also a quick site search.

For awareness, we have many features in place to help bring the public's attention to our missing loved one's cases. 

Under the Awareness drop-down menu, The Faces of Missing Loved Ones is a database of the missing persons whose families we service, along with case profile information, a quick link to each case on our news and information, and a link to their printable poster.

Also under the Awareness menu drop down, there are posters for our various awareness campaigns: 18 Wheel Angels, Awareness Angels Network, and Come Home. Each missing loved one's poster is tied to a counter which shows how many times each one has been downloaded, a visible representation of care and a cause for hope.  To date, we've had greater than 80, 000 poster downloads.

Our News and Case Information forum is now integrated into the main site. This makes it easy for site users to find information about our organization, and most importantly, links to many ways they can help. 

We've also done work to optimize search engine results for even greater traffic counts to the site. We're currently at around 73,000 visitors a month and expect that number to increase even more. The site is also enhanced to work on your mobile device.

We invite you to explore the site, look at the many photos of missing loved ones, and consider helping us to help bring them home.

Last but not least, our mascot ID Kitty, seen waving a friendly hello, invites you to find two Easter Eggs on the homepage of the site at projectjason.org. "Easter eggs" are hidden surprises on a website. ID Kitty hid one on the main page that tells visitors how we changed the site. See if you can find it! 

Jason's Tree Campaign

A Fundraiser for Project Jason

Jason Jolkowski

We planted a tree today. A seed was pushed deep into the earth, plunging it into a dark and sometimes cold environment. 

-When Jason disappeared 11 years ago, we were forced into a place of darkness, not knowing what became of him or if we would ever see the light of a normal day again.

Despite the odds against it, the seed we planted began to evolve.  Roots pushed their way deeper into the soil, battling against other occupants of the world underneath, but yet, the ground above remained unbroken.

-Jason was still counted among the missing. No matter what we tried or did, there was not a trace of him. Despair seemed as if it could choke our very existence and abandon us, but there was something taking root within, something we could not begin to imagine.

One Spring day, the sun came from behind the clouds and its rays settled upon a tiny brown stem. The stem took strength from the sun and grew thicker and taller.

-We weren't certain that life without Jason would stop being like a dark and unending dream, a surreal state we wanted to waken from. Family, friends, and the community gathered around us and sustained us and it did.

Seasons passed, and at times strong winds and violent storms threatened the growing tree. Against all odds, it flourished and began to provide sustenance to anyone who happened upon it.

-It seemed incredible to us that no answers would come. Who could think such a nightmare would continue on? Frightening events and predators at times shook us to the core. Was this badly beaten body his? Why would someone be so cruel as to say they knew where he was, when they knew nothing at all?

Despite it all,  we were able to honor Jason with the creation of his namesake nonprofit, and help other persons dealing with the same trauma and tragedy. Just as we found sustenance through knowledge gained, supporters, family and friends, so too can families of the missing through Project Jason.

Now, just as the tree we planted needs sunlight and water in order to grow and provide even greater benefit to its surroundings, Project Jason needs your help to branch out and reach more families who are left in darkness and despair trying to find their way through this unique trauma. 

About the Campaign

Jason's Tree Campaign begins on June 13th, 2012, the 11 year mark of Jason's disappearance.  The purpose of the campaign is to strengthen Project Jason's general fund so that we can continue providing services to these families in need.

We ask that you consider any donation, large or small. Every contribution will help grow the organization, sheltering and sustaining many under its protective canopy, just as sunlight and rain sustain the tree, so that as it grows, the branches and leaves provide shelter and replenish the earth.

Project Jason's first public event

Project Jason's goal in the Jason's Tree Campaign is $9, 000 to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the nonprofit. The campaign ends on the founding day, October 6. Suggested donation amounts include $11, which represents the number of years Jason has been missing, $31, which is the age Jason is on his birthday on June 24, 2012, and $90 as a tribute to Project Jason volunteers for nine years of dedication to assisting families of the missing. All contributions are appreciated.

About Jason's Tree

For supporters in the Omaha area, the real Jason's tree can be seen at Robert's Park, 2 blocks north of Cass on 78th Street, right along the Keystone Trail.  (Mile marker 1/4 North of Dodge for trail users) It was planted on June 13, 2012 in honor of Jason as the first honoree tree planted by the Omaha Parks Foundation. The Jolkowski family selected a tree dedication along the trail in honor of Jason because of his love of walking,  its contribution to a better environment, and in giving back to the community . 

About Jason Jolkowski: http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=131.0

What does Project Jason do with your donation?

Project Jason is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization and does not utilize paid fundraisers or other employees. There is no overhead as the volunteers work out of their homes. Every effort is made to stretch each dollar to the fullest.

Ongoing costs include monthly telephone and long distance, website space and domain names, PO box, paper, ink, postage, and related office supplies, poster, ID kits, and brochure printing costs, and fees to keep IRS documentation current. Families of the missing are never charged for any of our services.

Funding, both private and corporate, is needed to be able to expand and continue our Keys to Healing family member retreat. With appropriate funding, we will be able to decrease costs for the family members to attend and ensure that we offer the highest quality experience of aiding the minds, bodies, and spirits of the family members during this retreat.

What can I do to Help?

You can mail a check or money order to:

Project Jason

PO Box 3035

Omaha, NE, 68103

You can also donate online at http://projectjason.org/help.shtml

If you'd like to be acknowledged publicly in our campaign updates, please let us know when you submit your donation.

Thank you for caring about the missing.

Photo story of Jason's Tree dedication: http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=131.msg67766#msg67766

Live Acoustic Performance for Project Jason

12-06-2011 10:15 AM

On Saturday, December 10, 2011, joeintheworld and hwolko, and other acoustic artists will be performing an acoustic performance to support Project Jason.  Project Jason is a non profit organization that supports locating miss peoples.  We will be collecting donations, which will all be donated to Project Jason, and the performance will run for from 8pm - 9pm (11pm - 12pm EST).  So come all if you want to help a good cause, or if you just want to hang out and listen to some good music.  Any support is greatly appreciated.

Event

Live Acoustic Perfomance support Project Jason

Date & Time

12/10/11 @ 8pm PST

Location

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Aloft%20Nonprofit%20Commons/95/69/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Kelly Jolkowski

Kelly.Jolkowski@projectjason.org

Denise Harrison

Denise.Harrison@projectjason.org

MEDIA: Photos and videos: http://www.projectjason.org/pressroom.shtml

Nebraska Governor to Present Kelly Jolkowski, Founder of Project Jason, With 2011 Points of Light Award

Omaha, NE -- November 13, 2011 -- Kelly Jolkowski, president and founder of Project Jason, is a recipient of a 2011 Nebraska Governor’s Points of Light Award. The Governor’s Points of Light Awards are sponsored by ServeNebraska, presented quarterly, and recognize Nebraska volunteers who give their time, talent and energy to help Nebraskans build stronger communities.

Since her own son disappeared in 2001, Kelly has helped thousands of families around the country, including more than 100 in Nebraska, with tactical and emotional support to better the chances of finding their loved ones alive.  

Her work is so noted that in 2010, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder presented Kelly with his Volunteer for Victims award at a special ceremony in Washington D.C.

Jolkowski is one of the most highly trained individuals outside of law enforcement working with this cause. While her skills have national impact, she also helps the community in which she lives: her work has led to the safe recovery of several Nebraskans; she has sponsored a number of Nebraska law enforcement officials to attend out-of-state special missing persons trainings, and brought a special training from out-of-state to Omaha; she and her organization have distributed more than 5,000 family identification kits at numerous Nebraska events; she hosts annually in Nebraska the world's only coping skills retreat for families of both missing adults and children (several NE families have attended); and she was the force behind Jason's Law, which established the Nebraska Missing Persons Clearinghouse for creating awareness among the public of missing adults as well as children.

The award will be presented by Governor Dave Heineman to Jolkowski on November 16, 2011, 10:30am at an awards ceremony at the Warner Chamber at the State Capitol in Lincoln, Neb.

About Project Jason

Project Jason, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families of missing persons. The organization offers tactical guidance, emotional support, and hope for families continuing their searches for answers.  

The families working with Project Jason benefit from increased public awareness of their missing loved ones through a variety of outreach and educational activities. The families are also guided toward existing resources available to help with their efforts. Project Jason is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

For more information about Project Jason’s objectives, activities and services, go to http://www.projectjason.org

For more information about The Governor's Points of Light Awards, go to http://www.serve.nebraska.gov/awards/awards_governor.htm

Contact: Carole Moore

carolemoore_biz@yahoo.com

Author Carole Moore Extends Gratitude to Project Jason for Assistance With New Book about Missing Persons

Carole Moore's "The Last Place You'd Look" focuses on the efforts of police, search and rescue, nonprofits and volunteer organizations to help find missing persons.

North Carolina -- July 11, 2011 -- Author Carole Moore, whose most recent book is "The Last Place You'd Look: True Stories of Missing Persons and the People Who Search for Them," wishes to acknowledge the expert assistance provided by Kelly Jolkowski, president of Project Jason. Jolkowski, whose nonprofit organization assists families of missing persons, offered information, resources, and recommended contacts from families of missing persons and from reputable organizations that assist them.

"Kelly Jolkowski and Project Jason played a pivotal role in putting together 'The Last Place You'd Look,'" said Moore. "Not only did Kelly put me in contact with dozens of families, but she also gave me invaluable guidance in finding organizations and individuals to interview about this important subject."

Jolkowski, too, has a missing family member. Her adult son, Jason, disappeared from driveway of their family home in 2001. The Jolkowski did not know where to turn for assistance with a missing adult and in 2003, decided to create an organization that would help families regardless of the missing loved one was an adult or a child.

For "The Last Place You'd Look," Moore interviewed the families of dozens of missing persons across the county and around the world.  According to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), there are about 100,000 active, open and unresolved missing persons cases that sit on the books in the U.S. each day.

Although many who disappear return home or are found, here’s what the numbers don’t say: They’re deceptive in that there are many they don’t count, such as those who disappear in foreign countries or the unreported thousands who fall through bureaucratic cracks, like the homeless and their children. Additionally, in the U.S. alone there are more than 40,000 John and Jane Does in cemeteries and morgues across the country, still waiting to be identified.

"The thing that struck me most while researching and writing this book was that in almost every instance where a disappearance took place, there was no warning and nothing at all unusual about the day or even the circumstances," said Moore. "It was very ordinary and, I think that's one of the things that makes these cases so hard to understand. These people weren't engaging in risky behavior, they were just living their lives.

"If there's one thing this country needs to do, it's get on the same page on missing persons cases. Our response is so fragmented: There are agencies who investigate these cases well, and many who do not do it well at all. We need to eliminate duplication, make our laws and protocols uniform and streamline the process."

Moore said Project Jason's Campaign for the Missing would ensure such uniform response. Campaign for the Missing has been passed by eight states so far with legislation efforts ongoing in numerous others.

"No one should have to beg a police officer to take a report on a missing person. Ever," said Moore.

About The Book

"The Last Place You'd Look: True Stories of Missing Persons and the People Who Search for Them" is published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. and is available from Barnes & Noble and from Amazon.

From Publishers Weekly

There are few things more terrifying than a loved one disappearing without a trace, yet this unfortunate reality happens to thousands of people a year. People are kidnapped (sometimes by family members), the mentally ill disappear, we lose track of those traveling abroad, and sometimes people are snatched right out of their own home. Moore, a former police officer, offers anecdotes and personal experience outlining the different types of missing persons, typical police procedures, what family members should be aware of, and finally, the occasional success. Readers looking for a CSI-like collection of happy stories and dramatic denouements should look elsewhere, immediately. These stories are hard, often heartbreaking, and flow forth with the cynical wisdom of the bureaucrat. No doubt this is important information to possess, even vital, but it makes for a disheartening, depressing read. (May)

About the Author

Carole Moore once chased a naked man through the backyards of some of the best neighborhoods in her town -- and caught him. Of course, after she tackled the man, she handcuffed him and put him in jail. And it's not because she can't take a joke: At the time, it was her job.

Carole is a former police detective who is now a contributing editor and columnist at Law Enforcement Technology, a magazine published for criminal justice professionals. She has worked in television and radio news, as well as newspapers and magazines.

Carole writes about many things, but criminal justice topics go to the front of the line. The Last Place You'd Look: True Stories of Missing Persons and the People Who Search for Them grew out of her interest in the divide between investigators and the families of the missing. It seemed to her that they all had the same goal, but not everyone was on the same page. After talking to the families, police and other officials, Carole felt there were many stories worth telling and her publisher agreed.

She plans to continue to explore the subject of missing persons, as well as other criminal justice issues, in future books. She is also the coauthor of Angel's Laws for Blogging, a book for fans of ConcreteLoop and its celebrity blogging owner, Angel Laws.

You can learn more about Carole by visiting her website: http://www.carolemoore.com.

About Kelly Jolkowski

Kelly Jolkowski, president and founder of Project Jason, is one of the few non-law enforcement people trained in missing persons and has more than 100 hours of professional training on missing persons from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, The U.S. Department of Justice, and Fox Valley Technical College.

She has been the featured speaker at a number of events, and frequently lectures about missing persons issues, law enforcement and missing persons, and the science of DNA and its benefits to finding missing persons.

Jolkowski was awarded by Monica Caison of CUE Center with the 2008 Keeper of the Flame Award, given annually to law enforcement, business leaders, organizations, search personnel and/or volunteers who have risen above their daily duties in the field of missing persons and service to victims of homicide.

In 2010, the U.S. Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime named Kelly Jolkowski as the Volunteer for Victims Honoree. Jolkowski was one of eight people honored by US Attorney General Eric Holder for their work assisting victims of crime.

To order the book: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Place-Youd-Look-Stories/dp/1442203684/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309116228&sr=1-1

Front page of CDLJobs.com June 2009 Issue

Project Jason and CDLJobs.com Announce Alliance

CDLJobs.com, a subsidiary of Williams Media Group, and Project Jason, a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization which assists families of missing persons, has announced an alliance. CDLJobs.com will promote Project Jason’s Awareness Angels Network program in their monthly online magazine.

Awareness Angels Network (AAN). AAN, begun by Project Jason in 2008, provides a way for the public to assist the families of missing persons. Missing persons posters designed specifically for the AAN program are disseminated via email to those enrolled in the program. Participants can then upload the posters to websites, print and place the posters in public areas, and forward them to their contacts. The program helps spread the word and increase the chances of finding the person.

Each month, CDLJobs.com will publish a full color ad in their popular online magazine which will feature 5 of Project Jason’s missing person cases from across the country. The ad has clickable links which take the reader to additional information about the missing person, and a link to their printable poster.  Readers are encouraged to sign up for the AAN program and help with poster distribution. “You can be a Hero” is the theme of the joint venture.

“We’re very grateful for this opportunity to have another avenue of awareness for our missing person cases,” said Kelly Jolkowski, President and Founder of Project Jason. “Each poster placed represents a chance to help bring a missing loved one back home.”  Project Jason staff will select the cases for the monthly ad.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KellyJolkowski/CDLJobsJuneFullPage.jpg[/img]

Full page spread introducing Project Jason's AAN Program in the June issue of CDLJobs.com

In the June issue, the following missing persons were featured:

Bobbi Ann Campbell, missing from Salt Lake City, UT since 1/7/1995

http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=1432.0

Jason Jolkowski, missing from Omaha, NE since 6/13/2001

http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=131.0

Adam Kellner, missing from Stevenson Ranch, CA since 7/08/2007

http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=2895.0

Becky Kraemer, missing from Milwaukee, WI since 12/15/2003

http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=720.0

Annita Price, missing from Moundsville, WV since 5/28/1974

http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=5832.0

To see the June issue of the online magazine, please go to http://www.cdljobs.com/cdljobsonlinemagazine/JUNE09.htm 

An introduction to Project Jason and AAN is on page 12 and the ad is on page 13.  (Use the arrows at the top center of the page to advance the pages, and use the zoom button to increase the page size.)

About Williams Media Group and CDLJobs.com

Williams Media Group began in March of 1999, and specializes in advertising for the truck driving recruitment industry. CDLJobs.com, a subsidiary, offers the most comprehensive listings of truck jobs industry interests available. It features: up-to-date news; a trucker's blog for driver comments; links to other sites of industry interest; and notices of driving opportunities from across the country. The site gets thousands of visitors on a daily basis. 

About Project Jason

Project Jason, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting the families of missing persons, and creating and increasing public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities. Project Jason brings hope and assistance to families of the missing by providing resources and support. The organization is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

For more information about Project Jason’s objectives, activities and services, go to http://www.projectjason.org

Project Jason Awards Four Scholarships for Law Enforcement Officers to Attend Missing Persons Training

Appleton, WI – February 22, 2011 – Project Jason, a 501 ©3 nonprofit that assists families of the missing, announced the organization provided funding that enabled four law enforcement officers to attend Fox Valley’s annual training conference about missing persons. “Responding to Missing and Unidentified Persons” is being held February 22-24, 2010 in Appleton, Wisconsin.

This year’s beneficiaries are:

Detective Dan Rainer—Fond du Lac Police Department, Fond du Lac, WI

One of the goals for Detective Rainer as he attends the conference is to discover new techniques and tools to assist in his role as investigator. Detective Rainer will utilize what he learns to improve processes and procedures at the Fond du Lac Police Department.

Officer Dennis D. Gitter—Neenah Police Department, Neenah, WI

Officer Gitter has been a police officer for over 20 years. During his career, he has completed many specialized training programs. These include interviewing child victims of sexual assault, evidence technician, abusive traumas in children, digital imaging and interrogation. As a volunteer with the Neenah Joint School District, Dennis teaches fifth grade students about the first line of defense against becoming victims through the "Choices Program."  Dennis will bring the information from this conference back to the police department, and more importantly, to the classroom.

Detective Jason Feucht—Town of Menasha Police Department, Neenah, WI

As a newly-appointed detective, Jason sees this conference as an opportunity to learn more about the available resources to confront the challenges of searching for missing persons and identifying recovered human remains. He sees the value of learning more from families of the missing during difficult and emotional times. Detective Feucht hopes to take the information from this conference back to his department to train other officers who are initially called to assist.

Officer Ayron Otto—Wrightstown Police Department, Wrightstown, WI

Officer Otto is a very energetic person who enjoys his work. He strives to do the best job he can for the community he serves. Wrightstown is a relatively new and growing department. Officer Otto will be instrumental in ensuring policies and procedures for missing persons are up to date. Attending this course will greatly assist him in his work for the people of the Village of Wrightstown.

Attending from Project Jason are Kelly Jolkowski, president and founder of Project Jason, and Rita Baughman, Board of Directors.

“The Fox Valley conference provides superb training for law enforcement and for those who work on behalf of the families of missing persons,” said Jolkowski, who has attended four previous Fox Valley training sessions. ”Training in best practices and available tools and procedures is the best weapon we have to find answers in these cases and also alleviate the pain of the left-behind families. We are pleased to be able to help a new record number of our fine police officers with this level of training that we hope someday will be a mainstream part of training for all law enforcement officers.”

The trainings target law enforcement administrators, search personnel, medical examiners and coroners; service occupations such as state clearinghouse staff, victim and child welfare advocates, and social service professionals; community members, including faith-based personnel, representatives from non-profit organizations, advocates who support aging/at-risk populations, and families of the missing; and educators.

From the Fox Valley website:

Every 30 seconds someone in the U.S. disappears, an average of 850,000 persons per year. Approximately 105,000 of these cases remain unsolved. Almost half of these cases represent unidentified persons.

This national conference provides attendees with investigative and forensic tools as well as updates on cutting-edge technology. A focus is placed on holistic strategies to foster collaboration across geographic jurisdictions and the importance of communication among local, state and federal law enforcement and criminal justice practitioners.

Included among the schedule of diverse and experienced speakers at this national conference are keynote speaker, Beth Holloway. Beth is the mother of Natalee Holloway, a high school senior who went missing in Aruba in 2005, while on a class trip. Other featured speakers  include Dr. Emily Craig, Kentucky State Medical Examiner's Office; Sgt. Jon Mattsen, King County Sheriff's Office; and Dr. Daniel and Gil Harrington, parents of Morgan Harrington. 

Project Jason is named for Jason Jolkowski, Kelly and Jim Jolkowski’s son who at the age of 19, disappeared from Omaha, Nebraska in 2001. “Jason is known for his kindness,” said Kelly Jolkowski. “The overall work we do at Project Jason, and each program, such as the Jason A. Jolkowski Scholarship, are done in honor of his extraordinary generosity and compassion.”

Conference Website: http://www.fvtc.edu/public/content.aspx?id=1238&pid=3

About Project Jason

Project Jason, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting the families of missing persons, and creating and increasing public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities. Project Jason brings hope and assistance to families of the missing by providing resources and support. The organization is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

For more information about Project Jason’s objectives, activities and services, go to http://www.projectjason.org

He also hopes you may fill his stocking with some end-of-the-year donations for Project Jason, too!  

Project Jason is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization serving families of the missing across the U.S.

Unique services not available elsewhere include:

• Come Home – we recruit homeless shelters to display missing persons posters in hopes someone seeking respite will be recognized.

• 18 Wheel Angels– We secure free ads, and create graphic concepts, for written narratives about missing individuals in monthly magazines read by tens of thousands of truck drivers.

• Awareness Angels Network – Subscribers receive emails with missing persons posters and updates according to U.S. regions of their choice.

• 14,500 free personal ID kits have been given out in English and Spanish.

• I.D. Kitty – a fuzzy life-size mascot who attends public events. He helps children have fun while learning about safety and receiving their ID kits.

• Outreach to 3D Virtual Worlds – Project Jason disseminates posters to tens of thousands of people nationwide, and spreads awareness of the cause.

• Healing Harbor – the only free online counseling service for families of the missing. The counselor, Duane Bowers, is one of the nation's most respected specialists in emotional needs of families of missing.

• Keys to Healing Retreat – a retreat specifically for families, regardless of age of their missing person. The retreat changes attitudes of family members – attendees depart feeling empowered to continue or start a search and are reminded how important it is to care for themselves.

• Website forum – Case developments and article postings ensure that thousands of missing persons are not viewed as just a height and weight -- readers come to understand who the person is and how much they are missed.

• Free Law Enforcement DNA Training – Kelly Jolkowski hosts an audio training about DNA and how it is processed, featuring two renowned experts: Dr. Arthur Eisenberg, Director of the DNA Identity Laboratory, University of North Texas, and George Adams, the Missing Persons Coordinator with the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification.

• Assistance with law enforcement training fees for several officers annually

We have an all-volunteer staff: not even I.D. Kitty draws a salary! All donations go directly toward services for the families of the missing, training, and printed safety materials. Your donation is fully tax deductible.

With your help, Project Jason and ID Kitty can make 2011 a better year for the families of  missing loved ones whom we serve.

To donate online, please visit  http://projectjason.org/help.shtml or mail a check or money order to Project Jason, PO Box 3032, Omaha, NE 68103.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Project Jason and ID Kitty.