Joan was a beautiful, sweet child. She was outgoing, sensitive and very bright. She loved to tell jokes and her favorite expression was "big whoop!" She loved the color green and "Ode to Joy" was her favorite song. Joan went to school at St. John the Baptist Elementary and also attended church there as well. On April 19th, 1973 Joan went to deliver Girl Scout cookies to a neighbor and never came back. He assaulted her and took her life on Holy Thursday and Joan's family received the life changing news on Easter Sunday. The significance of Joan's life being forever linked to these Holy days gave Joan's mother Rosemarie hope, she knew something special would come out of this unimaginable tragedy.
Twenty five years later, when her daughter's murderer came up for parole she realized how Joan's legacy could bring positive change. She would begin a grassroots move for change and eventually create a foundation to help children. Since 1993, when Rosemarie began the movement five laws have been passed and thousands of children have been given fun educational experiences and greater awareness on how to avoid being a victim.
Twenty five years later, when her daughter's murderer came up for parole she realized how Joan's legacy could bring positive change. She would begin a grassroots move for change and eventually create a foundation to help children. Since 1993, when Rosemarie began the movement five laws have been passed and thousands of children have been given fun educational experiences and greater awareness on how to avoid being a victim.
Joan was a beautiful, sweet child. She was outgoing, sensitive and very bright. She loved to tell jokes and her favorite expression was "big whoop!" She loved the color green and "Ode to Joy" was her favorite song. Joan went to school at St. John the Baptist Elementary and also attended church there as well. On April 19th, 1973 Joan went to deliver Girl Scout cookies to a neighbor and never came back. He assaulted her and took her life on Holy Thursday and Joan's family received the life changing news on Easter Sunday. The significance of Joan's life being forever linked to these Holy days gave Joan's mother Rosemarie hope, she knew something special would come out of this unimaginable tragedy.
Twenty five years later, when her daughter's murderer came up for parole she realized how Joan's legacy could bring positive change. She would begin a grassroots move for change and eventually create a foundation to help children. Since 1993, when Rosemarie began the movement five laws have been passed and thousands of children have been given fun educational experiences and greater awareness on how to avoid being a victim.
Twenty five years later, when her daughter's murderer came up for parole she realized how Joan's legacy could bring positive change. She would begin a grassroots move for change and eventually create a foundation to help children. Since 1993, when Rosemarie began the movement five laws have been passed and thousands of children have been given fun educational experiences and greater awareness on how to avoid being a victim.
