Everett, October 10, 2007 – Jenny Wieland-Ward, Executive Director of Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims is one of three advocates and six organizations to receive the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OVAC) 2007 Moving Mountains Award. The award given to recognize decades of work statewide by individuals and organizations on behalf of victims and survivors of crime was presented to Ms. Wieland-Ward during the OVAC annual conference held in Yakima, Washington on September 19, 2007.
"These awards are OCVA’s recognition that successes in this important work can sometimes come after long term efforts," said Bev Emery, managing director of OCVA, part of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). "These important individuals and organizations are part of a vital network contributing to eliminating violence in our lives."
Jenny Wieland-Ward was selected for this honor because of her long-term commitment to providing voice to survivors of homicide victims and missing persons. For the past 15 years, she has been a champion of survivors of homicide victims and missing persons.
In November 1992, Jenny’s 17 year old daughter was murdered by another teen. After the loss of her only child, Jenny turned her pain into purpose by working to reduce youth violence, in hope that other mothers would not have to experience the loss of a child to violent crime.
In 1994, Ms. Wieland-Ward became a founding board member of Mothers Against Violence in American (MAVIA). During her seven-year tenure with MAVIA, she helped create and implement MAVIA’s many national and local programs including the acclaimed Washington State model of the
Day of National Concern about Young People and Gun Violence and the annual SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Youth Summits.
While at MAVIA, she championed national efforts to encourage school communities to implement “no-bullying” policies. She served on the Washington State Attorney General’s Task Force on Bullying, and was featured in
People Magazine for her bullying prevention work.
Ms. Wieland-Ward is a well-known consultant in the areas of crime victim advocacy, youth violence, and public policy advocacy. In collaboration with Virginia Mason Separation and Loss Services, Ms. Wieland-Ward trains health professionals in
Complications in Bereavement from Violent Death by Criminal Acts Including Terrorism.
She has been a featured speaker at hundreds of schools and conferences nationwide, including the
Children’s Defense Fund, the
National Crime Prevention Council’s Youth Conference, and
National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and involved in many television programs on youth violence including MTV’s “Generation Under the Gun” and HBO’s “Five American Kids, Five American Handguns”. In addition to
People Magazine, Ms. Wieland-Ward has been featured in numerous publications, including
Good Housekeeping and
Glamour.
Today, Ms. Wieland-Ward is the Executive Director of Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims, a statewide non-profit based in Everett, Washington. As Executive Director, she continues to be an advocate for the survivors of homicide victims and missing persons by supporting and advocating for all victims of crime, missing persons, and their loved ones. In addition, Ms.Wieland-Ward and the Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims organization lead the effort to provide education about victims' rights and services.
For additional information about the services Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims provides you may phone Ms. Wieland-Ward at 425-252-6081 or e-mail her at
jenny@fnfvcv.org.
About the organization:
Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims is the oldest victim assistance organization in the state and one of the first in the nation. Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims primarily serves victims of aggravated assault, robbery, and loved ones of murder victims and missing persons where foul play is suspected.
