In an innovative partnership, Sessions, online school of design, recently sponsored a student design competition aimed at promoting the work of The Joyful Heart Foundation ("JHF"), founded in 2002 by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Golden Globe-winning actor, Mariska Hargitay.
Her work as Detective Olivia Benson led to her becoming a real life role-model and spokesperson for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. She wanted to deepen her involvement with the issue and started JHF. Working hand in hand with rape-crisis centers and counselors, the Joyful Heart Foundation synthesizes all of the components of the healing process -- emotional, physical, and spiritual -- into one experience. After much-needed talk-therapy, survivors often need additional outlets to help them continue to heal. JHF is committed to finding and developing those other avenues.
Acknowledging the importance of the work of JHF, Sessions sponsored a student competition among its 2,000 students to help spread the word by creating a brochure that illustrates the mission, programs, and values of JHF. Sessions frequently partners its talented student designers with non-profit organizations with worthy goals, limited design budgets, and urgent communications needs. No fee is charged for the service to the non-profit organizations.
"Our student designers always enthusiastically support and participate in our competitions," stated Doris Granatowski, Sessions CEO. "While the competitions provide a wonderful forum for students to showcase their work, it's clear that their true motivation is to contribute in a meaningful way to the work of organizations such as JHF that make a difference."
Ms. Hargitay was clear in her objective to present the positive, uplifting message and mission of JHF while also conveying the seriousness and importance of it.
"I knew this design objective would be difficult to capture, because I wanted to convey so much," says Ms. Hargitay. "But the work that came from Sessions' students was superb. We had to work very hard to narrow down the ten finalists to a winning entry. We couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome -- and we're receiving great feedback! We are deeply impressed with Sessions as a training ground for tomorrow's top designers."
The winner was Megan Johnson, a twenty-one year-old designer from Virginia, whose work was chosen as for its successful connection of nature, creativity, and healing.
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