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Author Topic: Jason Jolkowski, 19, Missing From Omaha, NE Since 6/13/01  (Read 9795 times)
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KellyJ
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« on: June 22, 2008, 01:28:41 AM »

On June 13, 2001, Jason was called in to work early. His car was in the shop all week, so he had no way to get to work in the morning. He told the manager that he would walk, but they called him back & made arrangements to meet at Benson High School, 8 blocks away from our home. Jason has a difficult time giving directions, & meeting at his former high school probably seemed logical to him. He showered & dressed, & was last seen by his little brother, Michael, bringing in the trash cans, as the trash pickup had taken place that morning. The neighbor also saw Jason taking the cans into the garage.

Jason was wearing black dress shoes & black dress pants & carrying his red work t-shirt. He wore a white Chicago Cubs or Sammy Sosa t-shirt, & a blue Chicago Cubs baseball hat. This occurred at approximately 10:45 am. Within 30-45 minutes, the employer called our home to see if Jason was there, as he did not show up at the high school.

No one has seen or heard from Jason since then. He has not touched his bank account, used his cell phone, picked up his checks from work, or inquired about or attempted to pick up his car from the body shop. He also was to have started a new job the following week, & he did not call or show up for the new job, which he was excited about. We estimate, based on the amount of his last check, & the deposit he made, that he didn't have more than $60 with him, if even that.

Jason is a very shy individual & typically did not pursue social activities. For the most part, he was either at work or home. He did not appear to be interested in alcohol or drugs. He has a close relationship with his family, & it is hard to believe that he would purposely stay away without even contacting us, although we realize that this is not outside of the realm of possibilities. As we don't have any clues, anything is possible. We HOPE that it is just a case of Jason just wanting to get away from life's pressures for awhile as the alternative to that scenario is unbearable to think about. It just seems odd that if he had run away, that at the very least, he would have taken his checkbook or picked up his checks from work.

As we have no leads, we are trying to reach every citizen because someone has to have seen him. We love our son and just want him back home with us.

DOB: 6/24/81
Missing: 6/13/01
Whit e Male
Brown Eyes
Brown Hair
6 ’ 1”
165 lbs
Nickname: J . J .
Missing from Omaha , NE

Jason was last seen wearing a white "Chicago Cubs" or "Sammy Sosa" Tshirt, black dress pants, blue "Cubs" cap, dress shoes and also carrying red work shirt. He was bringing in garbage cans at his family's home after pickup.

He was leaving to go meet a co-worker at the high school only 8 blocks away to get a ride to work but never arrived. He has not accessed his bank account,used his cell phone, and cashed checks from his employer.

Please call if you have any information. (402) 444-5818

More info and photos: http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=131

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org

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« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2008, 01:31:37 AM »

A Project Jason Media Brief:

The family of Jason Jolkowski requests the media's assistance to ensure that the public is aware that Jason is still missing, and has been for seven years as of June 13, 2001. We need the public's help to be our eyes and ears when we cannot, and to perhaps provide the clue that will be the key to unlocking this sad mystery.
 
Jason was 19 years old when he disappeared from the driveway of our Benson area home. No leads or clues have ever surfaced. While the evidence appears strong that Jason did not runaway, there is no evidence he was harmed. We still wait and hope.
 
Assisting the Omaha police and the family on this difficult anniversary month are the Carole Sund Foundation, offering a $5000.00 reward. In addition, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have completed an update on Jason's age progression photo. This photo is an artist rendering of what Jason might look like today. A printable poster noting the reward and the new photo can be found on the Project Jason website. http://www.projectjason.org/downloads/JasonJolkowski0613.pdf
 
June 24th will mark his 27th birthday. Jason's parents, Jim and Kelly Jolkowski of Omaha, started nonprofit organization, Project Jason in the aftermath of Jason's disappearance. In honor of Jason's birthday, and to continue their mission to help families of the missing, Project Jason has launched a campaign to bring in donations which not only would pay general operating expenses, but would also allow them to enhance the services offered to families of the missing, including their bus bench program which was launched right here in Omaha, and a retreat to be held in 2009.
 
Detailed information about the Birthday Campaign, Project Jason's accomplishments and goals, as well as a moving personal letter to Jason, can be found at
http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=3021.0
 
For more information about Jason Jolkowski and Project Jason, please see www.projectjason.org

To contact Kelly Jolkowski, please email kelly.jolkowski@projectjason.org
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« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2008, 02:42:54 PM »

http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=8550418

Remembering Jason: Helping Find Others

Posted: June 24, 2008 08:58 PM CDT
By Julie Hong

Omaha (KPTM) - He vanished without a trace seven years ago.

Jason Jolkowski would be 27 years old this June 24th.

So on his birthday, his family reflects on his life and want to share a very special gift.

"It would be so wonderful to be able to buy you a gift and sing Happy Birthday to you, even in our funny, off-key way," reads Kelly Jolkowski.

It's a birthday letter with words of love, hope and reflection Kelly wrote to her son.

"We reflect on him as a person. We miss his laughter and his kind generous spirit."

Tuesday, June 24th is the 7th birthday the Jolkowski's celebrate without him.

Jason Jolkowski disappeared without a trace from his Benson home seven years ago.

He would be 27 years old.

"It's still extremely difficult to not know anything to not know is he dead, is he alive, is he okay, did somebody hurt him. Why?" says Kelly.

And while the Jolkowski's don't have those answers, they do have Project Jason, a non-profit organization dedicated to help other families like theirs.

"We need the public's help to find Jason, to remember the missing, other families like ours and to help us accomplish our goals."

Kelly says since she can't give her son a gift this year, she hopes the public will give in his honor by donating at least $27 dollars to Project Jason.

It's a gift that Kelly says she hopes will help find Jason, and help other families.

But, more than anything it's a gift she says Jason would want.

"That's part of the birthday campaign we know that with his generous spirit, he would want us to do this," says Kelly.

The Carole Sund Foundation continues to offer a five-thousand dollar reward for any information that leads to Jason.

Money raised from Jason's Birthday Gift campaign will help with the operating costs of Project Jason pay for awareness programs, fund an upcoming retreat and help pay for ads of missing people on area bus benches.

You can donate by logging on to www.projectjason.org

You can donate through PayPal or mail a check.

Jason's mom also says there are updated posters with Jason's age progressed photo. The family would appreciate any help if people can print out the poster and put them up in their neighborhoods or where they work.
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Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
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« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2008, 06:23:29 PM »

I'm so sorry, Kelly.  I will continue to pray for you and for Jason to be found.
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« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2008, 03:39:12 AM »

I remember Jason's story well.  All stories about my home state catch my eye. 

Continued prayers for Jason, wherever he may be, and your family.
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« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2008, 08:44:29 PM »

Thanks, Monkeys. That is very much appreciated.
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« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2008, 07:27:54 PM »

http://www.wahoonewspaper.com/site/tab7.cfm?newsid=19823375&BRD=2712&PAG=461&dept_id=557009&rfi=6

Missing person cases in Nebraska go unsolved


By: Jon Burleson
07/02/2008


In Douglas County, law enforcement lists 1,850 people missing. About half the cases involve children.
 
On June13, 2001, Jason Jolkowski, then 19, became a statistic. Since that day, his mother, Kelly, has been striving to make him more than that to lawmakers.

"Nobody knows how big an issue this is," Jolkowski said. "Those who are missing are more than a height, weight, hair and eye color. They are people."

After laboring on behalf of missing persons for the last seven years, Jolkowski has mobilized a new effort to get law enforcement the tools they need to help families of the missing. Project Jason's Campaign for the Missing is a grassroots effort to pass legislation in each state that will serve to improve the law enforcement community's ability to locate and ensure a safe return of missing persons.

"This is so needed," she said. "Things fall through the cracks. Families aren't told to get vital pieces of information that could help them solve the case."

The campaign's central focus will address the national problems of missing persons and the identification of human remains and provide the framework for improving law enforcement's response. It will also improve the collection of critical information about missing persons, prioritize high-risk missing persons cases and ensure prompt dissemination of critical information to other law enforcement agencies and the public that can improve the likelihood of a safe return.

"Most law enforcement officers are not trained in missing persons cases," Jolkowski said. "Some police academies don't even teach about missing persons investigations."

The Department of Justice, working with federal, state and local law enforcement; coroners and medical examiners; victim advocates; forensic scientists; key policymakers; and family members who have lived through this tragic experience, developed the legislation to be presented in the Nebraska Unicameral.

The bill made it mandatory for law enforcement to follow certain procedures at the beginning of a missing persons case. Certain steps need to be taken in a specific order and resources must be allocated to assist, Jolkowski said.

"Nobody told me to get his toothbrush or his comb," she said, "and by the time I knew, it was too late."

On almost a daily basis, unidentified bodies are found across the country. Over the last year, law enforcement agencies have reported from 40-50,000 bodies with no means to identify them, Jolkowski said. These bodies are usually buried or even cremated with no DNA saved for the possibility of a future identification.

"The families of those missing live in a horrible limbo of not knowing," Jolkowski said. "These families need an answer and this legislation could help provide an answer."

Having run into a roadblock in the last Unicameral session, Jolkowski has been waiting patiently for the next session. Patience is something she has developed over the last seven years.

But, she has not been idle. Jolkowski has been working with Nebraska legislators, such as Steve Lathrop and Brad Ashford to move the bill forward this time around.

"Last time, I was told that the $50,000 needed to run the program each year wasn't available," she said. "I feel that if Nebraskans knew how many people go missing each year, they would be willing to help find them."

If you are interested in helping make a difference in the lives of thousands of missing persons and their families, send an email to campaignforthemissing@projectjason.org.

My Notes: I have not personally been working with the named senators. The comment about the $50K was in reference to Jason's Law, which we passed a few years back. The $50K kept that bill from passing during the first two years of our efforts. The Campaign for the Missing law is a different mandate. This law is meant to be passed in all 50 states, not just Nebraska. KJJ
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« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2008, 12:21:59 AM »

Project Jason is pleased to present an exclusive story of hope, "A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years". Each day, for 5 days, a new part will be posted here:
http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=3174.0

A Mother’s Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years
Written by Kelly Jolkowski with Vicki Hamilton Loux


For 14 long years, Vicki Hamilton Loux had not seen the face of her beloved son, Mark Hamilton. Mark became mentally ill as a young man, and had fled the care center where he was staying.

For 11 of those 14 years, Vicki had never once spoken to someone who knew personally what it is like to have a missing loved one. Family members had a difficult time in dealing with Mark’s disappearance, even to the point of denial. Vicki was alone in her grief and nearly alone in her search. For her, the search was like grasping at a shadow, the shadow of her missing son. Each time she felt close, the shadows of what could be eluded her. His face remained as dark as the shadows, although her hope was a light that never faded.
 
Continue on to the rest of today's segment: http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=3174.0
 
There is always hope.............
 
Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Please help us with Jason's Birthday Campaign:
http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=3021.0
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« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2008, 11:09:01 PM »

The complete story is up now. Take a look and post comments on my blog if you aren't registered on our forum. (the blog link is on the last post)

This way Vicki only has two places to go to read comments.
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« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2008, 10:14:31 AM »

What a remarkable story.  Even the Grinch would be moved by their story.  I pray that Mark will remain and get the help he needs.

Each person who came into his life in this story was an answer to his Mother's prayer.  If it wasn't for those angels along the way, his story would be much different.

I hope that Mark and Vicki will continue their journey towards peace.  God bless everyone who was there for this family.

God bless you, Kelly, and your work.  I pray you get the answers you need to find Jason.  It takes a truly amazing person to take your grief and your love for Jason and to look outside yourself and to help others that are in your situation.  Vicki and Mark's story was only possible through Jason and you.
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« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2008, 08:34:20 PM »

Thank you. It truly is a privledge to be in the position of helping others.

They need our ongoing prayers, that is for certain.
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« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2008, 02:23:57 PM »

Project Jason is pleased to announce its newest program, the Awareness Angels Network.
( More information can be found at http://www.projectjason.org/awareness.html)

It’s a fact that one in six missing persons are found as a result of a visual aid, such as a billboard or a poster, thus the importance of poster dissemination in missing person cases. Placing posters is an easy way for you to get involved, and it can make a real difference for the families of the missing.

With your Awareness Angels Network (AAN) membership, you’ll receive notifications via email about new missing person cases, updates on current cases, and recovered persons. These notifications inlcude a link to a special Awareness Angels Network poster you can print and place.

Once you are subscribed, the email notifications you receive include a link to the printable poster for a specific missing person, plus a link to Project Jason’s forum, where you can keep up on the latest case news and information.

We encourage you to:


*Print copies of this poster and display them near your home, at your workplace and in public places.

*Give copies of this poster to friends and associates who can place posters near their homes and workplaces.

*Give copies to friends or associates who travel so they can place the posters in more wide-reaching areas.

 
When the missing person is located, we will notify you. At that time, you will be asked to remove any indoor, outdoor and Internet postings of this person.


Email notifications will be sent to you upon the following events:

New Case: Project Jason receives a new case submission from the family of a missing person and completes the verification process. New cases are persons who may have been missing for any period of time and the family is registering with us for the first time.

Updated Case: This notification will be sent out upon any substantial change of information on the original Project Jason poster. This could include the addition of an age progression photo, or new information received that could aid in location of that missing person.

Annual Missing Date Notice: On or before the annual missing date of persons registered with Project Jason, an AAN notification will be sent out to remind the members that the person is still missing and to request poster placement.

Law Enforcement Request: This notification will be sent out upon the request of law enforcement who may seek a targeted distribution area. There may be evidence that the missing person may be in a region other than the one he/she disappeared from, and poster dissemination is needed in this area. Project Jason officials may also, at their discretion, and based upon reliable sources, request distribution in another area.

Location Notice: A person whose case was previously sent out on the AAN has been located alive. Any additional information that can be made public will be found on the link included in the notification.

Deceased Location Notice: A person whose case was previously sent out on the AAN has been found deceased. Any additional information that can be made public will be found on the link included in the notification.


Project Jason has divided the US into 14 geographical regions for this program. You may subscribe to as many regions as you wish. We encourage multiple region subscriptions since we’re a very mobile society. It doesn’t take long for a person to travel great distances. In some cases, a missing person may not necessarily be in the same area or location where he/she was last seen. Your notification emails will cover missing persons who were last seen in the region to which you subscribed.

Once you subscribe to a region, you will be offered a special widget which you may add to your website, blog, MySpace, Facebook, etc. The widget is our thank you for being an Awareness Angels Network member. It will also serve to encourage others to become members, as the widget links right to our site. The more helping eyes, ears, and hands we have, the greater the odds of success.

From now until about mid-September, the focus of the program will be outreach to gain subscribers. When we begin the email notifications, it is important to have a reasonable subscriber base. In mid-September, we will begin to send the notifications on a more regular basis.

We're asking interested persons to subscribe AND to send this message to others.


Remember the facts: One in every 6 are found because of visual means, such as a poster. You can make a difference with your Awareness Angels Network membership!

If you haven't subscribed yet, read what the families of the missing have to say about poster placement by our Awareness Angels Network members:

The totality of my life has only one purpose, to find my missing daughter and bring her home safe. Every other aspect of my life has come to a halt. Thank you very much for placing posters of my child.
Reza Jou, father of missing Donna Jou

My heart is lifted and hope shines every time someone displays a poster of my son.  I believe it is through the love and kindness of the public that my son will eventually be found; but without their concern and active participation, I fear this agonizing mystery will continue to go unresolved.  Please, please help me find my son.
Vicki Barnard, Mother of Missing Ahren Barnard


Each poster placed carries the hopes of our family, that someone, somewhere, knows something, and will step forward to shine light on the darkness of loss. So, from my heart I thank you for each poster hung, and for each prayer quietly spoken.
Christy Davis, mother of missing Michael "Austin" Davis

I want to thank each and every one of you who hangs a poster for my son, Brian. This is the only way that I may hopefully find him and bring him home so that I may have some peace in my life someday. Someone knows what happened, and only with your help can I keep my son alive in the public’s eyes.
Randy, Brian Shaffer's Dad


Time Marches on, yet it stands so still. Your smallest remembrance or recognition could help bring our loved one home. Thanks to all those who care.
Donajean Kapp, Sister of Dori A. Myers, Abducted 01-11-06

Words cannot express what it means when strangers care enough to place posters for us. The memory of this act is forever etched in our hearts.
John Lopez, Jeff and Lesa Stivers, Father, Uncle and Aunt of missing Marissa Lopez


(You'll be able to read more soon from the families we serve on  the Awareness Angels Network page on our main website.)


About the Awareness Angels Network logo you see pn our program page:

The angel's wings represent the members of the Awareness Angels Network, who will answer our plea for help and place posters to help find a missing person. In this representation, the father was ready to go out and place more posters of his missing daughter, but just then, she was found and returned to his loving arms. The angel's wings surround them, also representing the love and concern we have in our hearts for others, even those whom we have never met. The logo tells the story of what CAN happen when we all work together to make a difference.

With your help, we'll have many happy endings. 

Subscribe here today: http://www.projectjason.org/aan.html

Note: You can also subscribe to our Project Jason newsletters on the website noted above. You may choose either the Supporter's Newsletter (general news about Project Jason and the missing) or the Family Member Newsletter. (specialized information of interest to family members of missing persons) These selections are below the AAN regions in the list. The newsletters will begin publication in September.

All missing persons are loved by someone, and their families deserve to find the answers they seek in regards to the disappearance. Please help us help them. Subscribe to the Awareness Angels Network today, and ask your friends to as well. Thank you. 

There is always hope.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org
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« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2009, 03:41:09 PM »

Missing teen's parents help other families cope
updated 7:30 a.m. EDT, Mon September 28, 2009

When their 19-year-old son, Jason, disappeared eight years ago, any concept of a normal life ceased for the Jolkowski family.

Kelly and Jim Jolkowski and their other son, Michael, believed at first that Jason would walk through the front door of their Omaha, Nebraska, home at any moment. Now, every time a body is found somewhere, the news sets their hearts pounding.

To this day, police say they have no evidence of foul play. Nor, they say, do they have any evidence that Jason simply ran away. It is a bona fide mystery.

Kelly Jolkowski described her life in an open letter to her missing son a year ago: "We waited and hoped that you'd walk in the door ... and that the whole awful event would be over, but that didn't happen," she wrote. "It feels as if it never may end, and that we may have to wait for our life after this world to see you again."

Since shortly after Jason's disappearance, the Jolkowskis have thrown their energy into raising public awareness about what to do when a loved one goes missing. After three years of lobbying, they were able to get a law passed in Nebraska creating a statewide missing persons database.

They founded a nonprofit organization called Project Jason, and its Web site tracks missing persons cases across the country. According to the site, Project Jason has distributed some 50,000 missing persons fliers since 2003.

"We feel that some good is coming out of Jason's story," Kelly Jolkowski told CNN. But she said she still hopes to find her son someday.

The last time anyone who knew him saw him, Jason Jolkowski was bringing the empty trash cans in from the curb. That was June 13, 2001. Since then, his cell phone has fallen silent and his bank account hasn't been touched. His last paycheck was never cashed.

Jason was 19 and attending community college part time. He had a job at a restaurant and wanted to be a disc jockey. On the day he disappeared, Jason and his younger brother, Michael, were on summer break from school. Their parents were at work, and the boys were home alone.

Jason worked at a restaurant called Fazoli's. His boss had called him that morning and asked him to come into work on his day off.

Jason's car was at the mechanic's shop, so his boss arranged a ride for him with a co-worker. She and Jason were to meet at a high school parking lot that was within walking distance from the Jolkowskis' home.

According to his mother, Jason had walked that seven-block route before. It took him along quiet, residential streets with little pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

Jason was last seen at 10:15 that morning, standing at the end of his driveway. Less than an hour later, his boss called and spoke with Michael, complaining that Jason had not shown up for work and had never arrived at the high school to meet his ride.

His parents arrived home from work to learn that Jason had been missing all day. They called Jason's friends. None of them had seen or heard from him that day.

"Jason was a quiet boy," his mother said. "He only had a small handful of friends. He was shy."

Jason did not have a girlfriend and was not the sort of person to take risks, like hitching a ride with a complete stranger, his mother insisted.

His parents called police the next morning. Like so many people, the Jolkowskis mistakenly believed there was a 24-hour wait before police would accept a missing person's report.

"And then it took at least another 10 days before police took Jason's disappearance seriously," Kelly Jolkowski said. "They assumed this was a typical teen runaway scenario."

But according to the family, Jason did not have a history of running away and was not a troubled teen. He had no reason to run off. From the beginning, his family feared an accident or abduction.

Police began to interview neighbors and conducted searches 10 days after his disappearance, but valuable time had been lost, Kelly Jolkowski said.

"We'd have liked to see more activity in the first crucial hours, but we do feel they stepped up to the plate to do all they could and in the end, they did a proper investigation," the Jolkowskis said in a prepared statement. "We were pleased by the meetings they had with us, following up on any leads, talking to his friends, checking the computer and conducting interviews."

Despite mounted searches, ground searches, a helicopter and the use of infrared technology, there was no sign of Jason or any clues to his whereabouts. The family is not certain whether dogs were brought to track the route between the Jolkowski home and the high school. But his mother said she believes that if police had any evidence, they would have shared it with the family.

Detective Jim Shields of the Omaha Police Department said the case remains an open and active investigation.

"I know his parents have expressed concern about how the investigation was handled in the beginning," he said, "but in missing adult cases, often we wait a few days because adults have the right to come and go freely."

Police said they have no clues or evidence in the case. It is categorized as a missing person's case, and authorities have no evidence suggesting Jason is no longer alive. "We simply don't know and really hope for more tips," Shields said.

At the time he went missing, Jason would have only had about $60 on him, his mother said.

She speculated in her open letter about what his life might be like now.

"If you are still with us, you could be married and have children. You may have graduated from college and be pursuing a career," she wrote. "So many life events which normally happen with someone of your age may have passed by. We hope and pray that you haven't been cheated of the life you were meant to live."

Jason Jolkowski is described as 6 feet 1 inch and 165 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a Chicago Cubs T-shirt, black dress pants and black dress shoes. Anyone with information leading to his whereabouts is asked to call the Omaha police at 402-444-5818.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/28/grace.coldcase.project.jason/
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« Reply #13 on: October 25, 2009, 04:46:11 AM »

http://www.omaha.com/article/20091013/NEWS01/710139940



Published Tuesday October 13, 2009

Helping families of missing cope

When Jim and Kelly Jolkowski's son Jason went missing in June 2001, they didn't know where to turn.

They had no idea how to cope, and there were no support groups to help them deal with what they were going through.

It wasn't until the couple began doing research online that they learned about a variety of training techniques to deal with their daily trauma.

The Jolkowskis wanted to share that with other families, so they created Project Jason to improve public awareness about missing people and to educate families about what to do if a family member disappears.


 This past June, they held the first Project Jason's Keys to Healing retreat. About 20 families from all over the country spent three days at a retreat center in the Omaha area, learning how to cope with having a family member go missing.

The Jolkowskis are raising money for the 2010 retreat, in which they hope to help at least 50 families.

They hope to receive enough donations so the families won't have to spend a dime to participate.

“Many people don't realize how much money people spend for a search, especially if there's a reward, a private eye and numerous posters,” Kelly Jolkowski said. “It's really tough for these families. It's physically, mentally and financially draining.”

The 2010 retreat will be held in August. For three days, families of the missing are enveloped in mental, physical and spiritual guidance, massage therapy and peaceful and quiet surroundings.

They meet others who understand their plight, and they forge bonds that will help them with support long after the retreat ends.

“For some of these people, their whole life is the search,” she said. “We want to show them there's a way to still have a personal life while coping. We want to show them it's OK to laugh and smile. We have to learn to live with our daily trauma for the rest of our lives.”

The fundraising campaign, which started last week, runs until Dec. 31.

To make a donation go to www.projectjason.org/leftBehind or send a check or money order to: Project Jason, P.O. Box 3035, Omaha, NE 68103.

Contact the writer:

444-1336, leia.baez@owh.com
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« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2010, 04:57:15 PM »

 

Posted: 8:17 PM Apr 16, 2010

Mother Of Missing Son Honored With National Award

An Omaha mother, who's son has been missing for almost 9 years, received national honors for her work in helping other families cope when their loved ones go missing.

The U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) named Kelly Jolkowski as the 2010 Volunteer for Victims Honoree.

The announcement came at the National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony.

She was one of eight people honored for their work helping victims.

Jolkowski is President and Founder of Project Jason, a nonprofit organization that assists families of missing adults and children.

Jolkowski took up the cause after her son, Jason, disappeared in June, 2001.

"We congratulate Kelly Jolkowski, volunteer for families of the missing, for being among the honorees in this year's National Crime Victims' Service Awards," says Ernie Allen, President and CEO of The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

"I'm honored to accept this award on behalf of all missing persons, the families who miss them, and in my son's name," said Jolkowski. "The secondary victims, the families, deserve a voice, and to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect as they go through what is undoubtedly the most difficult time in their lives. This is what I do, and for this work to be honored can be a catalyst for the change of the mindset of the public as it pertains to the aid given to these suffering families."
http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/91127814.html
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