Joyful Heart in the News

The 49-year-old actress, who is famous for playing New York City sex crimes detective Olivia Benson on the NBC drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, will join the current vice president on his visit to the National Domestic Violence Hotline in Austin on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

"I am deeply honored to join Vice President Biden in shining a light on the tremendous work being done by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, a longtime partner of the Joyful Heart Foundation," she said in a statement.

"I'm so grateful to be joining some of my greatest heroes today to honor @NDVH - @VP Biden, @THEJHF_CEO, @VerizonFoundation #NOMOREsilence," she added in a tweet today.

Hargitay, who has played Det. Olivia Benson for 14 years on the hit crime show, was inspired by the fan mail she received from domestic violence survivors, and, in 2004, she cofounded Joyful Heart with the intention of "helping sexual assault survivors heal and reclaim a sense of joy in their lives."

Despite the hotline's sucess, there has been an increasing demand for an online chat service as employees struggle to keep up with the high volume of calls. Today, Biden is expected to hear about a $250,000 donation from Verizon to enable victims of domestic violence, who cannot speak openly on the phone, to chat online with advocates at the center.

"The Hotline stands as an indispensable resource to help break the isolation that so many victims of domestic violence feel," Hargitay said. "I am eager not only to see new innovations and resources made possible through Verizon's ongoing support, but also to celebrate the commitment and care the Hotline's advocates bring to their work every day. I will of course never stop celebrating Vice President Biden's vision and leadership that allowed the Hotline to be created."