Healing isn't a single moment. For me, it’s a series of many moments. A life-long journey.

I was sexually abused during most of my childhood—for the first time when I was five—by a teacher at the private school I attended in Hawai‘i. And as a young woman, I was raped. What I carry with me still is not the abuse itself, but what I was met with; the response of the community around me. Most of that response was filled with ignorance, judgment, anger, disbelief, blame, fear and even disgust.

It left me filled with shame.

I know I am not alone in this—that my experience echoes those of so many survivors. I know this is why at the core of my pursuit for healing is also a pursuit for change. My personal mantra is “be the change you wish to see in the world." It drives everything I do.

And so it is my greatest honor and privilege to lead an organization that is a fierce agent for change.

At Joyful Heart, we envision a community that says to a survivor: “we hear you, we believe you, you are not alone—and your healing is our priority." Everything we do is about realizing this community—and ultimately about ending this violence. We are paving the way for integrating holistic approaches in treating trauma, igniting shifts in the way the public views and responds to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and reforming and advancing policies and legislation to ensure justice for survivors.

Mariska founded Joyful Heart in Hawai‘i ten years ago with the intention of helping sexual assault survivors heal and reclaim a sense of joy in their lives. Witnessing people thrive and reclaim joy has awakened in me the drive to seek the same for myself, and to pursue deep and lasting change.

On my journey, I have been blessed with family, friends and colleagues who have brought light back into my life, and to work in service of the vision of our inspiring founder. And this work adds meaning to my life on the deepest level.

Every day I heal in grand and small ways. My journey continues. And I know I am not alone in my pursuit. Each day, with your support and encouragement, our community and our vision grow stronger, brighter, bolder and louder.

My life, and this work—the work that we are doing together—is a testament to the fact that healing is possible. That change is possible. That justice is possible. And I know that together we will bring this violence to an end.

Your support has made many remarkable moments possible in our work to heal, educate and empower. This image captures one of those moments for me—a moment when I felt in my heart like never before that the end of violence and abuse is possible. I know that you experience your own moments—of joy, healing, justice, gratitude, change. With this in mind, we've launched a new platform on our website for you to share your meaningful moments. Whether words, an image or a video, I invite you to share yours with our community.

I also invite you to make a financial contribution to sustain Joyful Heart’s work into the future. With just one day left in 2014, now is the time to give your tax-deductible donation to support our transformative work.

You turn towards these issues in ever-inspiring and impactful ways. For believing in our vision for change—for helping make it so—I am incredibly grateful to you. Your commitment, your resolve and your belief in change drive Joyful Heart’s work—and me personally—every day. Thank you.

With gratitude and hope,

Maile Zambuto

Chief Executive Officer

Joyful Heart Foundation