Wall Street Journal

The Joyful Heart Foundation Gala 2013 was held on 42nd Street in New York City on Thursday evening, May 9th. The event was sponsored by a number of well-known companies including Pepsi Cola Company, Michael Stars, Verizon Communications, The Art of Grace, and Wolf Films among many others. The founder, Mariska Hargitay, was joined at the event by her husband, Peter Hermann, and a number of celebrities including Danny Pino, Mary J. Blige, Jemima Kirke, Will Chase, Julianne Hough, Christopher Meloni, Uma Thurman, Mary Louise Parker, Glenn Close, and Harry Connick Jr. just to name a few.

Ms. Hilty collaborated with her friend and trainer Dasha Libin on the event, which raised money for the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization founded by Mariska Hargitay that helps victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and other abuse. And Ms. Libin is the creator of a workout called Kettlebell Kickboxing, which she usually teaches out of her studio on lower Broadway.

For many actors, there's one break-out role that forever changes a career. For actress Mariska Hargitay, a star turn as Detective Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" has meant forever changing the lives of victims of sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence through her Joyful Heart Foundation.