In Memory of a Hero: Joe George
The survivor world lost another hero last week. Joseph C. George, an attorney and a psychologist who represented survivors of sexual abuse, died on April 22 from complications of a stroke. The void left by his passing will be hard to fill.
Joe was a good friend to SNAP, supporting both the organization and those of its leaders that worked with him. His generosity and friendship will be long remembered.
I first met Joe in 2009, when I was still a fairly new SNAP Leader. He was holding a press conference to announce a lawsuit against a Catholic priest and the Diocese of Oakland on behalf of a San Leandro woman. After an introduction from Joe, the woman spoke up for herself. It was only afterward, when I hugged her still trembling body, did I fully appreciate the courage it took for her to do this. Joe’s gentle encouragement and support, I believe, factored heavily into her ability to find her long-lost voice.
Over the years I attended many more media events with Joe, the most recent last fall, and I have seen that scenario played out again and again. Time and again, Joe let the survivors take center stage. Yes, he was a fierce advocate for those he represented, but what I respected most about him was that he helped victims to speak for themselves, and then he stepped aside and let them talk.
I am confident that his firm will continue to follow in his footsteps, working not only for, but also with, the survivors who come to them. But I also cannot help feeling that something very good and special has been lost, both for the cause, for SNAP, and for me personally.
Yet for those of us whose lives were touched by Joe’s, we must continue to strive to move the work that he started forward. Another early giant in the victims’ movement is gone, but we honor him best by following his example as well as we can.
You battled hard, Joe, and you deserve your rest. But your quiet presence will be missed. Yes, it will be very much missed.
Written by Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Coordinator and San Francisco Leader.
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director