The Jaclyn Parrish Foundation: Functional Sisters
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On April 29, 2022 (my 35th birthday), our family changed forever when we received the devastating and traumatic news that my big sister, Jaclyn Parrish, had been brutally murdered by her boyfriend who then turned the gun on himself. Over the past year, I have been on a healing journey, channeling her energy and reading her thoughts, hopes, dreams and wishes. This journey has not been an easy one, but healing from trauma is possible and Jaclyn still has so much good to bring to the world through those who loved her. Over the next few years, I plan to begin a non-profit foundation in Jaclyn's name. While all of the business plans are not yet finalized, I understand that her extended family, friends and even strangers who have also been impacted by domestic violence and/or substance use want to help in a meaningful way and I am so grateful.
Below are some thought-starters for what I plan to accomplish in the coming years in my big sister's honor.
The Jaclyn Parrish Foundation supports:
- "Functional Sisters" blog and non-profit.
- Resources for healthy living in every form: good, clean, affordable, accessible organic food for underserved communities.
- Affordable functional medicine and health coaching.
- Mental health incubator assisting with: Domestic violence, Substance use disorders, Self-esteem and female empowerment.
- Children's education in the form of public speaking and a children's book.
- A non-fiction book will be written on healing from trauma from a sibling's perspective.
- Potential Documentary on hope and healing.
Potential events for "Functional Sisters" to present on behalf of the Jaclyn Parrish Foundation:
- Jaclyn’s Jog: This occurs every October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
- One 5K in Austin, TX on the former route she used to walk weekly to get her farmer's market goodies which will end in a celebration at Boggy Creek Farm.
- One in Athens, GA: 5K route to be determined. The race will end with a benefit concert at the GA Theatre (one of her favorite spots). Depending on the size of the foundation, the family would like to establish a yearly Jaclyn Parrish Foundation scholarship at the University of Georgia (UGA) to send a high school graduate to college who has been impacted in some way by domestic violence (parent was a victim of domestic violence or sibling, etc.).
- One in Marietta or Atlanta, GA: 5K route to be determined. Everybody eats ATL farmers market involved. Benefit concert at local venue.
- One in Florida in honor of our last visit: 5K race route to be established in the Eau Gallie Arts District, the last area I spent time with her in. Beach yoga in Indian Harbor Beach or Satellite Beach. Local non-profits will come out with resources for domestic violence, substance use disorders, trauma resources and functional medicine. An auction or benefit concert will be held in the Eau Gallie arts district.
The Jaclyn Parrish Foundation's "Functional Sisters" non-profit will be most active in January, April, September and October honoring Jaclyn's birthday, the date of her death, Murder Victim Remembrance Day, Domestic Violence Awareness Month AND National Substance Use Awareness Month.
To have a truly functional community, we must collectively tackle substance use disorders and domestic violence.
Other important dates and facts:
Murder Victim Remembrance Day is every September 25. On this day and every day, I honor Jaclyn Parrish.
September 25 was designated by Congress 15 years ago as the National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims.
To close, I very specifically offer up 11 beautiful things I will always remember about my big sister, followed by 11 facts about domestic violence to raise awareness.
1. JACLYN had a beautiful heart that loved big and cared deeply for others, especially those less fortunate.
FACT: Domestic/dating violence is a pattern of controlling behaviors that one partner uses to get power over the other. Including physical violence or threat of physical violence to get control, emotional or mental abuse and sexual abuse.
2. JACLYN was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen in real life.
FACT: 85% of domestic violence victims are women.
3. JACLYN had an infectious laugh that caught on like wildfire.
FACT: 1/4 of women worldwide will experience domestic/dating violence in their lifetime. Women between the ages of 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.
4. JACLYN wanted to change the world and ensure that Austin and other communities around the country had affordable and sustainable access to organic, healthy food.
FACT: Domestic violence is most likely to take place between 6 PM and 6 AM.
5. JACLYN and I had a very divided love for SEC college football. My heart belongs to the Florida Gators, but she will forever be a Georgia Bulldog. Every time her team scores, she will be right there cheering.
FACT: The costs of domestic violence amount to more than $37 billion a year in law enforcement involvement, legal work, medical and mental health treatment, and lost productivity at companies.
6. JACLYN was a motivator. She made her friends and family want to be better. Even if she was struggling herself, she wanted what was best for others.
FACT: As many as 324,000 women each year experience intimate partner violence during their pregnancy.
7. JACLYN wasn’t perfect and she’d admit it, but what she lacked in perfection she made up for in effort towards change. Every day she woke up hopeful and she did her best to overcome every obstacle that was in her way.
FACT: Boys who witness domestic violence are 2 times as likely to abuse their partners and children when they become adults.
8. JACLYN loved music and dancing no matter who was watching. Her spirit still dances around us all daily.
FACT: Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women – more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.
9. JACLYN volunteered her time to fight for what she believed in. She believed in the little guys, those who had less through no fault of their own, and she wanted everyone to have an equal opportunity to better their situation.
FACT: 1/2 of all homeless women and children in the U.S. are fleeing from domestic violence.
10. JACLYN was grateful and hopeful for a future. A future that was taken from her cruelly and unfairly. We will not see justice for this, and instead, have to use her guiding principles to heal the best we can and help others.
FACT: Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten.
11. JACLYN was a good person. She deserved better than this. She deserved to watch her nephews grow up, she deserved to become a mom and have me spoil her kids and hand them back to her a mess. She deserved love. Pure, healthy, unconditional love. A love I know she can now feel where she is, and that helps me.
FACT: In 60% to 80% of intimate partner homicides, no matter which partner was killed, the man physically abused the woman before the murder.
If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates.
Today and every day, remember Jaclyn. I love you, Sissy.
Thank you for your generous support of these thought-starter ideas and our forthcoming non-profit foundation.
We appreciate you all!
Jenn Parrish Sugarman
References:
Siemieniuk, R. A. C.; Krentz, H. B.; Gish, J. A.; Gill, M. J. (2010). "Domestic Violence Screening: Prevalence and Outcomes in a Canadian HIV Population". AIDS Patient Care and STDs 24 (12): 763–770. doi:10.1089/apc.2010.0235. PMID 21138382. .
Crime Data Brief. "Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001". Bureau of Justice Statistics.
SafeHorizon. "Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts." Accessed March 4, 2015.
SafeHorizon. "Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts." Accessed March 4, 2015.
SafeHorizion. "Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts." Accessed March 4, 2015.
Partnership Against Domestic Violence. "Statistics on Domestic Violence." Accessed March 4, 2015.
Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence. "Impact on Children." Accessed March 4, 2015.
Cook, Philip W.. "Appendix." In Abused men: the hidden side of domestic violence. 2nd ed. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2009. 198.
American Civil Liberties Union. "Domestic Violence and Homelessness." Women's Rights Project. Accessed March 1, 2014, https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/FilesPDFs/housing%20paper.4.pdf.
American Medical Association, 1998, Georgia Department of Human Resources, 1999. Accessed March 1, 2014.
Campbell, Jacquelyn, Webster, Daniel, et al. "Assessing Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Homicide." NIJ Journal: Issue No. 250. Accessed March 4, 2015.
Organizer
Jennifer Sugarman
Organizer
Melbourne, FL