Joni & Friends

A Benevolence Highlight

According to the non-profit organization Joni & Friends, nearly 1 billion people worldwide live with disabilities. Many of these individuals (and their families) live without hope. The vision of Joni & Friends is “a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ.”

Who is Joni?

Joni Eareckson Tada was born on October 15, 1949. She lived an active life until a diving accident at age 17 left her quadriplegic (paralyzed from the collarbone down). Joni survived, but wondered how she could live the rest of her life unable to do the things she loved.

During her first week of occupational therapy, Joni’s OT asked her to practice writing and drawing – with her mouth. Joni didn’t like the idea at first but eventually gave it a try. She mustered her strength and ended up drawing a horse (her favorite subject) while holding the pen in her mouth. The encouragement from her OT offered a glimpse of hope – she thought, “I can actually do something—the talent isn’t in my hands; it’s in my head!”

In 1974, seven years after her diving accident, Joni shared her story on The Today Show, garnering national attention. Within the next few years, Joni released an autobiography, which has since become an international best-seller and feature film (Joni stars in the movie as herself!). Because of this publicity, Joni started getting letters from people around the world, inspired by her tenacity and hope. 

Joni & Friends

Joni and Friends began around Joni’s dining room table, with a few friends and family members helping to answer all the mail. She was encouraged to start a non-profit, and the organization “opened its doors” in 1979 with a small office in California. 

In 1982, Joni launched her own radio program to promote biblical insights and disability awareness. In the years following, President Ronald Reagan appointed her to the National Council on Disability, where she advocated for the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 1990, she attended the ceremony when President Bush signed the bill into law.

Joni & Friends started several programs in the 90s, including Family Retreats and Wheels for the World. Family Retreats offers a fun, enjoyable camp atmosphere for families affected by disability; the first retreat was held in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Wheels for the World focuses on sharing the Gospel and providing mobility to individuals with disabilities in developing countries. The first wheelchair was sent to Ghana, West Africa. In 2014, the one-hundred thousandth (100,000) wheelchair was delivered through the Wheels for the World program.

In 1997, Joni & Friends expanded its headquarters and moved to a new International Disability Center in Agoura Hills, California, where they still operate today. Their mission is to live out the calling of Jesus in Luke 14: “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame … Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.” (Luke 14: 21, 23, NIV). Joni & Friends has delivered over 111,000 Bibles, 213,000 wheelchairs, and served over 64,000 special needs family members worldwide at Retreats and Getaways. Their mission to provide mobility, hope, and dignity shines brightly through their actions! We are honored to support their work.  And what about Joni? She’s still serving the Lord with all her heart. In 2017, she celebrated 50 years of God’s faithfulness to her in her wheelchair. 🙂 

About The Benevolence Committee

The Benevolence Committee exists to amplify and uphold our “Benevolence” core value and serve as a bridge between employee-owners and the charities we regularly support. Joni & Friends is one such organization. Look for upcoming events on the Dashboard and contact the committee with any questions or comments via benevolence@nussbaum.com.