Pillar of Hope 2021 Awardee

We are thrilled to announce the recipient of this year's pillar of hope award, Jay Henry. Each year the Rape Recovery Center honors an organization or individual in our community with the "Pillar of Hope" award for their work in moving forward our mission to end sexual violence in Utah.

 Jay Henry is the former  director at the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services, state crime lab. Among a plethora of nominations Jay stood out for his efforts to push testing for all sexual assault kits. Aiding in the research process and reaching out to secure funding to test previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits, Jay was pushing right alongside the fight.  Jay traveled throughout Utah talking to law enforcement personally to get them to submit their kits, becoming a quiet force who made monumental changes. Jay worked tirelessly in getting kits submitted, applying for funding to update crime lab equipment, working with legislators to increase crime lab funding to pay for kit testing, establishing the kit tracking system, and writing grants. 

Jay joins a long list of advocates who have also been recognized for their work for survivors including; Representative Angela Romero, Jennifer Seelig, Deondra Brown, Chief Lee Russo, Dr. Julie Valentine, Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources, Centro de la Familia de Utah, and Ashley Love.