JASON JOLKOWSKI - 19 yo (2001) - Omaha NE

Today marks nine years since the disappearance of an Omaha,
Nebraska teen and his family hopes an age progression photo and revised
poster will help lead to his whereabouts.
Jason
Jolkowski was 19 years old when he vanished during an
eight-block walk from his home to Benson High School on the morning of
June 13, 2001. His credit cards, bank account, and cell phone were left
untouched, his car was in the repair shop and his last paycheck was
still at his place of work.
It is unlikely Jason ran away, as he was excited about a new job and
was close to his family. Unfortunately, there are still no clues as to
what happened.
One in six missing persons is found as a result of a visual, so there
is hope that an age progression created by the National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children will help in
Jason's case.


"We are sure that someone, somewhere, knows something that could
bring our family the answers we desperately need," said Kelly
Jolkowski, Jason's mother and the founder of the nonprofit
group, Project Jason, which has
since helped thousands of other families with missing loved ones.
"Enough time has now passed that perhaps someone will remember
something, or someone will decide to do the right thing," Jolkowski
continued. "It can be an anonymous call to the tip line – we don't care
how the information comes in. Just please help us by coming forward with
what you know."
Kelly Jolkowski was recently the recipient of the U.S. Justice
Department's 2010 Volunteer for Victims Award for her work helping other
families of the missing
There is a reward offered for information that leads to finding
Jason. If you have any information, no matter how small you think it is,
call the Omaha Police Department at (402) 444-5818/ You can also place
an anonymously call to Omaha CrimeStoppers at 402-444-STOP or to the
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST
(1-800-843-5678), 24-hours a day.

Partly out of frustration, mostly out of empathy, Jim and Kelly Jolkowski began Project Jason, with the hopes of keeping their son’s story alive and helping other families.


“We’ve accomplished a lot,” said Kelly. “We’ve helped
pass laws in eight or more states which have successfully helped find
missing people and help law enforcement there.” She spoke with Channel 6
News at Sempek Lanes in Elkhorn Sunday, during a fundraiser for Project
Jason.“We’ve established the only
retreat in the country and maybe in the world where families of both
missing children and adults can attend and they can learn coping skills,
how do I get by day-to-day in this horrible mystery that just
unfortunately doesn’t go away?”


And it hasn’t gone away for the
Jolkowski’s. Their son disappeared at the age of 19, last seen the
morning of June 13, 2001, bringing trash cans in from the curb of his
home near 48th and Bedford.


Jason had been called in to work early, his mother
said, but had no way to get there since his car was in the shop. “They
offered to send one of the co-workers to pick him up. They agreed to
meet at Benson high school which is seven blocks from our home.”


But Jason never made it to Benson, according to
school surveillance cameras. He hasn’t used his cell phone or accessed
his bank account since before he went missing. There were no signs he
planned to leave, yet no proof he was forcibly taken.


“There’s usually some sort of lead or theories or clues that lead them somewhere, but in our case, there just simply isn’t.”


Time has passed slowly for the Jolkowski’s, but the
lack of answers hasn’t stopped their search. “And we know that someday
we will know, we just don’t know if it was on this earthly plane or
someone else,” Kelly said.


She’s confident somebody has information that will
solve the mystery. “We keep going out there and keep the word out to
find that person or persons and to ask them please, go to the police,
you can go anonymously through 444-7867, and give them the information
that will unravel this mystery.” Those calls, she stresses, can remain
anonymous.


It’s not closure the Jolkowski’s are seeking. "No
matter what happens, it's not a closed door. So we simply want answers
as to what happened. And even if those answers are hard to take, it's
better than no answers."


Still, the family is holding out hope their son may
be alive. He would be 30-years-old on June 24th. "Hope is our right
and we will hold onto that right until we know the truth."


Meantime, no matter what happens with their son’s
case, she said their work on behalf of other missing adults and
children, in Jason’s name, will continue. “Everyone is loved and is
somebody's child, and all these families deserve answers.”
http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/No_Answers_10_Years_Later_123725644.html

A Nebraska woman whose son went missing in 2001 is now being honored
for helping other families that have lived through similar nightmares.


Gov. Dave Heineman (R) has named Kelly Jolkowski, founder of the Omaha-based Project Jason, this year's recipient of the Nebraska Governor's Points of Light Award.


The award was presented by Heineman on Wednesday during an award ceremony at the state capitol in Lincoln.


The Governor's Points of Light Awards are presented quarterly in
recognition of volunteers who "give their time, talent and energy to
help Nebraskans build stronger communities." The awards are sponsored in
part by Woodmen of the World.


"It's a privilege to be able to serve these families in what may be
their darkest hours," Jolkowski told The Huffington Post.
"Unfortunately, I have firsthand knowledge in what they're feeling and
experiencing since my son has been missing for more than 10 years."


Jolkowski's son, Jason, was 19 years old when he disappeared on June 13, 2001.


According to his mother, Jason, an employee at a restaurant in Omaha,
received a call from his boss that morning and was asked to come in
early. Jason's car was in the shop so he arranged to meet a coworker at
Benson High School, only seven blocks from his home. It's believed that
Jason got dressed in his work uniform and then set off for the school.
Somewhere along the way Jason vanished without a trace.


Jason Jolkowski has been missing since June 2001.



As the days passed with no word, Jolkowski had trouble finding a
source of advice or comfort -- partly because Jason's age meant he was
classified as a missing adult rather than a missing child.


Rather than sit and wait for news, Jolkowski convinced Nebraska lawmakers to pass Jason's Law,
a measure that created a state repository of information on missing
persons. Jolkowski also decided to start Project Jason to assist the
families of missing adults and children.


In addition to helping families better understand the search process,
Project Jason also offers resources such as free online counseling,
bimonthly poster campaigns and organization for grassroots efforts to
pass missing-persons legislation.


"I may not be able to find my son, but perhaps some guidance I
provide to [others in the same situation] will help bring their loved
one home," Jolkowski said. "Even if that doesn't happen, I can help them
understand that they will be able gain coping skills and can have hope
for a resolution."


Since Project Jason was founded in October 2003, it has helped thousands of families around the country,
including more than 100 in Nebraska, with tactical and emotional
support to better the chances of finding their loved ones alive. The
organization has distributed more than 5,000 family identification kits
and hosts the world's only coping skills retreat for families of both
missing adults and children.


In 2010, Jolkowski received unprecedented national recognition for
her efforts when U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder presented her with
his Volunteer for Victims award at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C.


"We don't always get the answers we want, but those who live with
ambiguous loss -- loss without an answer -- need and deserve to know
what has happened to their loved one," Jolkowski said.


For more information about Project Jason's objectives, activities and services, visit projectjason.org.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/17/jason-jolkowski-kelly-jolkowski_n_1099529.html