New Roles for VTV Board Members in 2022
Updated 10/17/2025 by Jennifer Herbstritt
In March of 2022, Joe Samaha stepped down after almost 13 years as Board President of VTV Family Outreach Foundation, and transitioned into the role of Director of Victim Advocacy and Outreach.
Since accepting this new position, Joe and VTV have strongly advocated for the creation of Mass Violence Care Funds (MVCFs) in Virginia, Maine, and New Jersey, and with the support of Victims First (www.victimsfirst.org) in Texas, Arkansas and Kansas.
VTV championed the first in the nation establishment of the Virginia Mass Violence Care Fund, a $10 million endowment to support victims of Virginia Beach and other Virginia mass shootings that followed in 2022. As well, we encouraged legislative models such as the $5 million Lewiston Mass Violence Care Fund proposed by Maine Governor Janet Mills in January 2024 (Alanez, 2024).
Throughout the years, VTV has supported survivors of more than one dozen mass violence incidents, including the Pulse Nightclub Shooting (Orlando, FL), Route 91 Harvest Festival (Las Vegas, NV), Highland Park Parade (Chicago, IL), Virginia Beach Municipal Building #2 (Virginia Beach, VA), Aurora Theater Shooting (Aurora, CO), Sacramento Shooting (Sacramento, California), and Columbine High School Shooting (Columbine, CO). Through VTVCare and with Joe’s new role, we aim to continue to serve our communities and society by providing long-term support and financial assistance to mass gun violence survivors nationwide.
Leadership of VTV Family Outreach Foundation is presently co-chaired by Jennifer Herbstritt and Jody McQuade, who have both served many years on the board and have been dedicated advocates of VTV’s mission and programs. Along with our Vice President, Deac Michelsohn, and Secretary, Crissy Raymond, our leadership team is fully committed to fulfilling VTV’s mission and meeting the long-term, trauma-related care needs of survivors so that no one is left to endure the ramifications of mass gun violence alone.