2021 -- H 6292

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LC002806

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF SIMONE PATRICIA

JOYAUX, ACFRE

     Introduced By: Representatives Ruggiero, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Ajello, Carson,
Kislak, Cortvriend, Potter, Baginski, and Alzate

     Date Introduced: May 04, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Simone P.

Joyaux, the beloved wife of Thomas Ahern, and an international fundraiser extraordinaire and

social justice activist; and

     WHEREAS, Born in Michigan, Ms. Joyaux was the daughter of the late Jane Peckham

Joyaux and Georges Jules Joyaux, and the sister of Alain, Nicole, Philippe, Paul, and Andree. She

was greatly influenced by her father who was French and had immigrated to the United States as

an adult after World War II. She and her husband maintained a home in France. At the age of

nine, she had decided to teach French and English in middle school and in pursuit of her goal,

received a Master of Arts degree in 20th century French and American Comparative Literature

from Michigan State University; and

     WHEREAS, Changing her teaching focus, Ms. Joyaux continued her education and

received additional qualifications including the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)

credential from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in 1984, the Advanced

Certified Fund Raising Executive (ACFRE) in 1994, an International Advanced Diploma in

Fundraising (IADF) in 2013, and a Certificate in Philanthropic Psychology; and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Joyaux began her career in the nonprofit sector in 1975, serving as the

Executive Director of an arts center and arts council in Lansing, Michigan. From 1981 to 1988,

she was chief development officer for Trinity Repertory Company in Rhode Island, and in 1988,

launched her fulltime consultancy, Joyaux Associates. In addition, she founded two organizations

as a volunteer, from 1999 through 2001, she was chair of the board of CFRE International, and in

2000, founded the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, a social justice organization; and

     WHEREAS, Known around the world for her fundraising and philanthropic endeavors,

and social justice advocacy, Ms. Joyaux had chaired the advisory board of the Centre for

Sustainable Philanthropy at Plymouth University, was honored in 2019 as an AFP Distinguished

Fellow, and had authored three books and contributed to several others that are considered to be

timeless guides in the field; and

     WHEREAS, Simone Joyaux was a mentor, teacher, volunteer, leader, and friend, whose

gifts of time, wisdom, and expertise had a positive influence and changed the nonprofit sector and

the lives of generations of people, and she will be dearly missed; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

extends its deepest sympathies on the loss Simone P. Joyaux; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Thomas Ahern and Family.

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