The ViRAGO Award

In 2014, the GINA for Missing Persons FOUNDation determined that a yearly award should be given to those artists whose contributions most help to spotlight the missing during the year. The GINA ViRAGO Award is named after the first recipients and inspiration for the award, Maire Tashjian and Amy Schindler of ViRAGO. We looked up the meanings of ViRAGO, and there are many. The definition of ViRAGO that describes Amy and Maire is, A person or persons of extraordinary stature, strength and courage. Amy and Maire reached out across 3,000 miles to lend their support to a woman and a mission they had just learned of. They were so moved that they joined her to reach communities beyond all of them. They understood that every missing person was valuable and they created their own mission to create awareness through media, musicians and fundraising events in New Jersey.  They don't know it, but with their contribution and the support of the good people of New Jersey, lives of the missing and their families were changed throughout this country. Families that never had support in the past were heard for the first time, healed and newly inspired to create the kind of difference that Amy and Maire made. We love you so much, Maire and Amy! You inspire us all with your extraordinary stature, strength and courage and are pleased to offer this Award in your name.