Meet Our Founder
Dr. Jeff Brodsky
Founder and President
JOY International
In 1979, Jeff Brodsky traveled the world as a goodwill ambassador for the disaster relief organization, Food for the Hungry, dressed as his beloved character Snuggles, The Love Clown. It was during this time that he had the privilege of being invited by Mother Teresa to share his special and unique gift of joy at The Home for Children and Home for the Destitute and Dying in Calcutta, India. Jeff saw first-hand Mother Teresa’s care for the poor, which had a major impact on his life.
During his visits to hospitals, orphanages, and children’s homes around the globe, he became overwhelmed with the needs of children. In 1981, he launched the ministry of JOY International with the idea of establishing children’s homes in places around the world where he found the neediest of children. During those early years, JOY International helped establish ministries and homes for children, as well as working with established ministries in India, Cambodia, China, Russia, Romania, Brazil, Ecuador, Belize, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Venezuela, and Fiji.
In the 1990s, Dr. Jeff’s eyes were opened to a burgeoning evil against children, an evil that is an abusive exploitation of the world’s most innocent and vulnerable. This atrocity radically refocused his heart and the vision of JOY International. It has quickly become a global 150-billion-dollar industry: Human Trafficking, which is now the fastest-growing crime in the world today.
In the early years of JOY International’s fight against child trafficking, Dr. Brodsky would personally go undercover on covert rescue operations to help bring children to freedom. After years of struggling against corruption, Dr. Brodsky shifted his approach by offering training and support to collaboratively work with existing police and task forces fighting trafficking. Through this shift in strategy, JOY International began training international police teams and human trafficking task forces which has resulted in over 3,000 rescues. In 2005, Jeff received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Promise Christian University in Pasadena, CA. This was earned through more than 24 years of service and humanitarian efforts around the world.
Over the past 43 years under Dr. Jeff Brodsky’s visionary leadership, JOY International has evolved into a multifaceted organization with global reach. JOY International currently works to comprehensively fight child trafficking through programs that address four crucial pillars: prevention, freedom, healing, and empowerment.
Currently, Dr. Brodsky continues to serve as Founder and President of JOY International. He is a best-selling author and sought-after speaker and educator, inspiring audiences around the globe to join the fight against human trafficking and stand in solidarity with those who have been exploited. His compassionate leadership and tireless advocacy serve as a beacon of hope in the quest for a world free from injustice.
Dr. Jeff lives in the magnificent Rocky Mountains of Colorado with his beautiful wife Gail. They are about to celebrate their 50th Anniversary together. They have 3 children and 8 grandchildren.