A perfect anthem for 2020 would be Bon Jovi‘s “Livin’ on a prayer“. It’s a timeless, iconic piece of eighties rock and roll that we all love to sing our hearts to. And the man responsible for it is John Francis Bongiovi Jr.
Long hair, bright colored leathers, make up, and all.
Behind a great man is a wonderful woman.
Dorothea Hurley was Jon’s high school sweetheart and today, his wife. And it’s important to note that he’s still with her. He did live the rock and roll lifestyle. And where most front men had all the women, Mr. Bon Jovi stayed with Dorothea.
He really was shot through the heart with Ms. Hurley. Sorry, just had to.
Four decades strong!
And counting. This husband and wife open up about their 31 years of marriage and their life together. From a life of glamour and fame to opening the JBJ Soul Foundation, Jon and Dorothea have changed the way people see a rock icon.
Jon and Dorothea started the fight against poverty back in 2006 with their non-profit foundation.
He used to own an Arena football team. It was during that time in 2006 that he started handing out to the less fortunate. It was a little bit here and there as he explained. Until one night when he saw a homeless man through the window of his hotel room.
“It didn’t matter if you were young or old, black or white, Eagle fan or Giants fan. This could affect anyone at anytime.”
It was a nun named Sister Mary Scullion who mentored the rockstar. Together, they’ve built around a thousand units of affordable housing for people from all walks of life. Everyone is welcome.
Partnering with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his sister, Jon and Dorothea put up housing for homeless veterans as well.
The fight against hunger.
In 2011, the Soul Kitchen was opened in Red Bank, New Jersey. It was Dorothea’s idea.
“Some people come and they volunteer for their meals and other people come in and pay. And we ask that they pay a little extra to cover the cost of the in-need diner.”
They serve nutritious dishes in a restaurant atmosphere. The foundation has provided thousands of meals so if you ever find yourself in the area, you may volunteer or leave a donation. Spread the love.
Not even the pandemic could stop them.
This was the time when people needed the Soul Foundation more than ever. With social distancing in place, Jon and Dorothea didn’t want to risk anyone’s health so they stopped having volunteers. All meals were strictly to go.
And who stepped up to wash the dishes? The man wanted: dead or alive himself. Jon has a golden heart.
Unbeknownst to Jon, Dorothea took a picture of him doing the dishes. It was posted on Instagram with the caption, “If you can’t do what you do… do what you can!”
The artist in him took over and turned it into a song. It’s in the new album aptly named 2020. And yes, it’s worth listening to.
In May, Jon and Dorothea opened another food bank in Long Island.
They found out that there was a huge demand for a food bank. The closest one was over 2 hours away and only delivered once a month. A lot of people were hit hard during the pandemic so they stepped up.
They had everything delivered and it took a lot of work. Imagine all those boxes and stocks needed to be moved. Trucks were to be loaded and unloaded and with such a huge floor area, it was quite the challenge. But they pulled it off.
Jon and Dorothea have never let anyone down.
They are perfect for each other. Jon narrates,
“I was immediately, you know, drawn to her from the minute I saw her and that never changed.”
To which Dorothea replied,
“He’s cute! I’m shallow I admit it.”
A model couple with 4 amazing children.
They never fell into the typical ending of most celebrity couples. Jon was aware of his status as a musician but he always chose his wife and family at the end of the day. They still see themselves as normal people. Humility can be very rewarding.
The pandemic allowed the family to spend more time together. No traveling, touring, no records. Just mom, dad, and the kids.
Dorothea says the focus has always been the family. Hers and others. They both care about people and when they see injustice or suffering, these two don’t hesitate to help. Jon and Dorothea aligned their morals and views, and together they’ve made it all work out for the good of others.
Watch this inspiring couple in the video below!
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