Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, have long been involved in charitable efforts, using their platform to support numerous causes.
One of their most significant contributions is to Project HOME, an organization dedicated to helping homeless individuals and families in Philadelphia. Founded in 1989 by Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson McConnon, Project HOME focuses on providing housing, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, with the aim of ending homelessness in the city.
The 35th Anniversary Gala held on May 1, 2024, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, celebrated the outstanding work of the organization’s co-founders. The event also honored Phillies Charities and recognized their efforts in supporting the community. The Golden Heart Award, presented to Joan Dawson McConnon and Sister Mary Scullion, is a testament to their lifelong dedication to social justice and providing a pathway out of homelessness for countless individuals.
Jon Bon Jovi’s involvement with Project HOME stems from his deep commitment to social issues, which aligns with his philanthropic endeavors through the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. This foundation, established in 2006, is dedicated to alleviating homelessness and providing support to underserved communities across the United States. Through their joint efforts, both Jon and Dorothea have become leading figures in charitable work, demonstrating the power of celebrity influence in driving positive social change.
The anniversary gala not only celebrated the success of Project HOME but also highlighted the importance of collaboration between community leaders, organizations, and individuals in creating lasting solutions to homelessness.
Rockstar Bon Jovi shares insights on making a relationship last as he and wife mark 35th anniversary
Legendary rockstar Jon Bon Jovi shares his secret to making a relationship last as he and his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary this year.
The rockstar told the UK’s Independent that he and his wife have persevered through their 35-year marriage because they deeply admire each other and have known each other since they were young, weathering ‘issues and mistakes’ along the way.
“These are all the wonderful clichés of rock stardom,” he said. “It’s about never lying about having been a saint, but not being a fool enough to f**k up the home life, either.”
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In his Hulu series “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” released in April, he discusses their spontaneous wedding in the late ’80s while they were in Los Angeles for the New Jersey tour.
They decided to elope to Las Vegas on a whim during a night off.
“I said, ‘I need a higher high—I got an idea. Let’s go to Vegas now.’ And she said, ‘Now?’ I said, ‘Now.’”
Their taxi driver served as their witness, surprising many of their loved ones with the sudden marriage.
He shared that their sudden wedding surprised many people, including their close circle.
Fans were upset about the marriage. When he returned from Vegas, his manager, and the record company were unhappy, seeing it as a bad career move.
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On the other hand, here’s one of Jon Bon Jovi’s secrets to making a relationship last:
The rockstar explained, “After we did it, people were trying to take it away, until I stood up and went, ‘Wait a minute, why are we living our life for anyone else?’ And 35 years later, we’re still married.”
In 1992, Jon released the single “Bed of Roses,” which depicts his regret for the wild experiences he had while on tour, and ABC’s Michael Strahan delved deeper into it during his interview for his 2024 documentary.
Michael inquired about marrying young and the pressures of being a “sex symbol.”
“I got away with murder,” the rockstar answered.
Emphasizing his rockstar status, he acknowledged having many relationships and said “I’m Jon Bon Jovi. It was pretty good!”
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Jon emphasized that he never put his relationship with Dorothea at risk.
He questioned the sense of jeopardizing what’s important for the sake of selfish desires, realizing it’s not worth it.
Jon and Dorothea welcomed their first child, Stephanie Rose, on May 31, 1993.
Stephanie even joined her dad on stage at 7 years old to perform a song he wrote for her, “I Got The Girl.”
Their son, Jesse James Louis, arrived on February 19, 1995.
Jesse later collaborated with Jon to launch the wine label Hampton Water in 2018.
Their third son, Jacob “Jake” Hurley, was born on May 7, 2002. He is now married to Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown.
Jon almost missed Jake’s birth because fans found his hotel phone number, which caused him to turn it off.
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However, he rushed back in time for the delivery, taking a private plane, after his tour manager woke him up with the news.
Two years later, their fourth child, Romeo Jon, was born on March 29, 2004.
Jon recently shared that the true understanding of love comes after having a child, surpassing even the love felt in youth or marriage.
The lead singer of Bon Jovi consistently praises his wife for her enduring support. Despite his imperfections and missed family moments, she’s stood by him.
After being together for over four decades, Jon mentioned another important aspect of making a relationship last: “mutual respect.”
“Having grown up together and grown together. And we really like each other. We want to hang out,” he explained.
Their love story remains beloved by fans.
He recently shared a heartfelt Instagram post on one of their wedding anniversaries, featuring a photo from their Las Vegas wedding and a video clip of them hugging.
“If I got one thing right back in high school, it was falling in love with this girl. Happy 32nd anniversary, baby,” he captioned.
They celebrated their 35th anniversary on April 29.
Watch Jon Bon Jovi answers questions about making a relationship last via Good Morning America:
