Since he joined the cast of “Survivor 48” earlier this year, series finalist Joe Hunter has proven time and time again that he’s no stranger to facing life’s challenges head on.
Whether he’s competing for Individual Immunity wins on the long-running CBS competition series, or racing into burning buildings as a celebrated fire captain in his hometown of Sacremento, California, Hunter has shown that he’s got what it takes to not only outwit, outplay and outlast, but also the ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable tragedies to build something new.
Joe Hunter Honors Late Sister with New Domestic Violence Bill
The latest example of Hunter’s resilience and determination came on Monday (August 25), when the fire captain was honored in both the California Senate and by the city of Sacremento for his bravery and allyship on “Survivor,” his service to the capital city as a firefighter, and his continued commitment to advocating for victims of domestic violence and their families.
More specifically, Hunter was honored for his role in passing California Senate Bill 989, also known as Joanna’s Law. The new piece of legislation was named in memory of Hunter’s late sister, who tragically passed away in 2011.Though the Hunter family and domestic violence experts lobbied for law enforcement to look further into critical evidence surrounding Joanna’s passing, the case was quickly closed and ruled as a suicide.
In the years that followed, Joe dedicated himself to the fight for justice, not only for his late sister, but also for future victims of domestic violence. Crafted in partnership with California Senator Angelique Ashby, Joanna’s Law provides law enforcement investigators and families of domestic violence victims with the means to properly identify domestic violence-based deaths.
“After losing his beloved sister, [Hunter] made a choice: a choice to turn unimaginable grief into purpose,” said Isabel Gatdula, a represenative from Sen. Ashby’s office on Monday. “He became a voice for families across California who felt silenced by flawed investigations. His courage to testify and relive personal pain and fight for justice will save countless lives.”
According to the Alliance for HOPE International, Joanna’s Law is the first piece of legislation of its kind in the country.
Hunter’s Friends and Family Praise His Commitment to Community Service
The ceremony in Hunter’s honor was similarly attended by Sacremento Mayor Kevin McCarty, and Fire Chief Chris Costamagna as well as his family members, including his wife Kayte Christensen, his mother Patricia Hunter, and his children Joseph and Jayde, and his fellow firefighters, who the “Survivor” star referred to as his second family.
During the ceremony, Hunter’s loved ones opened up about his hardworking, driven and compassionate mindset, arguing that the man fans saw on “Survivor,” is as true to life as reality stars come.
“His whole career is about serving his community and serving others,” said Christensen. “And so for us, it was just really wonderful to see him in the light, because we know it, but everyone got to see why we think he’s so special.”
Hunter’s wife referred specifically to her husband’s on-screen relationship with fellow “Survivor 48” finalist Eva Erickson, the show’s first openly autistic castaway. Not only did the duo’s alliance buy both of them seats at the season’s final Tribal Council ceremony, but also resulted in one of the most powerful and moving moments in “Survivor” history as Hunter blurred tribal lines to comfort Erickson after she broke down after a particularly trying challenge.
CBS/Getty“You realize the scope of what you can do when you’re kind and when you treat people with respect and dignity,” said Hunter in an interview commenting on the lasting effect of the moment that brought “Survivor” host Jeff Probst to tears for the first time in series history. “It’s amazing how powerful that can be and the distance that can go.”
Joe Hunter will make his triumphant return to the CBS competition series on the all-star cast of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” next February.
