Joel Bacon

Joel, JoAnn and Guy Bacon are the parents and brother of Charlotte Bacon who died from the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Charlotte was just 6 years old but left a bold impression on everyone she met. The Bacon family have founded and developed a number of projects to honor their spirited Charlotte, share her joy and beauty, and advocate for what has helped them most as they grieve.

To honor their daughter, the Bacons, with the help of award winning author, Renata Bowers, published the children's book GOOD DOGS, GREAT LISTENERS - THE STORY OF CHARLOTTE, LILY, AND THE LITTER. The book, illustrated by Michael Chesworth, illustrates the strong bond between Charlotte and her dog Lily.

The power of a dogs positive influence is a common theme in all of the Bacon Family's initiatives. Their son, Guy Bacon, authored his own book, THE DOGS OF NEWTOWN, at the young age of 11 years old. Guy, with photography by Mary Bloom, shares the story of the therapy dogs that visited his school after the shooting. Guy was so strongly supported by these dogs that he was inspired to pay tribute to them. In conjunction with the books, the Bacon family founded the non-profit Charlotte's Litter Program which strives to advocate for the use of therapy dogs in educational settings. The books can stand alone but are also used as tools for the Charlotte's Litter Program. Charlotte Bacon's bold story, the things she loved, and the Bacon family's own grief process have contributed to a brand that is unique to this family.

The Bacon family live in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. They will always be a family of four.