Paying it Forward
By: Madonna Hancock

Most people are introduced to the Grief & Loss Center as a result of the personal loss of a loved one. I was introduced to the Center through a friend who invited me to the Celebrate Hope After Loss annual fundraising dinner, in support of those who had experienced the loss of a loved one. I attended the dinner and auction, felt it was a good cause and attended again the next year.

After the second dinner, my friend asked me if I was interested in possibly serving on the Grief & Loss Center Board of Directors, made up of volunteers who serve three-year terms. I had no experience with being on a non-profit board.  My career in the insurance industry had been supervising staff, then working in a legal bill review unit. My previous charity work was with the Girl Scouts and the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament. Now, I can add board member of the Grief and Loss Center to my list. 

Losing loved ones has been my experience for several years now. I've lost my grandparents and remember helping care for my grandmother in the later stages of her life as she transitioned from assisted living to a nursing home back in the 1990s. My ex-husband died suddenly 15 years ago. A boyfriend died 6 years ago. So, loss and grief is indeed familiar to me. I know how important it is to have loving people who support you as you navigate the journey of grief.

Thankfully, I still have my parents. At 87, my mother has been bed-ridden for almost 10 years and at age 91, my father was her main caretaker until I stepped in three years ago when I retired. I see my work with the Center as “paying it forward” for my future grief when I eventually lose them. 

My three years serving on the GLC Board has been primarily an administrative role – tasks I could to do to help get things done, such as organizing lists for fundraising initiatives, mailings to donors and clients, recruiting people to donate items for the annual auction and picking up donated items. Since most of my time is now spent taking care of my parents, I appreciate the flexibility to do as much as I can from home.   

Serving on the Grief & Loss Center Board and working with many amazing people has provided a valuable learning experience for me. I continue to support the Grief and Loss Center because it provides life-changing services unique to the DFW area. While I have not personally participated in a support group, I have recommended several people to Laurie Taylor and the Center because I know they have a mothers’ group for those who have lost children and groups for those who have had violent deaths in their family.  

A dear friend lost her son in a motorcycle accident.  During a visit when she came to share about her son and cry together over her loss, I asked her about finding some grief support (and was going to suggest the Grief & Loss Center). It turns out a counselor she was seeing in McKinney had already told her that the only place she felt my friend could get help was our Center. It makes me so happy to know that professional counselors recognize the outstanding work the Center does and proactively refers their clients during a time of grief and loss. 

The Grief & Loss Center could not exist without many volunteers who pay it forward by donating their time and resources, so grievers have a safe and loving place to share their stories and find glimmers of hope.