Don’t get me wrong, for every client there is an amazing story to tell about how or why they connected to the nonprofit they chose. This is Gwen’s story – a story about a client who discovered a father making a $20 monthly payment on the funeral costs for his little girl – and her decision to help.
Gwen S. sold and purchased a home using Give Realty last year. She is one of the most amazing, funny, independent and beautifully spirited people I know. She’s no stranger to doing good – she’s been part of the nonprofit world for years, both as an employee and a volunteer.
When we started talking about where the $2,100 would be donated from her home sale and purchase, she told me she wanted to start a fund for Funeral Services and Bereavement Counseling through her employer, Any Baby Can, a nonprofit which provides case management for families with children who have serious illnesses. As Gwen was doing her administrative work one day, she noticed a father had put a $20 down payment on his little girl’s $2000 funeral costs – a funeral the family had to finance because they didn’t have insurance or the money to pay for it. Imagine…writing a check every month for the indefinite future to pay for the burial of your child. Sadly, Gwen found there were two more clients nearing the end of life and decided her Give Realty donation would be a darn good start for a fund that could help provide services for these families.
This is really what it’s all about. People (who sell real estate) helping people (buy and sell their homes) help people (who are in need). I’m also pleased to report, after hearing Gwen’s story, another Give Realty client designated their $1,600 to help these families too.
It’s my wish that none of us will ever have to experience the need for funeral assistance for a child, but I’m sure glad there are people like Gwen in the world who are doing what they can to help make a difference. And I am extremely proud, yet amazingly humbled, to have founded a company that makes this possible.
If you would like to donate specifically to the funeral and bereavement fund, visit www.anybabycan.org donate and note funeral and bereavement costs in the comments section.
