Village Invest: Judi’s House
Judi’s House is a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado that was founded in 2002 by former Broncos quarterback, Brian Griese and his wife, Dr. Brook Griese. Their inspiration for Judi’s House came from the sudden death of Brian’s mother, Judi, at the age of 12. Along his path to healing, Brian realized that he wanted to give back to children and young adults who were also grieving the loss of an important person in their lives.
Judi’s House is a community-based beareavement center for children and families with the vision that no child should be alone in grief. In order to achieve their vision they are committed to providing comprehensive grief care services for bereaved youth and families at Judi’s House as well as in school- and community-based settings throughout Metro Denver. These vital services are delivered at no cost to families thanks solely to philanthropic support.
They believe that supporting children grieving a death loss builds connection and coping that leads to healing. By investing in direct service, training, and research, we help whole families adjust to loss and prepare for future challenges. Check out a few impact stories from Judi’s House below:
Joni Jackson-Malavasi:
After losing her husband in a climbing accident, she turned to Judi’s House in search of way to support her young children. After processing her grief and the loss of her husband, Joni returned to Judi’s House as a volunteer.
Tracy Edwards Konkol and Steven Konkol:
The Edwards Konkol family found Judi’s House after losing their 14-year-old son to suicide in 2014. They were looking for ways to support their then 12-year-old daughter through the tragic loss of her brother. Tracy says, “we had no idea how to assist her with her grief or how to process our trauma”. The Edwards Konkol family continues to support Judi’s House through monthly giving.
Lisa Dean:
Lisa found Judi’s House after experiencing the tragic loss of her husband, Bart, in 2009. At the time her son Oliver was only 5 1/2 years old. Lisa says “Judi’s House provide support, tools and hope during these very challenging times. I wish it existed when I was a teenager and experienced the death of my mother. Oliver and I learned that we are not alone in our grief and that grief is not about letting go, but about holding on in a different way”. Since attending their own programs at Judi’s House, Lisa and Oliver continue their support by volunteering.
Amanda Howard:
Amanda is a Nourishment Provider and Emerging Leaders Co-Chair for Judi’s House. She says that she volunteers in honor of her late sister. “When I was 10, my younger sister died in an accident. It wasn’t until my 30’s that I started digging into how her death affected my family and me. I have come to realize that unprocessed grief continues to manifest itself in different ways. My family would have benefited from a resource like Judi’s House, to process our grief, find healing, and connect with other grieving children”.