Seven years ago I had a decision to make: what would my life be like after the loss of my dear youngest son Tim to random violence? What would his brother’s life be like? Accustomed to being the caretaker, now I needed one myself. I knew I had to get on with living, but how could I make any sense out of something so senseless? Friends and family were struggling with the same question.

An answer began to emerge for us. The world still needed Tim’s generous spirit and commitment to help others and we needed to become guardians of his legacy. Along with family and friends who shared this belief, we started the foundation. With this new purpose and with the incredible support we received, I grew stronger and began to move forward.

As I saw how our efforts helped others to regain control and purpose in their lives, I realized that I was gradually transforming my life as well. Seeing the impact of our combined effort, no matter how small, gave me a glimmer of peace where there had been only overwhelming sadness and grief. While I know that everyone experiences grief and healing in her own way, the creation and work of the foundation ignited my own never-ending journey of healing. Nothing can ever replace Tim or alleviate the grief of losing a son, brother, friend. But I learned that joy and meaning exists in Tim’s memory by helping so many others.

I was more fortunate than many others, as I was surrounded and embraced by family and friends. Yet, not everyone has that. I am so grateful for the support I have.

By helping other people emerge from their grief, I ease my own. By helping people transform their lives, I transform my own.

The TGF is dedicated to support those in crisis and to help those who want to transform their own lives. A young man living in Tim’s House wants a clean and sober life. A grief stricken mother attends our Meadowlark Retreat, hoping to find some measure of peace. A student, struggling to make sense of her life, seeks our counseling at Sequoia High School and our help to escape a young life of drugs, violence and abuse.

Your support and involvement in the growth of TGF has a deep and intensely personal impact on my life and the lives of others. At the core of every effort of the Tim Griffith Foundation is the hope and possibility of transformation. We are a healthy and productive non-profit organization because of your strength and your willingness to help us with this work. I am so grateful and I extend my warmest thanks for the difference you have made.

Seeing others encouraged reminds me of Tim and makes me smile. Tim was great at helping others, offering a place to stay, a meal or a good laugh. Indeed, Tim himself was transforming his own life through helping others.

It is in that spirit that we continue the foundation’s work.

Stacey Redman
President and Founder