Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Tag: Taylor's Gift Foundation

  • Taylor’s Gift Foundation launches PSA’s in select theaters 

    Taylor’s Gift Foundation, a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to providing families of organ donors with cost-free grief resources, is working with select theaters to deliver messages of hope and healing across the nation.

    This collaboration puts Tara Storch, co-founder of Taylor’s Gift Foundation, on the big screen as she shares a public service announcement (PSA) about the story of Taylor, her oldest daughter, who died tragically in a skiing accident in 2010. Taylor became an organ donor, saving the lives of five people, and inspired the creation of Taylor’s Gift Foundation, which strives to be a compassionate source of hope for all donor families by providing no-cost grief support after the loss of their loved ones. The PSA also encourages movie-goers to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors through state registries. 

    “We are thrilled to join forces with movie theaters to amplify our message and mission of Taylor’s Gift Foundation,” said Storch. “Through this partnership with Cinemark, we look forward to reaching a national audience, including donor families who may be in need of grief support while also raising awareness of the importance of organ donation.”

    The PSA is being shown as part of the Noovie pre-show programming at select theaters nationwide, potentially reaching thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. It will run through the end of April, National Donate Life Month, an observance to honor organ donors and their lifesaving gifts and highlight the importance of registering as a donor.

    Across the country, more than 100,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and every day 19 people die waiting for an organ. Improving the donation experience for families through Taylor’s Gift Foundation helps preserve public trust in the process, which has the potential to ultimately save and heal lives.

    source: press release

  • Taylor’s Gift Foundation Welcomes New Director of Grief Support Services

    Taylor’s Gift Foundation, a Dallas-based nonprofit whose mission is to provide organ and tissue donor families with free grief support after the loss of their loved one, has announced that Hannah Showalter has been named the new director of grief support services.

    As director of grief support services at Taylor’s Gift Foundation, Showalter will strategize, implement, and maintain the program’s initiatives to assist donor families in their grief journeys. She will also develop program assessment protocols for evaluation and improvement.

    “Throughout her career, Hannah has worked tirelessly to help individuals and families navigate the complexities of grief, which made her the ideal candidate for this role,” said Paige Anderson, executive director of Taylor’s Gift Foundation. “We look forward to her positive impact in facilitating and leading the Taylor’s Gift Grief Support Program.”

    A licensed master social worker (LMSW), Showalter has extensive experience in providing emotional support for those experiencing grief and trauma. She combines evidence-based therapeutic techniques with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by those experiencing sudden and traumatic losses. Showalter has developed numerous grief support programs for diverse communities, including children, families, medical professionals, and incarcerated individuals.

    “I look forward to helping Taylor’s Gift Foundation grow and expand the grief support program. We aim to surround every donor family with a circle of compassion, so they never have to bear the weight of grief alone. What Taylor’s Gift Foundation provides – a safe place for donor families to share and grieve – is filling a critical gap in the donation community in the nation, and I’m so proud to be a part of it,” said Showalter.

    “With Hannah leading our grief support program, Taylor’s Gift Foundation will continue to serve as a source of strength to donor families nationwide. I’m excited to see our program grow to support even more grieving donor families with her leading the way,” said Tara Storch, co-founder of Taylor’s Gift Foundation.

    The Storches founded Taylor’s Gift Foundation in 2010 after losing their daughter, Taylor, in a tragic skiing accident in Beaver Creek, Colo. In January of 2022, Taylor’s Gift Foundation launched its grief support initiative, the Taylor’s Gift Grief Support Program, and has partnered with multiple organ procurement organizations (OPOs) across the country so that donor families have open access to the emotional and grief support they need as they cope with their devastating loss.

    source: press release

  • Taylor’s Gift Foundation raises $275k with Singo Bingo

    On Thursday, Nov. 16, friends and supporters of Taylor’s Gift Foundation, a national nonprofit based in Dallas, gathered at Venue Forty50 in Addison for “Singo Bingo” – an evening full of musical bingo, inspiration, and celebration. Founded by Tara and Todd Storch of Coppell, Taylor’s Gift Foundation’s mission is to provide families of organ and tissue donors with free grief support after losing their loved one. 

    Sponsored by Methodist Transplant Institute, UT Southwestern, Display Source Alliance, Legacy ER & Urgent Care, WBAP-AM, Spencer Air Conditioning and Heating, Lockton Benefits, J.Macklin’s Grill, and many more, the event was a fundraiser for Taylor’s Gift Foundation and their signature grief support program. Thanks to their incredible host committee and sponsors, the sold-out crowd of 300 raised close to $275,000 to support Taylor’s Gift Foundation and its mission. 

    “Often under tragic circumstances, organ donor families facilitate the heroic gifts of life that make life-saving transplants possible.  UT Southwestern is honored to support the mission of Taylor’s Gift Foundation to provide grief support for the unique needs of these donor families.  Last night, UT Southwestern was a proud sponsor of the ‘Singo Bingo’ event, which was a beautiful celebration of the gift of life and those who make it possible.” said Scott Bennett, Associate Vice President of Solid Organ Transplant at UT Southwestern Medical Center. 

    In 2010, the Storches lost their oldest daughter, Taylor, in a tragic skiing accident. She was an organ donor and was able to save the lives of five people. Her generous act inspired the creation of Taylor’s Gift Foundation, which today has touched the lives of thousands of donor families and transplant recipients nationwide. 

    source: press release

  • Taylor’s Gift Foundation appoints new Executive Director

    Taylor’s Gift Foundation, a DFW-based non-profit whose mission is to provide no-cost emotional and grief support to organ, eye, and tissue donor families, announced today that Paige Anderson has been named the new executive director. 

    Founded in 2010, Taylor’s Gift has a long-standing history of helping individuals and families walk the path of grief. Led by a donor family, professionals, and trained volunteers, their programs provide a safe environment for families and individuals to express feelings and emotions and the opportunity to walk with others who are experiencing a grief journey similar to their own. In 2021, they launched a grief support program to help organ donor families receive emotional support.

    “We are thrilled to have Paige on board to help lead Taylor’s Gift into its next chapter as we continue to reach more families of organ, eye, and tissue donors who are in need of grief support,” said Tara Storch, co-founder of Taylor’s Gift Foundation. “Her depth of experience in the non-profit sector will serve us well as we continue to grow the organization and extend our critically needed grief services to every corner of the country.” 

    Anderson joins Taylor’s Gift with 20 years of non-profit experience, having served in a variety of positions, including time spent as the executive director for Keep Mesquite Beautiful and as the volunteer program manager for the City of Mesquite. Most recently, Anderson led Dallas County’s Medical Reserve Corps volunteer efforts for public health emergency response. Before serving in these positions, Anderson spent several years as a Girl Scout leader and service unit manager, was a city festival director, and dedicated a great deal of her life to creating a better community for children. 

    She has served on numerous non-profit boards and has been recognized by several for her leadership efforts. In total, Anderson volunteered more than 5,000 hours in projects dedicated to public health and safety, the environment, and children and families. 

    “I never met Taylor, but the journey to this position feels like everything I have done led me here. From meeting the Storches to reading Taylor’s powerful story, I have quickly learned that out of grief can come inspiration and life-changing action,” said Anderson. “I look forward to helping the Taylor’s Gift family with the resources it needs to support its mission, grow its reach, support families who face the tragic loss of a loved one, and inspire others to decide to outlive themselves by registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor.” 

    Anderson holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and completed work towards completing a master’s degree in public services from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. In her spare time, she’s an avid sailor and mother of two grown daughters, one stepdaughter, and one granddaughter. 

    The Storches launched Taylor’s Gift Foundation in 2010 after losing their daughter, Taylor, in a tragic skiing accident in Beaver Creek, Colo. In 2021, Taylor’s Gift Foundation launched its grief support initiative. It has partnered with multiple organ procurement organizations nationwide, so donor families can access the emotional and grief support they need to cope with their devastating losses.

  • Taylor’s Gift Foundation creates program for organ donor families

    Taylor’s Gift Foundation announced today during National Donate Life Month in April that the organization will partner with Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) to offer a new emotional support program known as “Kindred Hearts” and designed specifically for donor families.

    “Our goal with the Kindred Hearts program is to fill in a gap for families of organ and tissue donors when it comes to emotional support,” said Tara Storch, co-founder of Taylor’s Gift Foundation. “We want to step into that space, providing donor families with caring support and also the ability to connect with people who have experienced similar emotional pain and trauma.  We don’t want financial constraints to ever be a reason that a donor family isn’t able to get the emotional support they need, so all of our services have no fees.”

    Donor families from across the country who participate in the Taylor’s Gift Kindred Hearts Program receive personal access to support groups and Caring Guides, trained to help them navigate through their grief journey. The groups are offered both virtually and in-person for individual and family groups.

    Twelve years ago, Storch and her husband, Todd, were searching for similar emotional support when they lost their oldest child, Taylor, in a tragic skiing accident. Taylor went on to become an organ donor, saving and improving the lives of five people. While this fact brought comfort to the Storches, it also surfaced many other emotions they weren’t equipped to handle. Their own personal experience motivated them to create their nonprofit, Taylor’s Gift Foundation, and subsequently, the Kindred Hearts Program.

    “The grief process is difficult and challenging for many donor families who often struggle with the unexpected loss of a loved one,” said TOSA Donor Family Aftercare Manager Adriana Almanza. “TOSA is looking forward to being able to support the families of heroic organ donors with individualized support that Taylor’s Gift and their Kindred Hearts Program provides. We know families will benefit from working with an organization led by a donor family who can relate to them.”

    Dr. Macey Levan, Associate Professor of Surgery and Population health for NYU Lagone Health and the Director of the Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research Qualitative Core, has been working with Taylor’s Gift Foundation on the Kindred Hearts Program. Currently, she and her team are working on a pilot program and research study surrounding the program.

    “Organ donation and transplantation can be difficult to understand, especially for a family suffering a traumatic loss. Our team of researchers is working on national efforts with Taylor’s Gift Foundation’s Kindred Hearts Program to improve the care of donor families by offering dedicated emotional support and improving the culture of organ donation in America. We know the Kindred Hearts Program can fill a community need that we have determined through our ongoing research,” said Levan.

    Taylor’s Gift Foundation hopes to offer the Kindred Hearts Program to organ procurement organizations (OPOs) across the country, so that donor families have open access to the emotional support they so desperately need as they cope with such devastating loss.

  • Program launches to aid organ donor families

    Beginning this month, organ donor families have access to a new resource thanks to a free nationwide grief support program.

    Taylor’s Gift Foundation, a Dallas-based organization created to raise the visibility of organ donation, is launching the Kindred Hearts Program with a mission to help organ donor families receive the emotional support they need. The program will provide support groups and a dedicated Caring Guide to walk with organ donor families as they navigate through their grief journey.  

    Taylor’s Gift was founded in 2010 by Tara and Todd Storch after their 13-year-old daughter Taylor died in a skiing accident in March 2010 and their decision to donate her organs saved the lives of five people. The agency provides emotional support to organ donor families.

    In the case of organ donation, studies prove that donor families often experience a complicated grief and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Storches saw a need to have dedicated emotional support specifically for these families, because nationally there are very few grief support resources specifically dedicated to them. Additionally, grief support can be expensive – especially the right kind of help with people trained in complex grief therapy.

    Through support groups led by trained volunteers, and through a partnership with Heritage CARES to provide trained Caring Guides, the Kindred Hearts Program will fill that void and provide grief support for the entire bereaved family, at no cost, for as long as they need.  A trained Caring Guide will be hand-selected and matched to an organ donor family. The Caring Guide also has life experience with grief – a shared experience that has tremendous benefits to the donor family.  

    The Epidemiology Research Group in Organ Transplantation at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine will partner with Taylor’s Gift to conduct a study of Kindred Hearts and the grief support the program will provide.