One morning shortly after Brian’s wife, Amie, passed away from pancreatic cancer, his son Jace woke up and whispered in his ear, “Daddy, what if I built a ladder to the sky so I could go see mommy whenever I wanted?”
Inspired by Jace’s words, Brian wrote “Ladder to the Sky,” a song he recently recorded with the help of some amazing local musicians. And he is generously donating 100% of the proceeds from the song to Park Nicollet Foundation’s Growing Through Grief program, the school-based grief counseling program that provides support for Jace and his sister EmmyLu.
“I always had the idea of using a song to raise money for an organization that helps kids who’ve lost a parent,” Brian says.
At no cost to the student or family, Growing Through Grief gives children and teens a safe space where they can share their feelings, get expert counseling and realize they’re not alone. Funded by the Park Nicollet Foundation, the program provides specialized grief counseling support to more than 627 children each week in 15 public school districts.
“I’ve seen firsthand the impact the program has had on my children’s growth and resilience,” Brian shares. “It’s so important for kids who’ve lost a loved one to have someone to talk to. And the program is entirely funded through donations. I just wanted to do my part so it’s always available.”
See Brian’s story on WCCO. To hear and download “Ladder to the Sky” with a donation to Growing Through Grief, visit Play It Forward. You can also donate directly to Growing Through Grief online or by calling (952) 993-5023.
Please select from the foundations listed below to make your gift. Thank you.