It was one of the most moving things I've seen in a long time.
Each year, the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), the national nonprofit organization that works with the insurance industry to deliver financial assistance to local communities, hosts a series of benefit galas. One such event, hosted by the IICF's Northeast Division, was held on Dec. 13, 2017, at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.
This year some 800 insurance professionals attended the gala, at which more than $1.25 million was raised to fund the IICF Northeast Division's Community Grants Program.
The event always features an impressive lineup of talent; this year we were treated to speeches by celebrity speakers Gayle King, co-host of "CBS This Morning," and five-time World Series Champion and Yankees legend Mariano Rivera.
Both delivered messages about the importance of education and community involvement, and they accepted honorary grants on behalf of The Ana Grace Project and The Mariano Rivera Foundation, respectively.
If you live in New York as I do, everybody knows "Sandman" Rivera. The Ana Grace Project, however, was something I'd not yet heard of.
King explained that the organization was named after the daughter of Jimmy Greene and Nelba Márquez-Greene — a six-year-old girl who loved to sing and dance and was a ray of light to her family. She was also among the 20 children killed by a lone gunman wielding semiautomatic pistols and a semiautomatic rifle at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012. King reminded the audience that the gala fell on the eve of the shooting's fifth anniversary.
You could hear a pin drop as Nelba Márquez-Greene joined King onstage to talk about the organization and its mission. Nelba explained how The Ana Grace Project has allowed her family to take the attention around something tragic and turn it into something positive. The organization is dedicated to promoting love, community and connection for every child and family through three lead initiatives: partner schools, professional development, and music & arts.
She then read aloud a letter written by Ana Grace's older brother, Isaiah, sharing his feelings on the anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting.
Nelba was gracious enough to allow me to reprint it here.
To anyone who wants to know what it's like 5 years afterward, from a 13-year-old.
If a child doesn't talk about what happened and seems like they're "fine," know that they're not. We are always thinking about what happened.
I've heard some adults around me say, "He's an A-student, he's so popular and fits right in. If we didn't know he lost a sibling, we would never have guessed!" That attitude is not one that anyone needs to have. The child is never "fine."
It's helpful to have a lot of very supportive friends — mine will wear purple bracelets and sweatshirts in honor of my sister. They also provide comic relief.
Grown-ups shouldn't be so caught up in their own feelings that they forget about the kid (don't shut them out). When you do talk to them, respect the child's boundaries, both physically and emotionally. When they ask to be alone, leave them alone. However, it's important to reach out to them every once in a while. Don't be in your child's face, either. Talk calmly.
Don't expect your child to talk about what happened all the time. They may or may not be comfortable talking about what happened.
Finally, to legislators: you need to do something about this. It's unfair that anyone should have to grow up with a lost loved one, and these acts of violence need to stop. I wish I could fire everyone who hasn't done anything about gun violence. I shouldn't have to grow up without a sister. No one deserves this.
As the parent of an 8-year-old boy who is my whole world, the level of mercy and grace required to do such work leaves me speechless. The IICF recognized this, and thanks to their gift to this organization, so do I. I encourage you to check out anagraceproject.org and learn about how you can support their incredible work.
Blessed are they who show mercy. Mercy shall be theirs.
© Touchpoint Markets, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.