Story by Lawson Martin. Photos provided by Taylor's Gift Foundation
A Dallas-based nonprofit dedicated to providing emotional and grief support to organ donor families is introducing a new executive director.
Taylor’s Gift Foundation recently named Paige Anderson as the new executive director, and leaders of the nonprofit are excited for Paige to help “lead Taylor’s Gift into its next chapter.”
Taylor’s Gift Foundation’s supports organ, eye, and tissue donor families through a comprehensive program led by professionals and trained volunteers who have undergone similar grief experiences.
Todd and Tara Storch founded the nonprofit in 2010 after losing their daughter, Taylor, in a tragic skiing accident in Beaver Creek, Colorado. When Taylor was in the hospital, doctors told her parents there was no hope of her survival. They asked the Storches if they would consider donating Taylor’s organs. They agreed because they said in their hearts they knew “it was the decision she would have chosen for herself.”
Taylor’s organ donation saved and improved the lives of five individuals.
The Storches’ pain ignited a mission to help others going through a similar journey of grief, which is why they created Taylor’s Gift Grief Support Program through Taylor’s Gift Foundation. The Storches knew of various grief and bereavement organizations in the area but recognized there were few dedicated solely to organ donor families.
When a family decides to have their loved one’s organs donated, organ procurement organizations across the country ask that family if they have any specific needs for grief support. Families are then recommended to Taylor’s Gift Foundation, or they can refer themselves for free help. The nonprofit has found that many families do not have adequate paid mental health counseling on their insurance, hindering their opportunity to find the grief support they seek. This is where Taylor’s Gift Grief Support Program steps in to help.
Families or individuals are set up with a caring guide who works with them one-on-one each week, by phone call or video chat, to provide the individualized support they need. Taylor’s Gift Foundation also offers group support sessions, where compassionate guides conduct regular calls with around a dozen individuals, creating a space for families and others to mutually support one another on their own grief journeys.
Taylor’s Gift Foundation has made significant contributions to the Dallas community over the years. With the appointment of their new executive director, there is a solid ambition to elevate its impact to even greater heights.
Paige joins Taylor’s Gift Foundation with 20 years of nonprofit experience, as she formerly served as the executive director for Keep Mesquite Beautiful and as the volunteer program manager for the City of Mesquite. In Paige’s most recent position before Taylor’s Gift Foundation, she led Dallas County Medical Reserve Corps volunteer efforts for public health emergency response.
Having contributed her expertise to numerous nonprofit boards and earning recognition for her exceptional leadership, Paige has developed over 5,000 hours for projects focused on public health and safety, environmental concerns, and the well-being of children and families.
“Coming to work for this mission has been a godsend for me because I absolutely love working in nonprofits and have worked in nonprofits for years and years, up until the last three years when I worked in public health,” Paige says. “So getting back to the nonprofit world has been exactly where I wanted to be.”
According to Paige, Taylor’s Gift Foundation has been supported through private donations for several years. It’s her job to diversify that by working with funding partners, securing more grants for the organization, and building a volunteer platform.
“There are a lot of people who have been through their own grief journey where they have lost a loved one and then donated their organs,” Paige says. “So we have many of those people who reach out to us and want to help.”
Paige says she deeply aligns with Taylor’s Gift Foundation’s long-standing commitment and mission to help families in need.
“I think our mission says it all. We want to be there so that no one takes that grief journey alone,” Paige says. “Families don’t have to be alone when they have lost a loved one. Everybody grieves differently, so to me, that means we are there and a resource for them.”
Paige also believes Taylor’s Gift Foundation plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the significance of organ donation and advocating for its importance in communities. In fact, according to Donate Life America, more than 100,000 people across the country are currently waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. Every nine minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list, which is why organizations like Taylor’s Gift Foundation hope they can help make a difference.
Taylor’s Gift Foundation currently serves about 14 of the 50 organ procurement organizations across the country, meaning Taylor’s Gift Foundation doesn’t just serve individuals in North Texas but also individuals across the United States. Paige hopes to grow the nonprofit into the premier resource for anyone nationwide who wants grief support after losing a loved one.
“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,” Paige says. “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.”
Anyone interested in getting free grief support through Taylor’s Gift Grief Support Program should visit Taylor’s Gift’s website. Once you complete a questionnaire, a certified grief professional will contact you to see how to support you best.
You can also become a support group facilitator or a caring guide by filling out an interest form on Taylor’s Gift Foundation’s website.
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