Current Recipient
It Takes a Village 123
The chosen charity was It Takes a Village 123
It Takes A Village 123 was created out of heartbreak — and built on the belief that even in the depths of grief, we can still show up for one another.
On New Year’s Eve 2020, my partner John — a devoted father, career firefighter, and the kindest soul I’ve ever known — died suddenly from cardiac arrest. The Medical Examiner would later determine natural causes in his report. In that moment my person, who from the outside looked healthier than most, was gone in an instant. He was just 49. There were no warnings, no second chances, and no chance to say goodbye. Our lives were forever changed in that moment.
In the days and months that followed, I was consumed by grief struggling to get back to the strong person I have always been. Slowly, one day at a time, sometimes one minute at a time, the memories of who John was began to guide me — not just the partner and father, but the public servant who truly believed in people. John loved being a firefighter. He called it the best job in the world. He believed in community. And he believed in helping those who couldn’t help themselves.
That spirit became the foundation for It Takes A Village 123 — a nonprofit created in his honor, and fueled by the love and legacy he left behind.
Our mission is simple but urgent: to support, encourage, and grow the next generation of firefighters and paramedics. Across the country, fire departments are facing critical shortages. Fewer young people are entering the field. Financial obstacles, training costs, and a lack of awareness are all part of the problem. We’re working to change that.
It Takes A Village 123 provides scholarships, covers EMT and paramedic school tuition, and helps bridge the gap for those who want to serve but can’t afford the path. We partner with fire departments, unions, and colleges to identify candidates — and we work to educate others about what a life of service can look like.
Since launching, we’ve raised over $15,000 and helped remove financial barriers for students ready to answer the call. And we’ve only just begun.
Each year, we also continue one special tradition through a program called Charlee’s Angels, named for my daughter and the quiet acts of giving she and John and I once did together. It’s one way we bring holiday magic to families in need. But the heart of our work — and John’s legacy — lives in It Takes A Village 123.
This nonprofit is more than a tribute. It’s a call to action — to support those who protect us, to uplift the people behind the uniforms, and to keep believing in the power of community.
None of us can do it alone and we were never meant to. In a world where so many go through never knowing what it looks like to truly be loved we choose to use the love he had for us to keep his spirit alive through It Takes A Village 123. It was a honor and a privilege to be loved so well by an incredible man. That was his gift to us and this 501 C 3 is ours back to him.
Jen