About Us
There are nearly 1 million women in the United States who belong to a club that nobody wants to join.
They are widows, and most of them don’t like the word. It conjures up images of broken women wearing black, who are at the end of their own lives.
We don’t believe that’s true.
The Truth About Widowhood
A widow can be a career woman in her twenties, a mother raising young children by herself, or a middle-aged woman with teenagers. They often manage an entire household, work full-time, or both.
Most people struggle with how to help a widow, unsure about the grieving process and how long it lasts, afraid to say or do something wrong.
They are grieving and trying to cope, facing a new life they neither wanted nor planned for.
They are also often
heartbreakingly
isolated.
So, often they say or do nothing at all.
Our founder, Karyl McKendry, lost her husband when she was 44 years old.
While raising four children, working full-time, and moving three times, she learned that as common as widowhood is… there are very few resources available for these women.
She was determined to address the isolation of loss and the confusion of supporters. She wanted to help widows not only to survive, but to
thrive.
Karyl, along with a strong team, started Paisley Project in July 2014 to provide support and empowerment to young widows, while simultaneously educating and activating the widow’s own support network.
THIS IS OUR MISSION
Our Framework
We at the Paisley Project understand how life-altering the loss of a spouse can be. Everything that was once familiar and known and expected is suddenly, drastically, tragically different. That’s why we’ve developed our own framework for healing.
We want you to know that you are not alone on this journey.
We are dedicated to helping widows develop a sense of community and connect with other women who can understand what each other are going through. Our community spaces are places to join together and talk about grief, joy, and the journey of life—free of judgement.
Let’s get you connected.
Reach out to us using the Contact Page so we can connect you with the community and offer some resources that are right for you.
Make A Donation.
Our mission is to provide essential tools and resources to support women to survive, heal, grow, and thrive after the loss of their husbands, while also mobilizing the widow’s own support network.
Paisley Project is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the state of Colorado.
All donations are tax-deductible.
EIN #47-1052225