Foundation eases financial loss after losing a parent
When Ellen Lindeman’s husband died in January of 2004 following an October diagnosis of esophageal cancer, she was left with two children, a dire financial situation and looming grief.
Following some bereavement classes, though, Lindeman realized that other families had worse financial problems. In the summer of 2005, Lindeman started raising money for families struggling with the loss of a parent and raising young children, and by 2006, the Ted Lindeman Outreach Foundation became a full-fledged nonprofit.
“Losing someone, obviously — you can’t imagine the pain that you go through,” Lindeman said. “I took my children to bereavement classes, and sitting in the bereavement classes, I would listen to people talk, and looking back at it now, of course I was devastated, and feeling like I had the worst luck in the world, and how could this happen to me, but when you hear other people talk, and know that they’re losing their homes and having to relocate their families, and losing everything — you could actually be in a worse boat.”
The foundation aims to provide up to $9,000 per family to be used for counseling or any other need the members may have. Paid in three monthly installments, and currently open to Montgomery and Bucks county residents, Lindeman is quick to say the amount of money isn’t life-changing, but sometimes necessary for families in transition.
Since its inception, Lindeman estimates that her foundation has provided more than $80,000 to 16 families working through their transitions.
Each family’s situation is different, Lindeman said. When her husband died, her children were 3 and 5 years old and Lindeman was only working two days per week.
“Hurting badly” financially, Lindeman went back to work full-time. The family did have life insurance, but there were complications.
“We had changed our policy about 22 months before Ted had passed away, and if it’s anything less than two years, they do an automatic investigation, which really holds up the process,” Lindeman said. “But my husband’s illness was only 10 weeks, so everything ended up being OK, but at the time, it was bad,” adding that it took months for the insurance payments to come through.
Though she was in tough financial straits, Lindeman said she didn’t ask for help from friends or family members, and said that she suspects that other families going through the death of a spouse feel the same way. In addition to doling out financial support, Lindeman said she’s there to talk — adding that most people, upon hearing about the death of a spouse, are quick to spout out the platitudes, and not much else.
“They often say, ‘I know how you’re doing,’” she said, “and ‘I know what you’re going through,’ but they don’t. I don’t claim to be a counselor, I’m just a widow who’s been there, and knows how they’re feeling — people take comfort in that.”
Though Lindeman’s foundation has been successful in its relatively short existence, she said she has had to turn people down because of lack of funds. To help fill the coffers, Lindeman is holding its fourth annual gala dinner Sept. 25 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Spring Mill Country Club, 80 Jacksonville Road, Ivyland. Tickets are $60 for an evening that includes appetizers, dinner, dessert, beer, wine, music and a huge silent auction. It’s the biggest event the foundation holds each year, though Lindeman said she’s looking to hold more events, and ultimately make her foundation a national one.
“This has become a community event,” she said. “I started this not only to help people, but to help me through my grief process, and to help my husband’s light continue to shine in this world.”
For more information on the foundation and an application for assistance, visit www.tedlindemanoutreachfoundation.com.
Following some bereavement classes, though, Lindeman realized that other families had worse financial problems. In the summer of 2005, Lindeman started raising money for families struggling with the loss of a parent and raising young children, and by 2006, the Ted Lindeman Outreach Foundation became a full-fledged nonprofit.
“Losing someone, obviously — you can’t imagine the pain that you go through,” Lindeman said. “I took my children to bereavement classes, and sitting in the bereavement classes, I would listen to people talk, and looking back at it now, of course I was devastated, and feeling like I had the worst luck in the world, and how could this happen to me, but when you hear other people talk, and know that they’re losing their homes and having to relocate their families, and losing everything — you could actually be in a worse boat.”
The foundation aims to provide up to $9,000 per family to be used for counseling or any other need the members may have. Paid in three monthly installments, and currently open to Montgomery and Bucks county residents, Lindeman is quick to say the amount of money isn’t life-changing, but sometimes necessary for families in transition.
Since its inception, Lindeman estimates that her foundation has provided more than $80,000 to 16 families working through their transitions.
Each family’s situation is different, Lindeman said. When her husband died, her children were 3 and 5 years old and Lindeman was only working two days per week.
“Hurting badly” financially, Lindeman went back to work full-time. The family did have life insurance, but there were complications.
“We had changed our policy about 22 months before Ted had passed away, and if it’s anything less than two years, they do an automatic investigation, which really holds up the process,” Lindeman said. “But my husband’s illness was only 10 weeks, so everything ended up being OK, but at the time, it was bad,” adding that it took months for the insurance payments to come through.
Though she was in tough financial straits, Lindeman said she didn’t ask for help from friends or family members, and said that she suspects that other families going through the death of a spouse feel the same way. In addition to doling out financial support, Lindeman said she’s there to talk — adding that most people, upon hearing about the death of a spouse, are quick to spout out the platitudes, and not much else.
“They often say, ‘I know how you’re doing,’” she said, “and ‘I know what you’re going through,’ but they don’t. I don’t claim to be a counselor, I’m just a widow who’s been there, and knows how they’re feeling — people take comfort in that.”
Though Lindeman’s foundation has been successful in its relatively short existence, she said she has had to turn people down because of lack of funds. To help fill the coffers, Lindeman is holding its fourth annual gala dinner Sept. 25 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Spring Mill Country Club, 80 Jacksonville Road, Ivyland. Tickets are $60 for an evening that includes appetizers, dinner, dessert, beer, wine, music and a huge silent auction. It’s the biggest event the foundation holds each year, though Lindeman said she’s looking to hold more events, and ultimately make her foundation a national one.
“This has become a community event,” she said. “I started this not only to help people, but to help me through my grief process, and to help my husband’s light continue to shine in this world.”
For more information on the foundation and an application for assistance, visit www.tedlindemanoutreachfoundation.com.
