When our William was killed, there wasn't a child bereavement charity. I was extremely blessed with a very close family, wonderful friends, a supportive husband, and two further children.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Actually, I have my own charity that I started that helps supplement families with terminal children.
My charity is in the business of helping firefighters in any way that we can. For instance, after 9/11 we were the second-fastest charity to raise and distribute money to the widows and surviving family members of the 343 firefighters who died that day.
Charity work is very important to me and gives me an opportunity to give back to my community. I've always been a big supporter of many different charities, have donated millions of dollars to them, and it just feels great to do and be able to help others, especially children.
Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness when bequeathed by those who, even alive, would part with nothing.
All of the charities we're involved with have touched me in one way or another on a personal level. There are about eight or nine charities that I support.
I think charity begins with your family and you take it from there.
I have a soft spot for charities that help children.
Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient to become independent of it.
When my husband Charles passed away in 2000, I took over as chair of our family's foundation. As I was mourning his loss, I also had to keep the foundation moving forward and to chart a course into what was then a very male-dominated philanthropic world.
I have a charity called the Chain Of Hope, where we target children from poor areas where heart surgery is not available, and we offer our services.