"Being open is a gift because it attracts people to you, and then you have the opportunity to support and help. I think that vulnerability is a strength."
Austen's journey at Kate's Club started in 2017 when she first heard about Kate's Club through an Atlanta volunteer event at her company. She was instantly interested in the work the organization was doing because of her own experience with grief when her dad had died one year prior. She remarks on how her experience of grief completely changed her perspective on life and what it means to grieve.
Since that first corporate volunteering event that Austen attended, she has been a consistent and integral part of the Kate's Club organization and has grown from being a Buddy Volunteer in 2018 to an Advisory Board Member in 2022 to sitting on the Board of Directors in 2024 to now chairing the 2025 Mourning Glory Gala.
The gift of being a Buddy Volunteer for grieving kids in Georgia
Austen first joined Kate's Club in 2018 as a Buddy Volunteer after she had experienced grief firsthand when her dad died. Austen describes her dad's death as an experience that deeply affected her and showed how consuming grief can be, particularly if left unaddressed. She was very open about her experience with grief online because she wanted to be a safe space where people could come and talk to her about grief. She believes being forthright and forthcoming about your grief experiences can be very healing and wanted to use her experience with grief as a way to connect with her community and help others.
When speaking about why she became a Buddy Volunteer at Kate's Club, she explained, "My dad passed away in 2016, and I was shaken by the grief I felt from that experience. As someone who was a full-grown adult at the time that my dad died, it completely rocked my world. I couldn’t imagine what that experience is like for kids."
During Austen's time as a Buddy Volunteer, she primarily attended weekend Clubhouse programs in Atlanta, Georgia, facilitating activities with the teen members. When reflecting on her experience in the teen room, she breaks into a smile and a nostalgic laugh.
“The first rule of the teen room is you don’t share secrets from the teen room. But I was floored at how much joy this roomful of kids, who were facing some of the hardest moments of their lives, held space for. Their energy, love and passion were so incredible to witness. At the same time, when we did our breakout rooms and facilitated the activities, the real depth of their grief, held right below the surface, became deeply apparent.”
Austen's time as a volunteer not only positively shaped the members at Kate's Club, but it also made her reflect on her own experience with grief and how her perspective on grief and loss has changed.
“Getting involved in Kate’s Club while I was actively grieving really helped me find the light. There is a tremendous community that gets built when you're open about your experience and when you process your feelings instead of hiding from them. I knew that Kate’s Club is an incredibly therapeutic place for members, but I was surprised at how much it helped me as a volunteer.”
Growing with Kate's Club
As the years passed, Austen realized that she could be involved with Kate's Club in more ways than one. After years of being a Buddy Volunteer in Atlanta, Austen wanted to shift her involvement and use her professional skillset to support the marketing, communications and strategic objectives of the organization. She describes transitioning from being a Buddy Volunteer to an Advisory Board member as being a "really natural fit."
Since Austen's involvement with the Advisory Board, she has leaned very heavily into the position and has been able to grow with the organization as her skillset has grown. In 2024, when Kate's Club Executive Director Lisa asked Austen to be on the board of directors, Austen called the decision a "no-brainer."
Austen describes how she felt when asked to chair the 2025 Mourning Glory Gala and remarks on what a tremendous honor it is. She says the gala is one of her favorite events because it is a huge fundraising event and also one of the most fun events of the year. She remarks on how people assume the event is heavy but that it is such a moving and upbeat experience that it offers people the chance to connect.
"The Mourning Glory Gala is such an important moment for Kate’s Club to raise awareness, to raise funds, and to connect with the community."
Finding connection through the Mourning Glory Gala in Buckhead Atlanta
Austen speaks to the connection of the Mourning Glory Gala not only to Kate's Club but also to the community as a whole. "It’s staggering how much of a connector our organization is across the state of Georgia and beyond. What a gift to impact the lives of so many young people and the grieving community at large and create better outcomes for everyone along the way."
Austen fondly remembers attending the Gala last year, where she brought along a few of her coworkers who didn't know much about the organization. While sitting in the ballroom, she quickly noticed how blown away her colleagues were by what they saw. They were in awe that an organization like Kate's Club existed and couldn't believe our reach and impact on the community. She describes this as a decisive moment where she could look at Kate's Club through her colleagues' eyes and even more appreciate the connection to the community.
“You realize very quickly that everybody in the room, whether they think they do or not, has a personal connection to grief and loss. And if they don’t yet, they will at some point in their lives. When you look around at all of the people supporting this incredible cause, you feel in your soul that you’re part of something special.”
Austen emphasizes the importance of the Mourning Glory Gala not only for its massive fundraising opportunity but also for the perfect place to raise awareness. She stresses the importance of talking about grief and the risks that unaddressed grief can have on children. Kate's Club's work is instrumental for a child's well-being and future success.
"The ultimate goal is to help people understand that Kate’s Club is not just addressing active childhood bereavement. We’re helping create better outcomes for the adults these children grow up to be. We want to create a positive trajectory that gets kids through one of the hardest times in their lives toward a bright future through the power of community.
Reserve your 2025 Mourning Glory Gala tickets today
We thank Austen for her work as the 2025 Mourning Glory Gala Chair and hope to see you at The Grand Hyatt Hotel - Buckhead Atlanta on Saturday April 26th.
For tickets and more information, please visit https://bit.ly/mgg25.
Contact Kate’s Club for grief support in Georgia
Kate’s Club empowers children and teens, their families, and young adults facing life after the death of a parent, sibling, caregiver or someone important to them. The organization builds healing communities through recreational and therapeutic group programs, education and advocacy. Since its founding in metro Atlanta in 2003, Kate’s Club has served thousands of individuals who are grieving, through both in-house and outreach services. Kate's Club offers services in Atlanta, Albany, Athens, Brunswick, Cobb County, and Newnan, GA. For more information, visit katesclub.org.