Bringing NFL Experiences and Smiles to Widows and Their Children

"One Yard at a Time is giving a voice to the secondary losses that widows and children face when they lose their partner and parent. The loss is only the first part... then there is the feeling of being alone, and learning how to have fun again in this new normal. As a single mom, I didn't know the first thing about sports, and putting my son's football pads on him was one of the first things I had to learn. One yard at a Time showed us there are others just like us, we are not alone, we can smile and laugh together... we can go through this as a team!”

- Kim Sharrott | mom of 3 & widow to David Heslin

“Losing a spouse is all-encompassing, it affects EVERY aspect of your life. It is all of the moments and memories we shared, along with the reality of the ones that will be missed. It is a pain I would not wish on an enemy. That being said, the abundance of gratitude I feel is an emotion I wish everyone could experience. This feeling is what has helped me thrive for the past 4 years. Grateful for the time I did have with my amazing husband. With One Yard I’m healing while helping others heal too. We are a team.”

- Kim Sumski | mom of 2 & widow to Jay Sumski

“After someone passes away, you grieve and move on with your life. When the person you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with passes away way too soon, you grieve but then you must learn to live with that grief and somehow move forward. It's healing to be around other people that know exactly what you are going through. One Yard At A Time provides that experience and allows us to laugh and just enjoy the moment together.”

- Susan Johnson | mom to Edward & widow to Edward A. Johnson

“Even after 10 years of being a widow there is a feeling of loneliness that is always present. It hits deeply when guiding my two boys through sports that their father loved, and particularly this year when my youngest decided to play football. One Yard at a Time has created an amazing community of support. The warmth and friendship extended by this group has helped fill that void. The connection with other widows working through their new normal helps the healing process. I am grateful for becoming part of this team.“

- Linda Doherty | mom of 2 & widow to Rob Doherty

“Wow! Just wow! I am filled with so much gratitude for your fine organization. The experience you created for my family was unbelievably kind and more than we could have imagined. I have been a widow for 8 years and there is NOTHING like this anywhere. When things first happen you are just trying to survive and attending support groups, etc. but then the "support" seems to get less and less as people start to see you doing things again.

We are living life and handling so much on our own to do the best for our kids but the need to be remembered gets lost in the daily grind. Thank you for making it your mission to remember widows and to give us a day where we can just have fun with our kids!

You all thought of everything!! All we had to do was arrive and from that point forward we were treated with dolphins gear, sideline access, great seats, a gift card to feed my hungry teenagers and memories to last a lifetime. It was the perfect day and it was honestly so nice to be able to just have fun without worrying about a thing.

Thank you also for the lovely care package and all the goodies from Kendra Scott. I enjoyed wearing my football necklace and it will forever be a memory of such an extraordinary day. I really can't say enough about what this meant to me and our family. Your mission and work is incredibly valuable. Please extend my sincere gratitude to the Miami Dolphins!

Viviana was so kind and very helpful to ensure we had the perfect day. If any of you have occasion to travel to south Florida I would love the opportunity to meet/thank you in person. Our heartfelt thanks.”

- Michelle | Widow to Jason

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the incredible event my family was able to experience. Every moment-every thoughtful gesture, every gift, every shared experience-was filled with love. It was so much more than just an event.

I felt cared for by your team. The kindness and generosity you poured into this experience touched my heart deeply and will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you for honoring our journey, and reminding us that we are not alone. Your work truly makes a difference. With heartfelt appreciation.”

- Elizabeth | widow & mother to Chase and Zak

“What an absolutely incredible night at the Ravens and Miami Dolphins game. We can't thank you enough for honoring our family with this generous experience. We have made memories tonight that will last forever. The smiles on the kids faces warmed my heart beyond words.

It hasn't been easy these past few years after the passing of my husband. There were some days when I thought how would I go on and raise three kids on my own. The fear was real and my heart shattered in pieces. We have come a long way in this day to day, hour by hour process. The journey would not have been possible without an outstanding and generous community by our side. Thank you for being a part of our community, our family and filling our hearts.

Knowing that you are really never alone softens the incredible loss of Jason and gives us hope for our future.

Thank You for all you do even as you grieve and making widows feel supported. Thank you @kendrascott for making us feel pretty on our night out. Thank you to The Miami Dolphins for making a dream come true.”

- Kareen | widow to Jason & mother of Ava, Camden and Christopher