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Vail Valley Charitable Fund: Don’t do it alone

Rebecca Kanaly
Vail Valley Charitable Fund
Rebecca Kanaly, left, and her family.
Courtesy photo

Every holiday when I was young, while other children were celebrating with gifts and food at home, my father would load us into the car and drive through the weather to go to a hospital or convalescent homes. We would, as a small group with friends, sing holiday songs to the infirm.

My father would play guitar, and I was always expected to give every patient a hug or a kiss on the cheek. I knew then how much a simple act of kindness made a difference. To this day, I lovingly blame my father for the trajectory of my life. More pointedly, for the important role that community service has in my life. 

Those visits came to an end a few years after my father suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident where his vehicle was t-boned by a Mack truck. He was in an acute coma for months and our lives were forever changed. He could no longer work as a computer engineer at Martin Marietta providing consultation to the United States government’s satellite program.



Back then, brain injury and mental health research and resources were not considered trendy, and families like ours suffered. In the years since, he was marginalized, victimized and has repeatedly lost everything he’s ever owned due to many moves and medical setbacks. However, he continued his community service work as long as he could, taking us with him to visit hospitals and nursing homes as well as by serving food at the local soup kitchen. 

Sometimes, folks refer to my family as “survivors” and ask us how we do it. After it all, I truly believe that that one strength I have is this: I have figured out how to prepare for, ask for, and then receive … help. A lesson of my story, as part of my father’s story, is: “Don’t do it alone.”

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We have survived because of the grace to both give and receive help. We did not ever do it alone. We were a true family, and my father always demonstrated love, care and perseverance.

Growing up, because I existed in a world of extreme poverty and always a breath away from homelessness, I received charity and opportunities like financial literacy, workforce training and professional opportunities. I hope to make my father, and the others who helped us, proud by utilizing my executive master’s degree in business to, among other deeds, be the CEO of the Youth Closet & Toy Chest, a local nonprofit that supports our community’s families with extremely affordable goods and resources with the mission of relieving the burdens, that accompany the joys, of parenting. 

In 2010, my father came to live with me as an alternative to spending his final years in a mental institution, and my father settled in our home as our family grew. He now shares his days and love with my two daughters.  

Last year, due to the housing crisis in our community, we were forced to move. Fortunately, we had been saving money for a down payment and were a great fit for the programs offered to locals through the Valley Home Store. We found an amazing home in Gypsum that is perfect in every way — except we needed a stairlift so my father could age in place. That’s when the Vail Valley Charitable Fund stepped in to purchase this piece of equipment. This organization quite literally stepped up and demonstrated the power of hope, understanding, relief and community.

As he ages, my father’s needs become greater, and we believe he would not survive long in any institution. He requires constant attention when walking and eating. His poor memory means we must remind him of much, including his special needs, every day. His brain reacts poorly to institutions and thrives at home. Folks often call me and my husband heroes, but we know that we are simply loving and caring for our family. We could only do this with help from other people and programs like the direct aid provided by the Vail Valley Charitable Fund.

Like many locals, we work hard and give so much of our hearts to our family and to our community. I am moved to tears that the Vail Valley Charitable Fund recognizes our family’s gifts to our communities and understands that, even so, we still need help. I am inspired and filled with hope that our family, from grandparents to granddaughters, will continue to thrive here in this valley. Thank you, Vail Valley Charitable Fund.

Rebecca Kanaly is a Vail Valley Charitable Fund grant recipient. Find out more about the VVCF’s mission at VVCF.org.


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