CR Magazine – Winter 2017

REALTOR ®
Spotlight
REALTOR ®
Designs Custom Spaces
for Grieving Children
MICHAELA GORDON
@properties
Losing a loved one is never easy to
understand or accept, for children it can
be nearly impossible. Michaela Gordon,
@properties, lost her mother at a young
age, changing the course of her life forever.
Her own experiences grieving led her to
understand the special care and attention
children need to cope with and understand
difficult circumstances. Gordon combined her
background in architecture and real estate
with her passion for helping children deal
with loss to found the non-profit, the From
Now On Project.
FNOP works closely with children who have lost loved ones in their
immediate family and create their ideal environment for grieving.
“As adults, we can make the conscious decision to take a step back
or participate in things that give us mental space in difficult times,”
Gordon said. “But children often can’t articulate what they need to
grieve or don’t have access to necessary spaces to do so.” By getting
to know the children, the From Now On Project team learns what
brings them a sense of calm, like a water feature or a space all to
themselves, and work tirelessly to bring their ideal spaces to life.
The project connects with local hospitals and organizations, like Lurie
Children’s Hospital and local YMCA’s, to find families in need. One of
FNOP’s first projects was a young girl who lost her brother, who left a
star with his name on it in the castle at Disney World through the Make a
Wish Foundation. The young girl took comfort in stars, so FNOP created
a space for her with her own unique stars, to remind her of her brother
and encourage her to find her own healing ground to move forward.
“My healing comes from helping these children through a process
I also had to go through,” Gordon said. Having to learn how to live
in a new reality, she often had to look at things with the perspective
of: “from now on.” This idea sparked the organization’s name and
brings a positive outlook to the phrase.
FNOP runs smoothly thanks to amazing volunteers,
teamwork and creativity; their team of designers and
creatives work tirelessly to create these spaces for
children. Gordon says having a team in place
who is just as passionate
about the outcome
as she is helps her
move forward, even
when it is difficult.
FNOP receives support from donors and fundraising events, and
hopes to see even more involvement from the REALTOR ® community
in the coming year. One of the easiest and most personal ways to get
involved is by purchasing a gift off of the project registry. Similar to an
event registry, items needed for the project are listed on the website
and can be purchased for the spaces. New items are added with each
new project.
FNOP also hosts build-out days to piece together project elements
and create the final space for the child. Currently, the team is working
with a family with three children and is constructing a large-scale
outdoor project to adhere to each child’s needs.
Dealing with loss is never an easy process, and creating safe spaces
for children to do so is just a small gesture that could impact the
course of a child’s life.
To learn more about the From Now On Project and how you can get
involved, visit www.FromNowOnProject.org.
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 33