From Loss To Purpose
Our Story and History
The Loss That Changed Everything
How one family’s grief became a mission to support others navigating life after loss.
The Beginning: Richard’s Story
Richard Lambert
9/23/1985 - 9/4/2012
Richard Lambert was a bright light in the lives of those who knew him. He had a warm smile, a quick sense of humor, beautiful blue eyes, and a genuine kindness. Richard loved spending time with the people who mattered most to him. Whether it was hanging out, playing football, snowboarding, or watching his favorite team (the Denver Broncos and the Nebraska Cornhuskers), he had fun.
To his family and friends, Richard was much more than a son, brother, and friend, he was someone who brought warmth and joy into everyday moments. His life, though cut short, continues to inspire us. Richard’s legacy continues through the work of the Richard Lambert Foundation, where his memory inspires a mission to support grieving individuals and families as they learn to rebuild their lives after loss.
How my death changed my parents lives:
“Tuesday, September 4, 2012, was the day that changed our world and the trajectory of my life forever…...”
Grieving the loss of a child starts the day we lose our child, and ends the day we join them.
Recognizing a Need in Our Community - Our Founders, Susan and Jaime Chavez
In the months following Richard’s death, Susan and Jaime began searching for support that could help them understand and cope with the overwhelming grief they were experiencing. What they quickly discovered was that grief-specific resources were difficult to find in their community, especially during the time when they felt most vulnerable. After numerous calls and extensive searching, they eventually found counseling and support groups that began to offer life-sustaining tools for hope and survival.
Through those experiences, they also met other grieving families and realized they were not alone in their struggle. Many people were facing the same painful journey after the death of a loved one but lacked access to affordable support and guidance. That realization sparked a powerful question: What if families in our community had somewhere to turn immediately after loss? From that question grew a deep commitment to help ensure others would not have to navigate grief alone or in silence.
Turning Grief Into Purpose
A year into their new reality of living without Richard, Susan felt a strong calling to help others walking through the same devastating path of grief. She wanted families experiencing loss to have access to resources that were not readily available when her own family needed them most.
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