Karen Maloney Tribute
Photo (Left to Right): Tom Skilling, Karen Maloney, and Rex Huppke
“Today is a day of sadness and joy as we say goodbye to Karen Maloney whose battle with cancer ended this week. Karen, an Agent Of Impact with HFTD should be remembered as a warrior of compassion. After one of her employees completed suicide, Karen made it her mission to be proactive in her community and turned her local Dairy Queen into a safe space to talk about mental health, using ice cream as the conversation starter. Despite her recent battle with her physical health, she never turned her back on her community nor her passion for mental health. She was one with the underdogs.” Jonny Boucher, Hope For The Day, Founder and CEO
Karen Maloney could only be described first and foremost as both a lover and a fighter. Those personality traits fueled her dedication to raising awareness of youth suicides and becoming a valued partner to Hope For The Day. In Jonathan Kaden’s second year working for Karen, he died by suicide on July 29, 2011, and Karen knew she had to do something. Thus, the Dilly Bar Golf Outing was born, the perfect combination of Karen’s love for golf and new sense of purpose to rally behind a cause. This event not only took place once but four times in the last five years.
But in late 2016, she was faced with her own fight when she was diagnosed with cancer. As you would expect from Karen, she fought with everything she had. She surpassed the timeline that doctors gave her by multiple months. Karen passed away in her home surrounded by the presence and energy of family and friends on August 20th, 2018 at the age of 60.
Karen will be missed by the Hope For The Day team but her service and dedication will live on for years to come as an example to inspire others about how one person can make a big difference in their own community.
“Karen's commitment to her Dairy Queen store, the Dilly Bar Golf Outing, and keeping Jonathan’s memory alive is a reflection of her commitment to her staff, her compassion and care for her community, and wanting to bring attention to youth suicide.” Carl Evans, Hope For The Day, Director of Programs and Operations.
IT'S OK NOT TO BE OK
If you or someone you know needs help, reach out;
Crisis Text Line
TEXT “ITSOK” TO 741741 (Available 24/7)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255(TALK) - Press 1 for Veterans Line
The Trevor Project LGBT Lifeline
866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) (Available 24/7)