Retreat Center a launching point for nonprofit
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of two articles about the While We’re Waiting Retreat Center and the organization’s expansion of offerings to bereaving parents and the community.
While We’re Waiting has blossomed into an active and ambitious community organization with plans to benefit more people not only in Arkansas, but around the world.
Co-founders Brad and Jill Sullivan and Larry and Janice Brown met seven years ago and bonded over the shared tragedies of losing their children. Hannah Sullivan died at the age of 17 in 2009, a year after she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a deadly and aggressive form of cancer. U.S. Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Adam Brown was killed in active duty in Afghanistan in
2010.
Members of Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club met Wednesday in the While We’re Waiting Retreat Center at
1685 S. Moore Road and Jill Sullivan detailed the nonprofit organization’s past and plans for the future. She said the two families struggled to find organizations and opportunities to meet with other parents in similar circumstances.
“There is no network of faith-based support that is specifically for bereaved parents that has a nationwide reach,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said their faith was important to the two families. The only other large organizations for bereaved parents
are secular in practice.
The first While We’re Waiting retreat was held at Family Farm in 2011 and was modeled after a retreat the Sullivans attended in Nashville, Tenn. Attendees were originally assessed a fee to encourage engagement, but they each received funds and While We’re Waiting has never charged for another event.
An architect estimated their desired renovations for the South Moore Road property would cost at least $1 million. Renovations for the Retreat Center were completed in a little more than a year at a cost of about $500,000. Donations and community support were instrumental in the speed of the work, as well as minimizing the cost. Donations included paint, Sheetrock, siding and stain materials.
The center includes 10 guest rooms added onto the original house at the property. Families made donations to name each room in honor of children they lost.
The Daniel “Bryce” Briggs guest room is named in honor of the Lake Hamilton graduate who died in December at the age of 19 from injuries he sustained in a gasoline fire. His parents, Scott and Tabbitha Briggs, led the organization of the Live Like Bryce — The Bryce Briggs Foundation to continue to honor his life.
Other guest rooms were named in honor of Kyleigh Faith Carter, Lila Kate McAlister, Kendra Mann-O’Brien, Ane Rowe May, Kasie Danielle Parson, Samantha Alice Quinn, Vincent and Annabella Villacci, and Glendon Bryan Youngblood. The Eric and Mike Beck guest room is named in honor of Mike Beck, a father who attended a retreat after the loss of his son, Eric, several months before he died.
All of the guest rooms are furnished by the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Little Rock. The hotel donated the furniture during a renovation phase.
Sullivan said the co-founders sought to limit the size of the center to maintain an intimate and cozy setting to help parents be comfortable. A planned water feature for the front entrance is among several planned outdoor projects for the property.
“They are scared, literally, when they pull up,” Sullivan said. “We want them to feel the warmth and welcome as they pull up. We really put a lot of our time into trying to make this area out front as inviting as possible. That new fountain out front is going to be part of that.”
The dining area is named Jason Mackey’s Cafe and Coffee. A fishing dock is planned to be placed on the pond in honor of Adam Harrington, who was killed by a lightning strike while running around a school track at the age of 19 in 2006. He was the son of Rhonda and Neal Harrington, of Hot Springs, and grandson of Don and Velma Elder Hardin, of Hot Springs. Other planned outdoor projects include a fire pit with seating, disc golf and walking paths.
While We’re Waiting began with weekend retreats for parents. Family Farm could only accommodate two retreats per year and several subsequent retreats were held in surrounding states. The Retreat Center is meant to be a main location for all events.
The organization now offers weekend retreats for dads and weekend mini-retreats for moms. All events remain free.
The center’s first retreat was held last October and has now hosted 11 total retreats. While We’re Waiting has held 60 retreats since it began in 2011.
Guests have attended events from 19 states with future participants currently registered from Hawaii, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Canada. Waiting lists are in place as all future events through July 2018 are booked full.
The organization has always organized support groups for bereaved parents. Groups meet at the Retreat Center, North Little Rock, Siloam Springs and Springdale, with growing interest outside of the state and the country.
Groups are currently in place in Atlanta; St. Louis; Tyler, Texas; Florida, and Tennessee. Future groups are planned for El Dorado, Oregon, Oklahoma City, and one in Australia.
Potential organizers must attend at least one retreat or three support group meetings. The potential organizer in Australia has already attended one support group meeting via an internet video call.
Sullivan said the primary purpose of the Retreat Center is While We’re Waiting events, but it is open for free for use of church, civic and community events. The center does not host youth events.
Guests can request care packages for bereaved parents. Sullivan said the organization has distributed 312 care packages so far in 2017.
One-time and repeating donations can be made through the organization’s website at https://www.whilewerewaiting.org. Additional information is available on the https://www.facebook.com/whilewearewaiting/ page.
Requests for information can be made by emailing jill@whilewerewaiting.org or calling 501-881-8851. While We’re Waiting is a nonprofit ministry. Checks should be made payable to While We’re Waiting and mailed to While We’re Waiting, P.O. Box 22823, Hot Springs, AR 71903.