MICHELLE & JAY'S STORY

Jay & Michelle's Story: How two empty nesters answered an unexpected call to love

Jay and Michelle thought their days of raising young children were behind them. Their four children — now adults — had grown and moved on, and this couple had settled into the next chapter of their lives. Then, in an instant, everything changed.

Three children — an 11-year-old girl, a 9-year-old girl, and a 3-year-old boy — suddenly found themselves without a safe and stable place to call home. Without hesitation and in the middle of the night, Jay and Michelle opened their door.

The children arrived with just the clothes on their backs. They carried grief, uncertainty, and trauma that no child should ever have to bear. Jay and Michelle knew immediately that meeting their needs would mean more than providing beds and meals — it would mean becoming an anchor of stability at one of the most frightening moments of these children's young lives.

Both working full time, Jay and Michelle threw themselves into assembling everything three children of those ages would need — clothing, school supplies, everyday essentials — while simultaneously providing the emotional consistency these kids so desperately needed. From the very first days, they established routine, structure, and above all, love.

"When we got the call from The Butterfly Foundation, we were beyond grateful that someone took the time to nominate us for a grant. The Butterfly Foundation jumped into action and helped us get essential items and support for the kids. Thank you, Butterflies!" - Michelle B.

The financial weight of welcoming three children without preparation is significant. But beyond the immediate material needs, Jay and Michelle recognized something equally important: these children would need professional therapeutic support to process what they had been through.

Healing from trauma takes time, expertise, and consistent care. The Butterfly Foundation responded with an emergency grant to help cover immediate household needs and support access to therapy for the children — because the most powerful investment we can make is in a child's long-term healing. By the end of 2025 their adoptions were finalized and Jay and Michelle's beautiful family officially grew by 3!

The butterfly is symbolic to us in many ways. Just as a butterfly moves quietly from flower to flower carrying pollen that helps things grow and bloom, The Butterfly Foundation believes that even small acts of support can set powerful things in motion. This time, it was helping keep the light shining in three precious children's lives.

We are grateful to the donors, volunteers, and community members who make stories like Jay and Michelle's possible. Every contribution, large or small, helps us continue pollinating hope for Coloradans who need it most.

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