Former Executive Bryan Scott McMillan Advocates for Community Support of Grieving Children and Families
TL;DR
Bryan Scott McMillan leverages his executive leadership experience to advocate for grieving families, showing how community support creates resilient individuals who overcome adversity.
McMillan outlines practical steps for supporting grieving families including regular check-ins, non-judgmental listening, maintaining routines, and sharing local grief resources.
McMillan's advocacy through Families with Holes and volunteer work helps grieving children and families heal, creating stronger, more compassionate communities through simple acts of support.
McMillan discovered that walking without headphones helps clear the mind and encourages conversation, a simple practice he shares to help others through grief.
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Retired senior executive and philanthropist Bryan Scott McMillan has used a recent interview platform to advocate for greater support for grieving children and families experiencing emotional hardship, emphasizing the power of community involvement and practical assistance. McMillan, who lost his wife to cancer, shared how personal tragedy transformed his perspective on leadership and community support.
"When my wife passed away, I saw how quickly grief can overwhelm a family," McMillan stated. "The WARM Place helped my children find their footing again, and it taught me how powerful small acts of support can be." His advocacy comes amid concerning statistics about childhood bereavement, with data showing that 1 in 12 children in the U.S. will lose a parent or sibling before age 18, and grieving children are twice as likely to experience depression and three times more likely to struggle in school.
Following a three-decade career revitalizing global medical device businesses, McMillan's purpose expanded when he began volunteering at The WARM Place in 2006. He later supported Camp Sanguinity, and in 2018 founded Families with Holes, an organization offering guidance to families experiencing loss. "My leadership changed after grief," McMillan explained. "I stopped trying to fix everything and started listening more. Families don't need perfection — they need people who show up."
McMillan emphasizes simple, reachable steps anyone can take to support grieving families, including checking in regularly with messages, meals, or visits; listening without judgment; encouraging rest and routine; sharing helpful resources like local grief centers or youth programs; and walking with someone. "Walking without headphones has helped me through my darkest seasons," McMillan noted. "It clears the mind. It helps people talk."
The call for community support comes at a critical time, with many grief support centers reporting rising demand and waiting lists stretching weeks or months. "Families feel alone. Children feel confused. And in many cases, the community doesn't know how to step in," McMillan said. "You don't need training to help someone heal — you just need compassion." McMillan's advocacy highlights the growing need for community-based support systems as families navigate the complex emotional landscape of loss, particularly affecting children who face increased risks of depression and academic challenges without adequate support.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
