Modern Widows Club to honor grief researcher and philanthropist at Jersey City awards dinner

Modern Widows Club will recognize Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor and Angelica Berrie at its Legacy & Leadership Awards Dinner on Oct. 20 in Jersey City, New Jersey. The event will raise money for programs that support widowed women with community, advocacy and structured care.

Why it matters: - The awards spotlight widows as an overlooked philanthropic priority and tie recognition of two leaders to direct support for widowed women. - Proceeds will fund Modern Widows Club's Hope, Heal, Grow, and Lead® Healthy Widowhood Pathway programs. - The programs are designed to help widowed women move from crisis to community and leadership.

What happened: - Modern Widows Club® will host its 2026 Legacy & Leadership Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Liberty House in Jersey City, New Jersey. - The nonprofit will honor Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor and Angelica Berrie for their contributions to grief research, philanthropy, resilience, advocacy and leadership. - The 7th annual event is set to bring together community leaders, donors, journalists and members from around the country. - Ticket information is available here. - New York Life Foundation is the key event sponsor.

The details: - O'Connor is a neuroscientist, researcher, clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Arizona. - O'Connor directs the Grief, Loss, and Social Stress Lab, known as GLASS. - Her work has helped frame grief as a process of learning rather than a linear, stage-based experience. - O'Connor wrote the New York Times best sellers "The Grieving Brain" and "The Grieving Body." - O'Connor also announced work with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, on a MasterClass titled "Redefining Grief: Building Resilience Through Grief." - The program includes Prince Harry speaking about grief after the death of Princess Diana. - Berrie is president of the Russell Berrie Foundation. - Berrie has also held leadership roles with Russ Berrie & Company. - Berrie has directed resources to diabetes care, interfaith bridge building, entrepreneurial leadership and social investment philanthropy. - Berrie's work has focused on identifying visionaries, institutions and unsung heroes doing groundbreaking work. - Berrie is co-author of "A Passion for Giving: Tools and Inspiration for Creating a Charitable Foundation." - Berrie has also worked to build bridges between Christian, Jewish and other religious traditions through the John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue in Rome. - Carolyn Moor founded Modern Widows Club in 2011 after becoming widowed herself. - Moor says empowering widowed women remains one of the most overlooked populations in philanthropy. - Moor said the dinner aims to honor two women and support widows from crisis to community and leadership. - Modern Widows Club was founded in Winter Park, Florida, and now operates as a national nonprofit. - The organization provides stage-based support through community, advocacy and structured programming. - The Hope, Heal, Grow, and Lead® Healthy Widowhood Pathway addresses financial, emotional, social, relational, spiritual and leadership needs. - Modern Widows Club says the pathway helps rebuild lives toward long-term stability and purpose. - The organization welcomes the public to the awards dinner. - Modern Widows Club's website is Learn more. - New York Life Foundation's website is Foundation information.

Between the lines: - The event pairs recognition with fundraising, using high-profile honorees to widen attention on widowhood support. - The choice of honorees also links grief science and philanthropy, two fields shaping how loss is understood and supported. - Berrie's quote, "Widowhood is a Master Class in Leadership," underscores the event's emphasis on widows as leaders, not only recipients of care.

What's next: - Modern Widows Club will hold the dinner on Oct. 20. - Event proceeds are expected to support ongoing programming for widowed women. - The nonprofit's broader goal is to expand support for widows globally through its growing movement.

The bottom line: - Modern Widows Club is using its annual awards night to elevate grief leadership and fund practical support for widowed women.