Nick Grono
22-10 2020 10:07
wrote:
Laura was my very first full-time colleague at the Freedom Fund. I remember interviewing her in April 2014, when we were a tiny start up charity, squatting at one of our donor’s plush offices in Mayfair.
I was struck in our very first meeting by Laura’s warmth, and her determination. And when she started working with us, it soon became clear that Laura was a force of nature. She quickly helped us secure our very first offices, fit them out, and effortlessly manage the myriad of tasks that had to be juggled for a start-up organisation – looking after accounts, office management, travel around the world, supporting staff and consultants in various countries. And she did all of this with good humour, a booming laugh and a powerful sense of purpose.
I’ve shared a photo of a trip that Laura, Audrey (our director of programs) and I did to Thailand in 2015 to learn more first-hand about our work there and introduce it to some of our donors. It was a great trip, but I was particularly struck at how much joy Laura got from being in the field and directly interacting with those vulnerable migrants and workers we are working to support. This photo of the three of us is one taken at a little road-side café in Southern Thailand.
Laura eventually moved on to a bigger role at another organisation with our support and blessing and was a regular at our social events. I also know that over time she had ever-growing struggles with depression. But the news of her passing this week came as such a horrendous shock. I grieve for the pain she must have been suffering in recent times. And certainly, the memories I will always have of her are of her infectious laugh, her huge enthusiasm, and how she contributed so much good to the world.
Nick Grono
22-10 2020 10:07
wrote:
Laura was my very first full-time colleague at the Freedom Fund. I remember interviewing her in April 2014, when we were a tiny start up charity, squatting at one of our donor’s plush offices in Mayfair.
I was struck in our very first meeting by Laura’s warmth, and her determination. And when she started working with us, it soon became clear that Laura was a force of nature. She quickly helped us secure our very first offices, fit them out, and effortlessly manage the myriad of tasks that had to be juggled for a start-up organisation – looking after accounts, office management, travel around the world, supporting staff and consultants in various countries. And she did all of this with good humour, a booming laugh and a powerful sense of purpose.
I’ve shared a photo of a trip that Laura, Audrey (our director of programs) and I did to Thailand in 2015 to learn more first-hand about our work there and introduce it to some of our donors. It was a great trip, but I was particularly struck at how much joy Laura got from being in the field and directly interacting with those vulnerable migrants and workers we are working to support. This photo of the three of us is one taken at a little road-side café in Southern Thailand.
Laura eventually moved on to a bigger role at another organisation with our support and blessing and was a regular at our social events. I also know that over time she had ever-growing struggles with depression. But the news of her passing this week came as such a horrendous shock. I grieve for the pain she must have been suffering in recent times. And certainly, the memories I will always have of her are of her infectious laugh, her huge enthusiasm, and how she contributed so much good to the world.