On the night of Jan. 7, 2025, gusting winds and relentless fire brought devastation right to the doorstep of Dede Kennedy-Simington, Oregon.
Wildfires raged across Southern California’s Pacific Palisades that day, and while out for dinner, Dede learned a fire had sparked in Altadena, California, where her family has lived for 28 years. As the Eaton Fire quickly spread, Dede and her husband raced home to get important papers and priceless photos before evacuating, holding out hope they would return to their home unscathed.
Sadly, they arrived the next day to watch as the last remains of their home burned to the ground. They were grateful for their personal safety, but heartbroken as they stood among the embers and rubble.
But as often happens during tragedy, Dede needed to pick up the pieces and move forward with life. While dealing with insurance claims and discussions, sifting through ashes to see what, if anything, was left after the flames were extinguished, Dede got to work. As a business owner who serves on the board of her national trade association, Dede had a February conference to attend, but she quite literally had nothing to wear.
This has been a tremendously humbling and shattering experience, and receiving this support had me in tears. We are so very blessed and grateful.
– Dede Kennedy-Simington, Oregon
She turned to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. And during a compassionate talk on the phone with the team, Dede, so accustomed to helping others, realized she needed to accept she was in a “season of receiving.” Used to serving others, acceptance has been central to her path forward.
The timing of the Rose McGill Grant was perfect, Dede says, in that she needed to rebuild a professional wardrobe, acquire new luggage, and gather the things that would make her feel confident while in Washington, D.C., to advocate for her industry.
“I was really rather blown away by the grant,” Dede says. “It is so unexpected and truly helpful. This has been a tremendously humbling and shattering experience, and receiving this support had me in tears. We are so very blessed and grateful.”
While it’s been months since Dede and her family faced the most difficult part of their journey — and they have begun rebuilding — Dede says she will not soon forget how her sisters were there for her in time of greatest need.
She’s a California fire survivor who learned firsthand the profound impact of helping others during life’s hardships. Today, Dede continues her deep commitment to community service, her family, and sharing her gratitude for the sisterhood and generosity of Kappa.
