When Brian Griese was twelve years old, he lost his mother, Judi, to cancer—a loss that left him unmoored in his grief. Decades later, Griese, a former Denver Broncos quarterback and current 49ers quarterback coach, and his wife, psychologist Brook Griese, turned that pain into purpose. Together, they founded Judi’s House, a Denver-based nonprofit grief center, to ensure no child has to navigate the loss of a loved one without support.
“Our work is not for the faint of heart,” says CEO Micki Burns, a psychologist who has dedicated her career to supporting families in difficult times. “We try to balance client care with self-care, joy with pain, and leave every day grateful for the opportunity to listen. We do not have to fill the space; we hold space for our clients to genuinely share their grief reactions.”
Judi’s House provides direct services across the Denver metro area, offers training for early career clinicians and caregivers, and partners with the University of Colorado for research. In 2023, Judi’s House expanded from Denver to a new center in Aurora, extending its grief-focused education and therapeutic programs into schools and community settings.
In addition to supporting grieving children, Judi’s House helps those caring for them. Each month, the clinical team hosts ninety-minute virtual workshops for caregivers, offering grief education, developmental insights, and expert guidance on addressing individual concerns.
Judi’s House will host its annual Strength in the Face of Adversity Luncheon on Friday, May 2, at the Seawell Ballroom.
