The WARM Place is excited to welcome Joe Greenhill, an attorney with Kelly Hart and longtime supporter of the organization, as its new President of the Board of Directors. For Joe, this new role is especially meaningful, bringing his family’s longstanding connection to The WARM Place full circle.
Joe’s connection to The WARM Place began when he was a child. His mother, Ann, worked at the organization when Joe was in middle school, giving him an early glimpse into the mission and the people behind it. As a high school student, he became involved himself, volunteering for The WARM Place’s annual “Phone Calls from Santa” program and participating in special events with his brothers, including Sunday in the Stockyards.
“I grew up watching my mom come home from this place, hearing about the families she worked with, tagging along to events,” Joe said. “The WARM Place was always part of our family’s life. So serving as Board President now feels like something has come full circle.”
Ann began working at The WARM Place about 10 years after its founding, after reading about the organization and being moved by its mission to support grieving children and their parents. “I knew it was going to be a special place,” Ann said. “What a gift to me to be involved with such a wonderful organization. I was so proud to work there and I wanted my children to realize what a wonderful place it was.” She remembers Joe and his brothers attending The WARM Place events and Joe recruiting his friends to participate in Phone Calls from Santa.
Years later, when Joe returned to Fort Worth after beginning his career, he became involved with The WARM Place as a volunteer, eventually joining its Board of Directors. “I always thought Joe had a heart for helping people,” Ann said. “As the saying goes, he has a nonprofit heart!”
Today, more than 37 years after The WARM Place was founded, Joe is stepping into a leadership role at an organization that has grown significantly while remaining committed to its founding mission. Since opening its doors in 1989, The WARM Place has provided grief support to more than 52,000 children and their family members.
Joe said one of the things that has kept him involved is seeing firsthand how unique The WARM Place is and how meaningful peer support can be for children who are grieving. “What happens here—children sitting with other children who actually get it, realizing they’re not alone— it changes lives,” Joe said. “It’s quiet work, but it matters.”
Ann said she has been amazed to see how much The WARM Place has grown since her time with the organization. “I am absolutely amazed at the growth of The WARM Place and how many children and family members it has helped,” she said. “I am in awe of all the good work that has been done but also not surprised. It is still dear to my heart and especially so now that Joe is going to be Board President.”
As Joe begins his term, he hopes the community will continue to learn about the unique resource The WARM Place provides to grieving children and families. “I wish more people knew how unique it is,” Joe said. “Grief support for kids isn’t something most communities offer. If you know someone who’s lost a loved one, tell them about this place. It might be exactly what they need.”
Joe and his wife, Melissa, live in Fort Worth with their twin boys, James and Joe. Outside of The WARM Place and his work as an attorney with Kelly Hart, Joe spends much of his time attending his sons’ sporting events and playing tennis with family and friends.
As Joe steps into this new role, we are excited to see how his leadership, passion for our mission and longstanding connection to The WARM Place will help guide the organization into the future. We look forward to all that is ahead as we continue our commitment to supporting grieving children and families in our community.
