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From Tragedy to Hope: A 9/11 Widow's Global Mission
10 Sep
Summary
- Two widows of 9/11 victims co-founded a non-profit to aid Afghan widows.
- Their organization raised over $1.75 million for Afghan widows and children.
- Both women found new love and remarried after their loss.
Two women, Patti Quigley and Susan Retik, found solace and purpose after their husbands were killed in the 9/11 attacks. Quigley's husband, Patrick, and Retik's husband, David, were on flights that were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center. Following their profound loss, they established Beyond the 11th, a non-profit organization. This initiative was born from a desire to offer support to Afghan widows, mirroring the assistance they themselves received.
Beyond the 11th has since awarded over $1.75 million in grants to organizations assisting Afghan widows and their children. Quigley also co-founded Razia's Ray of Hope, which established a girls' school in Afghanistan. Retik continues to support widowed mothers through an endowment to the school. Both women have since remarried and found happiness again, demonstrating resilience and a commitment to ongoing humanitarian efforts. They remain close friends, their shared experience forging a lasting bond.
