About us
Our story
The Resilient Hope Foundation was born from loss and built
on the belief that no family should navigate grief alone.
Founder Christine Floyd knows this journey firsthand. At 34 years old, she faced the devastating loss of her husband, Derek Floyd.
Derek was a beloved member of the FDNY Ceremonial Unit who passed away from cardiac arrest on April 15, 2024, at the age of 36. From that heartwrenching moment, Christine found herself, and her two small children isolated and overwhelmed. In her darkest moments, she discovered the healing power of community—of connecting with others who truly understood. She recognized the need for the widows and children of fallen first responders and military personnel to have a safe space to process loss, find connection, and begin their own healing journeys.
But Christine also recognized the practical barriers that keep grieving families isolated: the cost of childcare, the inability to access mental health support while parenting alone, and the financial stress that compounds emotional pain.
She decided to turn her pain into purpose. Christine founded Resilient Hope Foundation to support grieving families as they navigate the barriers they come across: the cost of childcare, the inability to access mental health support as a single parent, the financial stress, and emotional pain.
Christine's vision is rooted in love, faith, and community. Through the Resilient Hope Foundation, Christine hopes to help encourage other families moving forward in this grief journey with resilience and hope. Leaving behind a legacy for her children, Ethan and Abigail that honors strength and perseverance in the midst of adversity.
Our
mission
Our
Values
The Resilient Hope Foundation believes in compassion, community, practical support, hope, resilience, and honor. We meet families where they are with empathetic shared experiences and a focus on connection. We remove barriers (financial or otherwise) that prevent families from accessing help, and we make space for hope when widows and widowers cannot find it themselves. We strive to be the strength for families to lean on while honoring fallen heroes.
The Resilient Hope Foundation’s mission is to provide grief socialization groups and supportive programs for families (especially children) of first responders who have died, whether on or off duty. As we walk alongside widows, widowers, and their children in their grief, we foster resilience, hope, and lasting support. The Foundation and all its volunteers seek to ensure accessible support through connection, community, and practical assistance.
*
501(c)(3) Commitment
* 501(c)(3) Commitment
The Resilient Hope Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in full compliance with federal and state regulations.
Meet the Team
-
Christine Floyd
Founder / President
A devoted school counselor of 9 years and proud mom of two young children, Christine channels her personal journey of loss into a mission to help others find strength through community and hope after heartbreak. Her faith and work reflects her deep belief that even in life’s hardest moments, resilience and love can light the way forward. Her hope with this non profit foundation, is to provide grieving families with peer support groups and connections to help support each other along each grief journey. -
Liz Toro
Director of Resilient Families
Liz Toro is the co-owner of Sitter Network (L&A Babysitting Inc). She is compassionate in assisting first responder and military parents with their childcare needs as outside managing the babysitting business, she works primarily in law enforcement. Her goal and dream is to create a system with the assistance of a grant for low cost childcare for first responder and military personnel which will hopefully help combat the mental health crisis that is currently affecting so many first responder families, especially those who are widows and widowers.
Advisory Board Members
LAUREN ST. HILL
Lauren St. Hill is a Mental Health Counselor and School Psychologist with over eight years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and families through emotional and life challenges. She is passionate about providing compassionate, evidence-based care that promotes healing and resilience. As a proud FDNY wife, Lauren brings a personal understanding of the unique stressors and sacrifices faced by first responders and their families. Her professional expertise combined with her lived experience fuels her dedication to helping individuals and families navigate grief, loss, and transitions with empathy and strength.
Kristine Riggio
Kristine Riggio is a seasoned nonprofit executive and community leader with more than 17 years of experience in fundraising, business development, strategic planning, and event leadership. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Children’s Medical Fund of New York (CMF), where she leads organizational strategy, board engagement, and revenue growth to support critical pediatric programs at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Under her leadership, CMF has experienced significant fundraising growth while expanding community partnerships and mission impact.
Kristine is also the President of The Riggio Group, LLC, providing consulting services to nonprofit organizations focused on development strategy, donor engagement, and large-scale fundraising events. She has held leadership roles with large organizations including a 13 year tenure with the American Diabetes Association, where she drove revenue growth, launched signature events, and strengthened volunteer leadership structures. In addition to her nonprofit work, Kristine is the founder of Sweet Clementine’s Sips, Sass & Treats, a mobile beverage and treat business rooted in creativity, community, and inclusion. She is currently developing Sips for Success, a companion initiative focused on education, workforce readiness, and creating meaningful opportunities for youth and young adults. Born in Queens, New York, Kristine moved to Long Island at the age of four and has proudly called it home ever since. She is deeply involved in her local community, serving as a Scout leader, PTA leader, and founder of the Challenger Booster Club, where she advocates for inclusive youth programming. Kristine lives on Long Island with her husband, her son and bonus son, Joey, two dogs, Maxi and Clementine, and her cat, Sammy. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, spending time outdoors, and being with her family and friends. Kristine is honored to serve on the board of Resilient Hope Foundation, supporting its mission to foster resilience, compassion, and hope for individuals and families in need.
JUAN (TITO) TORO
Juan (Tito) Toro is a public relations liasion with over 30 years of law enforcement experience as an NYPD Detective in fields of Community Affairs Units, Certified Crime Prevention Officer, Auxilary Police Precinct, Borough Command Coordinator, and Clergy Laison Coordinator. He is a certified NYS Security Guard Instructor, NYS Peace Officer Instructor, and NYS M.O.I. Instructor.
Rosa Ryan
Rosa Ryan is a retired NYPD Sergeant. She currently works as an IPS Coordinator for Broward County College and volunteers her time as the commanding officer for the Sea Cadet program. She is a lead instructor in the National Drug Education Program and has conducted multiple virtual trainings for the Sea Cadets. She is a dedicated and experienced professional that is passionate about helping others reach their full potential. Besides having an opportunity to impart information to others the best part of teaching is gaining knowledge from others.
Michael Ryan
Michael Ryan is an experienced law enforcement executive with over 33 years of experience. He is a retired Lieutenant who served for nearly 27 years with the New York City Police Department. Currently, he works as an Analyst with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD). Throughout his career, he has completed various training programs in leadership and crisis intervention. Mr. Ryan is a member of FLPD’s critical incident stress debriefing team, serving as both a counselor and team leader. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from S.U.N.Y. Empire State College, a master’s degree in public administration from Lynn University, and is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy. He has earned multiple awards for excellence in service and leadership. He is devoted to mentorship and professional growth. Mr. Ryan also volunteers with the Knights of Columbus and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, a youth organization for children ages 10-18. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.
Our professional partners
Licensed Grief Counseling Professionals:
Bereavement specialists
Licensed mental health counselors
Trained grief group facilitators
Child psychology professionals
Childcare Partnership:
Sitter Network (L&A Babysitting Inc.)
2,000+ families served
Vetted, background-checked caregivers
First responder-focused services
Community Partners:
FDNY & NYPD family support services
Military family resource centers
Local schools and community organizations
Mental health agencies
In the news
-
Long Island FDNY widow launches foundation to support families of first responders and military heroes
New York Post
By: Alex Mitchell -
Queens mom turns grief into hope for families of fallen heroes
PIX 11 News
By: Monica Morales -
NYC firefighter, 36, dies of heart attack after being fired to pay for migrants — leaving his family with nothing
New York Post
By Craig McCarthy and Alex Oliveira -
NYC nonprofit honors families of fallen first responders at Thanksgiving Parade
PIX 11 News
By: Monica Morales