Honoring Erin: A New Chapter for Bright Buddies 💚

As a family, we are learning to cope with the unimaginable. My children and I have been grieving the loss of their mother, Erin. Erin was a vibrant, beautiful 43-year-old woman who loved her family deeply. Against all odds, she survived cancer, only to have her life taken away by the quiet struggles of mental health. This loss has been devastating, a pain that is difficult to put into words.

But as a family, we know that Erin would want us to continue her legacy in a way that honors her spirit. In her memory, we are deciding to turn this heartbreak into something meaningful for others.

Today, I am proud to announce a new chapter for Bright Buddies — one that will focus on raising awareness about mental health. As many of you know, Bright Buddies has always been about supporting children with special needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum or ADHD. We also recognize that the parents of these children face their own struggles, and mental health is often one of the most silent battles. It's time for our community to not only focus on our children but to also take care of each other. We want to be a support system for the families we serve, and that means addressing the emotional well-being of every member.

In Erin’s honor, we will be introducing Sage, our new green owl character. Sage will be the voice and advocate for mental health awareness at Bright Buddies. Just as our other characters have become beloved symbols of strength and resilience, Sage will represent the importance of mental health and the need for open conversations and support. We hope that Sage will inspire both children and adults to understand that mental health is just as important as physical health, and we all deserve help, kindness, and support.

This has been an incredibly hard time for us, but in Erin’s memory, we are finding the strength to keep going. While we are grieving the loss of a mother, we know Erin is now at peace. We believe that her greatest wish would be for us to continue living with purpose and to make a positive impact on the lives of others who are struggling with their own mental health challenges. We want to take the pain we feel and use it to help others heal.

At Bright Buddies, we’re not just a brand, we’re a family. And families support one another. We want this platform to be a space where anyone can come to share their struggles, to know that they are not alone, and to feel loved and needed by a community that truly cares. It’s time to create a space where mental health is not a taboo subject, where we can all feel comfortable talking about our emotional well-being and supporting each other.

As Erin’s birthday approaches this December, we want to take it a step further. We will be donating all the revenue from Bright Buddies sales in December to a select charity that helps those struggling with mental health. It is our way of honoring Erin’s memory and giving back to a cause that means so much to us.

We encourage you to join us in supporting one another. Hug the ones you love a little tighter, check in on those around you, and remember that a simple smile or kind word can make a world of difference. Life is hard, and we all face unseen battles. Let’s create a world where we’re all here for each other, supporting one another through the tough times and celebrating the victories together.

Thank you for your continued support. Let’s build a brighter, more compassionate world — one smile, one conversation, and one act of kindness at a time.

With love,

Simon Shavanson and the Bright Buddies Family 💚

#MentalHealthAwareness #BrightBuddies #SageTheOwl #ErinsLegacy #Irishanian #SupportEachOther #YouAreNotAlone #OurIrishQueen # Erin McQueeny