You may know her as the woman who sang, "Tennessee Waltz," and "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window," but Patti, the Grammy Award-winning recording artist, was also a grandparent who, fifteen years ago, took custody of her two granddaughters because their mother had drug problems.

Her passion for children didn't stop at home.  Patti was a long-standing spokesperson for our organization and for grandparents and kinship caregivers everywhere.  She performed at several NCGCR functions, including her signature event that benefited NCGCR, "Hold Up for Charity."  Sharing her own personal experiences, she participated and testified at our First International Conference of Grandparent and Kinship Caregivers at the United Nations in 2007.

We mourn the loss of our good friend, and we know that her music and passion for children will never cease to inspire.