Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pam O’donnell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Pam , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Having been through cancer that led me to be on my deathbed for a year in 2014 and being told to say goodbye to my two daughters that were 3 and 4 at the time, then surviving is a miracle. My own oncologist still to this day does not even know how I survived and 9 years later still calls me an anomaly. Thinking we had a 2nd lease on life in 2015, my family of 4 had the best year ever until February of 2016 came when BOTH my husband and now at this time 5 year old daughter were slaughtered on a highway by a drugged driver. Having another daughter, I had no choice but to put my big girl pants on and be her now only parent and do the best I can all the while making sure my husband and daughter did not die in vain. The family I fought cancer to live for and in a bad turn of events half are gone, I have no other choice but be resilient and keep moving to be an example for my now only daughter.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
After the deaths of both my husband and daughter, I created a non-profit organization called the Catch You Later Foundation. It originally was focused on giving out two scholarships and bringing awareness to the aggressive driving number #77 in New Jersey after learning that witnesses came forward but NOT calling anyone to alert authorities about the drugged erratic driver that killed my family. It has since morphed into a foundation that allows me to go across the country and share our story with the hopes that it doesn’t happen to others. Sadly though it happens way too often in the United States where approximately 40,000 people die yearly in car crashes that are 100 % preventable, whether it be distracted or impaired driving. Having seen all the video tapes of what led to the crash it also made me realize the toll these it takes on first responders knowing that most of those who arrived at the crash scene were my husbands former students. I then became more involved with first responders and becoming the first and only certified civilian police instructor and state trooper instructor in NJ State history. I have since spoken to thousands of students across the United States, hundreds of police and trooper recruits in NJ. Becoming a member of the National Safety Council I’ve been a speaker at two of their conventions thus far and hopefully more in the future. I also became a member of the International Association of the Chiefs of Police, Families for Safe Streets, Vision Zero, Governors Highway Safety Association.
After seeing how the first responders were affected by our crash, I’ve decided to raise money for our foundation by having an annual gala honoring first responders and hoping to change the narrative that cops are bad, there is more then one bad apple in ANY profession and the media seems to only put out all negative information.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back the most important skill is to never give up, there will always be people that try to tear you down and have opposing views on certain things for instance there is a big push for hands free devices in cars so you don’t text while driving. My opinion is hands free is NOT risk free, however it’s better than utilizing a hand held device while driving. Secondly, I would say to have an open mind and be receptive to others ideas, opinions, new information without having an open mind you will end up without any supporters, it’s ok to agree to disagree and still be supportive of one another after all our goal is to save lives. Third, accept constructive criticism, some may not think your presentation or ideas are to their liking but you can benefit from others telling you maybe try this or try doing that.
For anyone starting out on their journey, don’t be afraid of rejection. You may not get the speaking gig you’d love to have but keep honing your skills and it will eventually happen. I never thought in a million years that I’d make NJ State history by becoming the very first civilian certified instructor for law enforcement but yet here I am. Education is the key, talk to as many people as you can so you can learn from them.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
As a non-profit it has become increasingly difficult to raise funds. In my case, people seem to think I’m a ten million dollar widow and I can just afford on my own to go out and spread awareness when the truth is, I received nothing as the killer of my family had no insurance whatsoever. I would love to find a sponsor that agrees we need more education on safe driving and trying to save lives so I’m always looking for a company that may work with me and in return their business, brand, logo would go where I go giving them advertisement. If someone was inclined to contact me to help in my efforts they can reach me via email at catchyou2later@outlook.com or by calling my direct line at 201-469-7985.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.catchyoulater.org
- Instagram: Catchyoulaterfoundation
- Facebook: Catch You Later Foundation
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/pam-o’donnell-47499764
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
