How Share Your Story Events Help Families Save Their Legacy

Every time I watch families arrive at a Share Your Story event, I’m struck by the same feeling of anticipation—for the volunteers as they ready for the day ahead and for the participant’s unmistakable mix of nerves and anticipation There’s a gentleness to the way the day begins, a sense that something meaningful is about to unfold. And it does: at our most recent events, 11 families left with life stories saved that might otherwise have been lost. We’re preparing to serve even more families.

What Families Experience on Filming Day

Share Your Story events are centrally located filming sessions where participants reserve a private, one‑hour interview with a dedicated Legacy Coach who guides them through their life stories, lessons, memories, and messages. By bringing families to one location, we’re able to efficiently film multiple, professionally crafted legacy videos while maintaining the personal, 1:1 nature of the experience.

A family’s first encounter is with their Legacy Coach—the person who will guide the participating individual through the entire experience. Coaches help them settle in, answer questions, and reassure them that they can pause at any time. They get them settled in a quiet space with snacks, water, and space to prepare. As one team member shared, “We want everyone to feel at ease with the space and the process.”

When filming begins, the Legacy Coach sits just out of frame, offering gentle prompts and a reassuring presence. After the first few questions, the mood typically softens. Participants begin to immerse themselves in memories, and the answers start to flow more easily. The emotional arc is almost universal: nervous at first, then open, then grateful.

By the time filming ends, the Coach walks them back out, reassuring them how well they shared their story, and reminding them of the next steps in the process and when they can expect their final video. What I hope families feel when they leave is exactly what we hear most often: peace, joy, relief, gratitude, connection.

Why Centralized Legacy Storytelling Matters More Than Ever

We created the new Share Your Story centralized filming model to make legacy storytelling more accessible for individuals who want to save their stories while there’s still time. Filming at home can feel overwhelming — the room and equipment setup, the emotional weight, the fear of “getting it right.” Centralizing the experience eases those barriers and shortens the time commitment, since the full production setup is already in place.

But the emotional benefit is just as important. When participants see others arriving to film too, something shifts. It feels like a shared experience, a community of people choosing to save their stories for the people they love.

And the impact is unmistakable. Families consistently tell us they feel gratitude, happiness, and comfort that they now have something to treasure forever. They talk about the importance of always being able to hear their loved one’s voice and laughter, see their mannerisms, and remember their stories.

One story from our early years still stays with me. We filmed a mother whose adult son insisted he didn’t need a video to remember her. At her funeral, he approached us with a shy smile and quietly said, “Hey, I liked your video.” He had gathered the entire family to watch it together. It was a moment that affirmed everything we hoped these videos could be.

With our new filming model, we hope to serve up to eight families per quarterly event — and even more as support grows. The need is real, and the response from families tells us we must keep expanding access.

A Heartfelt Invitation

If you’re a family considering filming, I want you to know this:This will be a gift your loved ones treasure for generations.

If you’re a volunteer, your presence can change someone’s life in one hour.

We’re committed to bringing legacy storytelling to more families than ever before.