A message from our
Board of Directors.
An important update on the evolution and future of Tudor House.
To our cherished Friends, Volunteers, Donors, Teen Ambassadors, Former Board Members, and Community Partners,
Six years ago, Tudor House was created around the Tudor family kitchen table. In the midst of heavy grief, this community chose to extend love and hope to others. Because of your trust and incredible support, we built a beautiful network of safety, awareness, and connection across the Roanoke Valley. Today, we are writing to share an important update about how we are securing that work for the future.
After much reflection, the Board of Directors has made the decision to conclude our day-to-day independent operations and transition into the Louis Tudor Memorial Scholarship fund managed by Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia.
This marks a pivotal moment of evolution for our organization. We want to be very clear: while Tudor House as an operating nonprofit is closing its daily doors, the impact and the work we built together are not ending. The relationships, the traditions, and the seeds of hope planted over the last six years do not stop. Instead, we are entering a next chapter that allows us to pour our energy into a sustainable, permanent Louis’ Legacy future that will live on for generations to come.
Keep reading to see how Louis' spirit and our shared work will move forward:
Introducing the Louis Tudor Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Big Kahuna Tradition Connects Our Community
To create an everlasting tribute to Louis’ passion for youth development, community service, and mental health advocacy, the Board will establish the Louis Tudor Memorial Scholarship Fund in perpetuity with the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia.
By partnering with the Community Foundation, we guarantee that Louis’ legacy has the institutional strength to directly empower local youth forever. This fund will provide annual educational support to graduating seniors across high schools in the Roanoke Valley, lifting up future students with the same generosity that Louis showed to everyone around him
What started in 2020 as a simple way for us to gather and heal has grown into a beloved annual summer tradition. The Big Kahuna will continue as our flagship annual community event and fundraiser. Moving forward, the Big Kahuna will be the primary engine that funds the Louis Tudor Memorial Scholarship Fund. We will still gather, we will still swim, and we will continue to celebrate Louis' life together every single year.
Teen Ambassador Program Transition
The Teen Ambassador program will integrate into the well-established framework of the Suicide Prevention Council of Roanoke Valley at Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare. Through this transition, our signature youth mental health initiative will continue its vital impact in the community.
Keeping the Ripple Alive
If you would like to join us in this new direction and keep Louis' ripple expanding across our community, we encourage you to support the Louis Tudor Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia. Your generosity will directly fund the academic and career dreams of local students.
Contributions of any amount can be made online at www.cfwesternva.org or by calling 540-985-0204.
12,805
total hours served by Tudor House volunteers
44
teens served 1–3 years as Tudor House Teen Ambassadors
25,812
people received mental health support and resources from
Tudor House
We want to take a moment to look back with immense pride at what your love and donations made possible as we celebrate this evolution:
The 1st Annual Big Kahuna in 2020, which brought us together when we needed it most.
The growth of our flagship initiatives, including our Teen Ambassador cohorts and our Comfort Bags.
Our record-breaking community in 2026, culminating this year with our highest number of dedicated volunteers in history, all actively moving the needle on mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
17,118
Roanoke Valley youth directly reached by Teen Ambassadors
2,650
Comfort Bags provided to community members in crisis
208
mental health outreach
events held
A Special Thank You to Our Staff
We are especially grateful to Executive Director Kathleen Thorell and Marketing Director Tessa Muzzy, whose dedication, leadership, creativity, and countless hours behind-the-scenes helped bring Louis’ Legacy to life through Tudor House. Their commitment to this mission and our community has made a lasting impact, and we are deeply thankful for all they have given
Thank You
What was created from love does not end here. The love remains fully alive, and the future is bright. Thank you for walking this path with us, for believing in us, and for helping us build a secure Louis’ Legacy future in the Roanoke Valley.
We are so grateful for you, and we absolutely cannot wait to see you all at Big Kahuna ’27.
Gratefully,
The Tudor House Board of Directors
Questions?
As we move into this next chapter, we know there may be questions. We’re happy to provide additional information and welcome you to reach out to Laura Garden, Board Chair at board@tudorhouse.net or Kathleen Thorell, Executive Director at info@tudorhouse.net.