When Ashley Manning’s son started preschool, she learned that his teacher had recently lost her husband to cancer. As Valentine’s Day approached, Ashley felt a deep pull to offer comfort. So, she arranged a bouquet and gifted it to her, simply acknowledging how hard the day must be. She was moved, and months later, she shared just how much that small act of kindness had meant. In that moment, Ashley realized the profound impact of showing up for someone in grief—a lesson that would soon blossom into something far greater.
The Valentine's Day Widow Outreach Project, founded by Ashley Manning of Pretty Things by A.E. Manning, brings comfort and support to widows on a day that can feel especially lonely. What started as a small gesture of delivering a few bouquets has grown into a heartfelt movement, with hundreds of volunteers reaching widows across multiple cities. Through bouquets, the project offers a powerful reminder to those in grief that they are not alone. Manning’s initiative not only uplifts widows but also fosters a spirit of community and connection.
In today’s episode of Celebrate Your Story, Bridget Hogue Costello, Head of Experiences at 1-800-Flowers.com, sits down with Ashley to explore the emotional struggle widows can feel during Valentine’s Day, community strength, and the idea of giving as a gift.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com