{"id":3752,"date":"2023-09-01T09:32:18","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T13:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3752"},"modified":"2026-02-01T14:40:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T19:40:30","slug":"special-feature-healing-by-helping-others-to-heal-betsy-cusumano-launches-the-cus-foundation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3752","title":{"rendered":"Special feature: Healing by helping others to heal – Betsy Cusumano launches The Cus Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Janelle Davis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Betsy Cusumano\u2019s world changed forever in the fall of 2022 when her husband Tom, also known as \u201cCus,\u201d unexpectedly took his life.\u00a0\u201cHe never suffered from any mental health issues. He was the most even-keeled person you could meet, so it really blindsided us,\u201d said Betsy, who lives in the town of Clay, within the Baldwinsville school district.<\/span><\/p>\n

Betsy Cusumano shared that her husband was one of the best people you could know and you couldn’t find anyone with something bad to say about him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe lived his life with kindness, selflessness, and generosity in everything he did. He was that kind of person, just a pure soul,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

While there is no one way to deal with grief, Betsy wanted to do something to honor her husband. While she said she is very grateful for the strong foundation of friends and family that she and her four children have, during her grieving, it occurred to her that some people who lose someone in this way may not have the same foundational support system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens to the people that are left behind? What happens to the survivors of suicide loss? That\u2019s the gap that Betsy wanted to fill. She wants to bring some hope and light into people’s lives who are trying to heal from such a traumatic loss and help them along their journey of healing.<\/span><\/p>\n

So she started the Cus Foundation. The Cus Foundation is a nonprofit organization that means Caring for Unexpected Survivors of suicide loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Betsy wanted to build a foundation where she can provide services like meals, care packages, and support groups. But she also wanted to offer a platform for people to go and access a multitude of resources, if they didn’t want to contact her personally.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEither I can be involved in their journey by providing services, or they can access the website and get what they need,\u201d Betsy explained.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked how people dealing with unexpected loss can find their coping mechanisms, she said everyone has their own tools that work for them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t isolate yourself. You may want to, but don\u2019t,\u201d she said. She suggests finding the little things that give you peace, like taking a walk in nature or doing kickboxing to take out frustration.<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as what others can do to help a loved one when experiencing grief, Betsy offered some helpful advice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are so kind and tell you to let them know if you need anything,\u201d she said. \u201cBut your loved one might be uncomfortable or not know what to ask for.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Her advice? Don\u2019t ask, just do. Things like doing favors, giving helpful gift cards, or offering to take them out somewhere could go a long way.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Betsy is still learning, she leads by example by finding her little pieces of joy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy kids are the most important thing to me. I refuse to let them live a life of sadness and sorrow. I have to make it as beautiful and filled with love and laughter as much as I can,\u201d she said. \u201cThat is my goal every day. Everyone should have a goal for the day, even if it is to take a shower.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Something Betsy and her family look forward to once a month is what she calls \u201cBack to Living,\u201d where they do something together once a month. Activities they\u2019ve done are ax throwing, hiring a personal chef, and in July they are going to Disney.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the future, she hopes the Cus Foundation will go nationwide.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you or anyone you know could benefit from the support the Cus Foundation provides, you can visit thecusfoundation.org.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re here only once with one chance to get it right,\u201d she offered. \u201cIt’s important to lead your life with love. I hope to heal while helping others to heal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Janelle Davis Betsy Cusumano\u2019s world changed forever in the fall of 2022 when her husband Tom, also known as \u201cCus,\u201d unexpectedly took his life.\u00a0\u201cHe never suffered from any mental health issues. He was the most even-keeled person you could meet, so it really blindsided us,\u201d said Betsy, who lives in the town of Clay,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1473,1485,1484],"class_list":["post-3752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special-feature","tag-august-2023","tag-betsy-cusumano","tag-cus-foundation"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_6563.jpg?fit=720%2C960&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2209,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2209","url_meta":{"origin":3752,"position":0},"title":"\u2018Live like you\u2019re living:\u2019 Remembering Ann Marie Bick","author":"Sarah Hall","date":"December 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Plenty of people talk about making the world a better place. Ann Marie Bick actually did it. \u201cAnn Marie firmly believed that everybody has the ability to do good in this world,\u201d said her husband, Rob Bick. \u201cIf you met her, you could not help but be influenced in a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/AMS-May-2015.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/AMS-May-2015.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/AMS-May-2015.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/AMS-May-2015.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2529,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2529","url_meta":{"origin":3752,"position":1},"title":"FASHION FORWARD: Wearable art","author":"Staff","date":"August 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Kathie Morris \u00a0 This is the education issue.\u00a0I liked math but I loved art. Learning to work with color, form and shapes, and to view things from different perspectives opened my eyes and my mind. In my teens, the arts programs were being considered for removal from the curriculum,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fashion"","block_context":{"text":"Fashion","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=103"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Kara-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3810,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3810","url_meta":{"origin":3752,"position":2},"title":"Inspire: Iris Buczkowski – Helping people with their philanthropic goals\u00a0","author":"syracusewomanmag_c4lfdt","date":"December 1, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Norah Machia\u00a0 A recent study published in Discovery Magazine noted that \u201cgiving to charity makes us happier; especially when we freely choose to give. Whether we have a little or a lot of money, how we choose to spend it matters most to our happiness.\u201d\u00a0 Iris Buczkowski, owner of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Special Feature"","block_context":{"text":"Special Feature","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/iris-pic-1.jpeg?fit=1136%2C1015&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/iris-pic-1.jpeg?fit=1136%2C1015&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/iris-pic-1.jpeg?fit=1136%2C1015&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/iris-pic-1.jpeg?fit=1136%2C1015&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/iris-pic-1.jpeg?fit=1136%2C1015&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2304,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2304","url_meta":{"origin":3752,"position":3},"title":"SPECIAL FEATURE: A style for every story","author":"Sarah Hall","date":"March 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"At the New York State Fair last year, Frieda Weeks was approached by a woman who told her the kind of news she loves to hear. \u201cShe was a woman of the cloth and she said, \u2018I want you to know that two years ago I got a symptom card\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Causes"","block_context":{"text":"Causes","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=104"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Heather-Weeks.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Heather-Weeks.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Heather-Weeks.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Heather-Weeks.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Heather-Weeks.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":647,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=647","url_meta":{"origin":3752,"position":4},"title":"Me\u2019Shae Brooks-Rolling","author":"Staff","date":"March 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Difference Between Dreaming and Doing By Samantha Mendoza |\u00a0Photography by Delores Holloway Me\u2019Shae Brooks-Rolling considers herself, above all else, a \u201chybrid professional.\u201d She\u2019s accustomed to wearing many different hats, and wearing each one with commitment and compassion. In fact, it\u2019s this balancing act that brings her the most joy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Inspire1_Online-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Inspire1_Online-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Inspire1_Online-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Inspire1_Online-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Inspire1_Online-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C792&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3607,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3607","url_meta":{"origin":3752,"position":5},"title":"Special Feature – Safe Space: A Place for Healing through Empathy, Community, Connection","author":"Alyssa Dearborn","date":"May 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Kate Hanzalik The winter in London, 1962, was the coldest it had been in a century, and the poet Sylvia Plath felt it like the depression in her bones. It had returned, caused by the pains of motherhood, the role she played as a wife. It was caused by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Special Feature"","block_context":{"text":"Special Feature","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image_6483441-2-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image_6483441-2-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image_6483441-2-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/image_6483441-2-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3752"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3756,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3752\/revisions\/3756"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}