2008 Grant Recipients

Children's Bereavement Grants

In late 2008, HFA awarded its first set of grants to support Children’s Bereavement programming across the country. Five organizations were chosen out of more than 300 proposals. The organizations included Gerard's House in Santa Fe, NM , in support of its Supporting Grieving Native American Youth program and summer activities for bereaved children and adolescents; T.A.P.S. (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), for play therapy supplies and other materials for 18 Good Grief Camp for Young Survivors programs for military children; Hospice of the Upstate, Anderson, SC, to enable Hospice of the Upstate to introduce Play Therapy curriculum and materials into children’s bereavement programs; Calvary Hospital, Bronx, NY, in support of their week-long bereavement camp for children and adolescents, as well as ongoing bereavement support groups; and Hospice of Siouxland, Sioux City, IA, for their Bereavement Diversity Outreach Program, to improve services to bereaved children and adolescents raised in homes where English is a second language.

John Giorgio of Hospice of Siouxland wrote that, “In addition to the obvious benefits of funds to increase resources, the process created a focus and energy to our efforts which will result in benefits beyond the life of the grant.”

These programs represent some of the country’s best and most innovative programming to support grieving children and adolescents. Whether supporting children through a camp experience, using play therapy, or reaching out in diverse languages to meet children where they are, these grantees made a difference in the lives of grieving young people.

Our 2008 Grant Recipients shared some of the materials they developed with their HFA Grant, view them below.
Gerard's House | Hospice of the Upstate | Calvary Hospital | Hospice of the Siouxland