Valerie’s House awarded $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support school grief support groups

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

Media Contacts:

Nina Mendes, Communications Coordinator

Valerie’s House

nina@valerieshouse.org

(239) 204-5804

Christine Carey, Charlotte County Director

Valerie’s House

christine@valerieshouse.org

(239) 841-0382

FORT MYERS, Fla. – June 10, 2022 – A $10,000 grant has been awarded to Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida helping children grieve, which will help expand the organization’s in-school grief support services in Sarasota County.

Funding for this project is provided by the Community Impact Grant of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

“We are so grateful to provide services and resources to our children and families in Sarasota County,” Valerie’s House- Charlotte County Director Christine Carey said.

One in seven children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 25, according to the 2021 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

More than 8,000 children in Charlotte and Sarasota Counties have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. Valerie’s House currently provides in-school grief support within four Sarasota elementary schools and plans to triple the number of groups offered during the 2022-2023 school year.

Valerie’s House has discovered that barriers to group attendance include transportation and time constraints. The nationwide shortage of mental health professionals also prevents bereaved families from receiving the mental health care and grief support they need following the loss of a loved one.

Increasing the number of school groups Valerie’s House participates in will allow the organization to reach more bereaved children. Funding for this project will help Valerie’s House provide additional peer grief support groups within Sarasota County schools.

In addition, Valerie’s House will provide in-school grief support at (4) Title I schools as part of its mission to improve the achievement of disadvantaged children this upcoming school year. The expansion will include additional Title I schools in an effort to reach the most underserved children in the county.

The expansion of the in-school grief support programs within Sarasota County provided by Valerie’s House will allow the organization to reach children and support them through their grief by teaching them the coping skills they need to grow into healthy adults.

Valerie’s House also provides childhood grief education presentations to each school where grief groups are held. When educators receive information and tools to support grieving children properly, the children feel additional support from their teachers and guidance counselors.

When a Sarasota County school is identified as needing grief support, Valerie’s House staff will meet with school personnel to coordinate the peer grief support group.

About Valerie’s House

Last year, Valerie’s House helped more than 1,000 children grieve the loss of a loved one.

Valerie’s House currently offers support groups and other services at 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers and in Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. In Punta Gorda, Valerie’s House offers group meetings at First United Methodist Church. Valerie’s House also runs groups in Port Charlotte at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and offers support at the Family Services Center. Valerie’s House is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is fully supported by community donations. More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.

About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County:

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $520 million in more than 1,570 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $27.5 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare, and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $350 million to area nonprofit organizations to our community, thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit www.CFSarasota.org or call (941) 955-3000

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Valerie's House to Break Ground for New Forever Home

June 20, 2022

FOR MORE INFO:

Angela Melvin, CEO                                                  ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                         ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Susan Bennett Marketing & Media 

239-204-5804                                                          ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎   239-277-5255

angela@valerieshouse.org                                         ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ sbennett@susanbennett.biz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valerie’s House to Break Ground

for New Forever Home

FORT MYERS, FLA., June 20, 2022 – Valerie’s House will break ground on its forever home Friday, June 24, on land donated by the City of Fort Myers under a $1 a year for 99 years land lease.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be at 10 a.m. at 3551 Shoemaker Lane off Shoemaker Boulevard in Fort Myers.  The public and media are invited to join in the celebration.

A total of $2.5 million has been raised toward the $3 million cost of the new home.   Several room sponsorship opportunities for the community are available.

“This home will always be a place for grieving families to call their own,”

said CEO Angela Melvin.  “Regardless of what happens in the future, having this home means no child will ever have to grieve alone in our community.”

The home is a cozy, warm, old Florida style structure, with special rooms like a volcano room, which allows children to work out any anger or other emotions they have because of their loss.  The 7,000-square-foot facility will allow Valerie’s House to help more children and provide wrap-around services, such as individual grief counseling to support families who desperately need it.

Lennar Homes is acting as the project manager for the construction of the home, which is expected to be completed by mid-2023. 

Valerie’s House has helped more than 2,000 children and their families since its founding in 2016 by Angela Melvin, whose own mother was killed in a car accident in 1987.

One in seven children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2022 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie’s House currently offers peer support groups and other activities at locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, and Port Charlotte. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.

For more information about Valerie’s House or to make a donation to the Forever Home Campaign, visit www.valerieshouseswfl.org/capital-campaign, call 239-478-6734, or write angela@valerieshouseswfl.org. 

About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 2,000 children and their families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Hendry counties. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three locations: 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples and group therapy meetings at several churches in Charlotte County.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

                                                            30

Valerie's House-Charlotte County to Host "Celebrating Charlotte"

Sponsors and vendors sought for July 30 event

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA., May 3, 2022 – Valerie’s House is hosting its first-ever fundraising event in Charlotte County on July 30 to raise funds to support Charlotte County children grieving the loss of loved ones.

“Celebrating Charlotte: Celebrating What Makes This Home” is the theme of the fund-raiser planned at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Organizers are planning a day of food samples from some of Charlotte County’s best restaurants, select local brewery tastings, fashion, and shopping in the marketplace for unique creations and hand-made items. 

Dillard’s will present a fashion show and provide mini make-up makeovers.

“We want this to be a day all about Charlotte County and what makes this such a great place to live,” said Christine Carey, director of the Charlotte County Valerie’s House. 

Burnt Store Title & Escrow of Southwest Florida has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the event.  Other sponsorships are available from $3,000 to $5,000 by contacting Carey at 239-841-0381 or emailing her at christine@valerieshouse.org.

“We’re also looking for vendors who want to showcase their products.  Specifically, we are encouraging restaurants, breweries, crafts, salons, home-good stores, women’s clothing stores, and more to get involved,” Carey said.

Vendor space is available for $125 or $75 plus a donated auction basket.  A 50/50 drawing also will be conducted.

General admission tickets are $25, with children ages five and younger admitted free with one paying adult.  VIP tickets are $35 each and entitle the purchaser to shop one hour before the doors officially open.  Tickets are on sale at www.valerieshouse.org/events

All funds raised at the event will be used to support the programming costs of Valerie’s House in Charlotte County, including materials for group nights and school groups, staff for group nights, counseling services, legal, financial, and food assistance for grieving children and families. All services are offered free of charge to grieving families.

Valerie’s House, which is headquartered in Fort Myers, has provided grief support services to 245 Charlotte County children and 76 caregivers since its opening in Charlotte County in 2019.  Grief support groups are offered at 1st United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Charlotte, with additional services offered at the Family Services Center in Port Charlotte.

Valerie’s House was founded in 2016 by Angela Melvin, whose own mother was killed in a car accident in 1987, and has expanded to include locations in Fort Myers and Naples as well as Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.

One in eight children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2021 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie's House is fully supported by community donations.

About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 2,000 children and their families from Charlotte, Sarasota, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier counties, as well as the Florida panhandle. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has five locations: 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples, and grief support groups meetings at 1st United Methodist Church at 507 West Marion Ave. in Punta Gorda and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2565 Tamiami Trail, in Port Charlotte. Support services also are available at the Charlotte Family Services Center at 21500 Gibralter Drive in Port Charlotte.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

30

Supporters Raise $1 Million for a Permanent Home for Valerie's House

FOR MORE INFO:

Norman & Mary Love                                       ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀          Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Norman Love Confections                                         ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Susan Bennett Marketing & Media 

239-561-7215                                                           ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀   (239) 277-5255

mary@normanloveconfections.com                      ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀    sbennett@susanbennett.biz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUPPORTERS RAISE $1 MILLION

FOR A PERMANENT HOME FOR VALERIE’S HOUSE

FORT MYERS, FLA., April 8, 2022 – Supporters of Valerie’s House tore down the walls of grief and built up the walls of Love at the capital campaign fund-raiser hosted April 7 by Norman and Mary Love and Elaine and Fred Hawkins.

A total of $1 million was raised for the new forever home of Valerie’s House to be built on Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard in Fort Myers. A total of $2.5 million has now been raised toward the $3 million goal.

“Norman and I have always believed in the mission of Valerie’s House and Angela Melvin’s passion.  To be able to witness the evolution of a child grieving into a child thriving is unbelievable,” said Mary Love.

In addition to providing a safe place for children and their families to grieve, the new 7,000-square-foot home also will allow Valerie’s House to help more children and provide wrap-around services, such as individual grief counseling to support families who desperately need it.

A $500,000 challenge grant from David and Linda Lucas was matched by Creighton Construction & Development in December for a total of $1 million toward the campaign.  The City of Fort Myers donated land for the new home with a $1 per year lease.

Additional major sponsors of the Valerie’s House Forever Home include the Clark Family Foundation, Bob and Christa Huseby, the Jordan Ashley Gutheim Foundation, Sanibel-Captiva Community Bank, Unto the Least of These Foundation in honor of John Sheppard, Victory Layne Chevrolet, Christina Schwinn, Linda and Angela DePardo, Gayle Rosemann, the Galeana Foundation, the Gerner Family Charitable Fund, Boots Tolles and the Verrill Foundation.

Guests nibbled on appetizers donated by area restaurants and spirits while viewing artwork created by the children of Valerie’s House.  Food was donated and prepared by Harold’s Cuisine, Crave, Blu Sushi and Norman Love Confections.

Valerie’s House has helped more than 2,000 children and their families since its founding in 2016 by Angela Melvin, whose own mother was killed in a car accident in 1987.

One in eight children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2021 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie’s House currently offers peer support groups and other activities at locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, and Port Charlotte. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.

For more information about Valerie’s House or to make a donation to the Forever Home Campaign, visit www.valerieshouseswfl.org/capital-campaign, call 239-478-6734, or write angela@valerieshouseswfl.org. 

About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 2,000 children and their families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Hendry counties. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three locations: 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples and group therapy meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

New therapy using sand helps grieving children at Valerie’s House

    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎February 2, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

 Media Contacts:

Angela Melvin, Founder & CEO                       ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                  ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏ Susan Bennett Marketing & Media

239-204-5804                                               ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏      (239) 277-5255

angela@valerieshouseswfl.org                            ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎  ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎    ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ sbennett@susanbennett.biz

New therapy using sand helps grieving children at Valerie’s House

Children express their emotions inside miniature sand boxes

FORT MYERS, Fla. – February 2, 2022 – Playing in the sand is no longer limited to the Southwest Florida beaches for children at Valerie’s House. The nonprofit that helps children grieve the death of a loved one is now specialized in a new kind of play therapy, called Sand Tray Therapy. 

The new approach to counseling for Valerie’s House allows children to use sand and miniature figurines to express their emotions.

“We’re very excited to offer this kind of counseling to our children,” said Valerie’s House founder and CEO Angela Melvin. “This approach could be the very experience that allows us to have a breakthrough with a grieving child.”

The clinical team at Valerie’s House has spent hundreds of hours learning Sand Tray Therapy, traveling to various conferences around the state, with a goal of bringing the therapeutic specialty to the Southwest Florida grieving community. Sand tray Therapy allows the child to build a world of their own in a box of sand that sits on a table.  The children pick from a variety of miniature figurines to incorporate into the tray and arranges them however they would like.

“The miniatures have special, symbolic meaning to the children who choose them,” Melvin said. “The child may create a world that represents their internal struggles or trauma.  When they are ready, the child will share with our therapist about the tray or the world they created and they process its meaning together.”

Valerie’s House child Bruce began coming to Valerie’s House joining the “littles” grief support group just months after his mother’s loss. In addition to a support group with other elementary school children, Bruce began seeing a Valerie’s House trained mental health counselor to begin Sand Tray Therapy.

“It’s quite remarkable to see the amount of change in his behavior,” said counselor Heather Payne. “He has stopped having as many outbursts at school and he can talk more about his mother.”

Valerie’s House offers counseling including Sand Tray Therapy, as well as peer grief support groups to children and families for free, as the organization believes cost should never be a barrier to healing.

One in eight children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2021 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Since its opening in 2016, Valerie’s House has helped more than 2,000 children grieve the loss of loved one.

Valerie’s House currently offers peer support groups and other activities at locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, and Port Charlotte. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations. More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.

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Valerie’s House Receives $500,000 Challenge Grant To Kick Off Capital Campaign

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

 Media Contacts:

Angela Melvin, Founder & CEO                             Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                       Susan Bennett Marketing & Media          

239-204-5804                                                       (239) 277-5255

angela@valerieshouseswfl.org                              sbennett@susanbennett.biz

FORT MYERS, Fla. – December 9, 2021 – A $500,000 challenge grant has been awarded to Valerie’s House as the cornerstone of a $3 million capital campaign to help the non-profit organization build a permanent home and expand grief support services for children.

The challenge grant was awarded by philanthropists David and Linda Lucas, who have been long-time supporters of Valerie’s House.  The non-profit has one year to raise funds to match the $500,000, according to Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of David and Linda Lucas, who are passionate about helping others.  David lost his own father at a very young age and would have been a Valerie’s House child himself, if our program had existed then,” Melvin said.

David Lucas and Angela Melvin

Valerie’s House is halfway toward its goal of raising $3 million, but Melvin said the $500,000 challenge grant is in addition to what has already been raised so any new monies collected between now and the end of 2022 will go toward the match.

“There is some urgency to have funds pledged as soon as possible so that we don’t lose this wonderful challenge grant opportunity.  End of the year giving is especially appreciated,” she said.

The new Valerie’s House location will be built on a one-acre parcel donated by the City of Fort Myers on Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard near Winkler Road.

The 7,000 square foot facility will include healing rooms, therapy rooms, and a volcano room with punching bags and other tools to allow children to release tension and anger in a healthy and safe way.  A memorial wall will commemorate loved ones who have died and outdoor space will be designed for both reflection and fun.

“The Valerie’s House Forever Home will be a special place for all grieving children in Southwest Florida to connect with one another and learn the tools to heal after they have experienced the loss of someone they love,” Melvin said.

The new home also will serve as the administrative headquarters for Valerie’s House and will allow the non-profit to expand and reach the growing number of children who need help.

Sponsorship and room-naming opportunities are available throughout the two-story home, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.  To review the sponsorship opportunities and see a 3D animation of the new home, visit https://valerieshouse.org/capital-campaign

One in nine children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 21, according to the 2020 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Since its opening in 2016, Valerie’s House has helped almost 2,000 children grieve the loss of loved one.

Valerie’s House currently offers support groups and other activities at a home on 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers and a home in Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. Valerie's House also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.  More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.

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Valerie’s House Hosts Podcast, Open House In Honor of National Children’s Grief Awareness Day

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

Valerie’s House Hosts Podcast, Open House

In Honor of National Children’s Grief Awareness Day

FORT MYERS, Fla. – November 9, 2021 – Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida helping children grieve, is hosting a podcast and two open houses Thursday, Nov. 18, in honor of National Children’s Grief Awareness Day.

The podcast, which will become a monthly event, will feature Angela Melvin in the debut episode with a personal interview in which she shares her own experience of childhood grief after losing her mother in a tragic car accident.  Melvin will reveal details never before shared and the challenges of making her dream for Valerie’s House a reality as well as what she has learned along the way. Listen to the episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/571363/9558526

The podcast “Grieve. Love. Health” can be heard on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

“November is also National Children’s Grief Awareness Month so we will be posting several stories, videos and podcasts to help others understand the plight grieving families face,” Melvin said.  “It is an exciting national movement and we are relieved there are others who are finally joining with us in this conversation, when for so many years, children’s grief was not something people acknowledged.”

Valerie’s House is encouraging residents on social media to change their profile image during the month to the Children’s Grief Awareness ribbon.

“Even if for just a day, a week, or the entire month, it will no doubt cause people to pause and question what it may be like to lose someone you love when you are a child,” Melvin said.

To commemorate National Children’s Grief Awareness Month, Valerie’s House is inviting professionals and others who work with children to tour the two locations in Fort Myers and Naples during Thursday, Nov. 18.  The Fort Myers open house will be from 9 a.m to 5 p.m.at 1762 Fowler Street.  The Naples open house will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 819 Myrtle Terrace.

During the open houses, guests will meet the Valerie’s House team, tour the different healing rooms, learning about the referral process and find out how to best comfort a grieving child.  To attend either open house, please RSVP to Amy@valerieshouse.org

One in nine children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 21, according to the 2020 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Since its opening in 2016, Valerie’s House has helped more than 1,000 children grieve the loss of loved one.

Valerie’s House provides a safe, comfortable place for children and their families to heal together following the death of someone they love. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at a home on 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers and a home in Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. Valerie's House also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.  More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.

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Valerie’s House Resumes In-Person Group Meetings; New Support Groups Added in Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

FORT MYERS, Fla. – October 7, 2021 – Valerie’s House, the non-profit organization that helps children grieve the loss of a loved one, has resumed in-person group therapy sessions after a six-week hiatus due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

“The number of new families seeking grief counseling is increasing every week. About 20 percent of them are families that have lost a loved one to COVID-19,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.

Valerie’s House is implementing safety precautions at all of its locations, including requiring all employees to be vaccinated and wear masks during group therapy sessions.  Families, however, will not be required to be vaccinated.

“We don’t want anything to stand in the way of a child that needs grief counseling, especially since vaccination isn’t available for most children right now,” she said.

About 400 children and family members participate in the group therapy sessions at the three Valerie’s House locations in Fort Myers, Naples and Punta Gorda.  Sessions are held Monday through Thursday evenings.

In addition, Valerie’s House is now providing grief support groups for students, teachers and staff at several Lee County schools that requested the help.  Counselors are conducting grief support groups at Cypress Lake High School, Franklin Park Elementary School and Harns Marsh Middle School in Lee County; Immokalee Middle School in Collier County; and Punta Gorda Elementary in Charlotte County.

Valerie’s House provides a safe, comfortable place for children and their families to heal together following the death of someone they love. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at a home on 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers and a home in Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. Valerie's House also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.  More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.

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Valerie’s House Halts Group Meetings; Founder Pleads with Younger People to Get Vaccinated

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

Valerie’s House Halts Group Meetings;

Founder Pleads with Younger People to Get Vaccinated

FORT MYERS, Fla. – August 16, 2021 – The growing number of COVID deaths among young people has led Valerie’s House to suspend group meetings until the numbers recede, founder and CEO Angela Melvin announced Sunday. Although Valerie’s House has not seen a COVID outbreak within the organization, Melvin says the virus is still hitting close to home with new families entering the program because of a COVID death, as well as a young volunteer who died over the weekend after contracting the virus.

“We have had a growing number of heartbreaking calls and emails this week from families where a parent has died from COVID, leaving children behind. In almost all cases, the words are the same, ‘He was so healthy and young, we never expected this.’ They have all been unvaccinated,” Melvin said.

Valerie’s House conducted a news conference Monday (today) from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to address reporter’s questions, share more on the grief that has occurred as a result of the new variant, and reinforce the need for everyone older than age 12 to be vaccinated. The news conference was at Valerie’s House at 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers.

“When the first round of COVID occurred a year ago, we had only a handful of children enter our program because their parent died from COVID. The number of families now grieving the loss of a parent because of the virus is gut-wrenching for the entire Valerie’s House family,” she emphasized.

The nonprofit organization that helps children grieve the loss of a loved one, is also seeing a growing number of their own teen and young adult volunteers contract the virus. 

“We tragically lost one of our own volunteers this weekend who was a young man, healthy, and a beloved group buddy in our Val’s Pals Mentoring Program. He was unvaccinated,” she said.

Valerie’s House will continue with individual counseling and family care in person. In the meantime, Melvin said support groups may become virtual until the COVID numbers come down.

Valerie’s House provides a safe, comfortable place for children and their families to heal together following the death of someone they love. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at a home on 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers and a home in Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. Valerie's House also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations. More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.

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Valerie’s House Receives $50,000 Grant From Major League Baseball and the Players Association

FORT MYERS, Fla. – August 9, 2021 – Valerie’s House has been awarded a $50,000 grant from Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to help in its mission of helping children grieve the loss of a loved one.

Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) on Friday announced the fifth round of recipients for the joint “Healthy Relationships Community Grant” program. The current distribution of more than $500,000 is going to 11 nonprofit organizations, marking nearly $2.5 million donated to more than 50 organizations so far in this program. The focus areas for the organizations receiving funding include support for survivors of domestic violence, mental health resiliency, and developing positive relationship skills in youth as a preventive measure to breaking the cycle of violence.

Organizations were encouraged to apply for funding to cover general operating expenses, allowing them to respond to their greatest needs, or program support. The recipients are as follows:

This overall initiative is a $3 million commitment to provide funding in 2020 and 2021 to organizations that support healthy relationships through programs designed to strengthen and provide critical services to survivors of domestic violence, improve mental health resiliency among vulnerable populations and build and improve relationship skills of the next generation.

U.S.-based nonprofit and global non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can still apply for localized support at MLB.com/HealthyRelationships and MLBPLAYERS.com/HealthyRelationships through-out the year, with proposals reviewed on a quarterly grant cycle. Nonprofits and NGOs may apply for grants of up to $50,000 for general operating or programmatic funding for one or more of the following categories: Healthy Relationship Practices/Education, Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence, and/or Mental Health Resiliency. Grant applications will be evaluated quarterly based on assessment of the population served, organization strength, impact, partnerships, sustainability of the programs, and more. Additionally, MLB Club charities and Major League Players have been encouraged to apply directly for up to $25,000 as part of a gift matching component of the initiative, with grant evaluations based on documentation of direct funding and commitment to the issue.

This initiative is intended as a prevention strategy to empower the next generation to understand the components of a healthy relationship. Organizational efforts supported by grant funding may include public education, with a preference for youth populations, on the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships as it relates to interpersonal violence (e.g., intimate partner, family or teen dating). Examples of education efforts include creating, producing & distributing public service announcements with relevant content and call to action as well as conferences or events focusing on awareness. Funding can also go toward supporting existing, or introducing new, programming on how to break the cycle of violence.

Strengthening and providing services to survivors of domestic violence is of critical importance to this grant initiative. Efforts may include (a) capacity building in support of the organizational mission of the nonprofit or NGO; (b) mental health support; (c) professional and life skills workshops as well as Eleven Organizations Named Recipients of the Latest Round of the "Healthy Relationships Community Grant" Programadditional education and materials to improve employee readiness and workplace development; or (d) advocacy efforts to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Efforts toward building and improving mental health resiliency for vulnerable populations may include providing greater access to (a) quality mental health services and wellness programs; (b) preventative programs designed to reduce suicide, suicidal ideations and self-harm; (c) training programs for mental health professionals; or (d) school or community-based interventions.

The joint donation for the “Healthy Relationships Community Grant” represents an ongoing commitment by MLB and the MLBPA to provide support to causes that assist vulnerable populations, which has historically included financial assistance toward disaster relief and recovery as well as human trafficking prevention.

About Valerie’s House:

Valerie’s House provides a safe, comfortable place for children and their families to heal together following the death of someone they love. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at a home on 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers and a home in Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. Valerie's House also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.  More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.

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Valerie’s House Announces $30,000 in Inaugural College Scholarships

FORT MYERS, Fla. – August 4, 2021 – Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida helping children grieve, has awarded $30,000 in college scholarships for graduating high school seniors who have participated in its program.

It’s the first year that Valerie’s House has offered the scholarships of $1,500 per year for four years for a total of $6,000 per student. Five local students were chosen based on an essay they each wrote about their personal grief story and how their loss shaped them as the person they are and the person they want to become.

The scholarship recipients are:

●          Marcel Garcia of Naples, who graduated from Gulf Coast High School and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University;

●          Stori McDougall-Eva of Fort Myers, who graduated from Canterbury School and attends Boston College;

●          Shane Spotz of Cape Coral, who graduated from Cape Coral High School and plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville;

●          Austin Wolin of Punta Gorda, who graduated from Island Park High School and plans to attend Florida SouthWestern College in Fort Myers; and

●          Ashley Zimmerman of Naples, who graduated from Naples High School and plans to attend Southern Union State Community College in Opelika, Ga..

“This is the next step in the grieving process to help these young adults who have lost a loved one,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.  “We are very grateful to our donors who have made this inaugural scholarship program possible.”

The scholarship funds may be used for classes, materials, or anything they need during the school year.

“The students are to check in with us every semester, show us transcripts with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and tell us something that they worked through that was challenging during the semester, how they worked through it or something great that they accomplished, “ said Staci VanSlambrouch, mentor and family support coordinator who is in charge of the scholarship program.

Valerie’s House first opened its doors with 20 children and their caregivers on the evening of January 11, 2016 in a small house in downtown Fort Myers.  Since then, the organization has grown to help more than 1,000 children and expanded into three locations across Southwest Florida, including one in Naples and Punta Gorda.

One in nine children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 21, according to the 2020 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie’s House provides a safe, comfortable place for children and their families to heal together following the death of someone they love. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at a home on 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers and a home in Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. Valerie's House also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.  More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.

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Marcel Garcia

Austin Wolin

Stori McDougall-Eva

Shane Spotz

Ashley Zimmerman

Valerie's House Welcomes Community for Open House

MEDIA ADVISORY

Valerie's House Welcomes Community for Open House

Nonprofit organization hosts events for families, volunteers, and supporters.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 30, 2021) – Valerie’s House, the only organization of its kind in Southwest Florida with the sole mission of helping children grieve the loss of a loved one, is hosting an open house at its historic Fort Myers home to welcome potential new families, volunteers, mentors, and community supporters interested in learning more. Valerie’s House families, staff, and board members will be onsite to give tours of the grief center, demonstrations of how grief support groups run, and share more about the programs available for children and families who have lost a loved one. Attendees are welcome to tour the home in small groups while wearing masks and maintaining safe social distancing. Tours will end outside and behind the house, where attendees can meet members of the Valerie’s House family, enjoy light refreshments, and learn more about getting involved.

What: Valerie’s House Spring Open House Event

When: Saturday, April 10 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Where: Valerie’s House Fort Myers, 1762 Fowler St., Fort Myers, FL 33901. Parking is limited. Overflow parking is available across the street at the Lee County Tax Collector's Office (2480 Thompson St, Fort Myers, FL 33901).

Photo Ops: Tours of Valerie’s House and the grief support rooms, children and families leading tours, children playing outside in Valerie’s House’s outdoor play area.

Interview Ops: Angela Melvin, Founder and CEO of Valerie's House; Amy Strom, Director of Partnerships and Clinical Support, families, board members.

Why: 1 in 8 children in Southwest Florida will lose a parent or sibling before they turn 25.  Right now, there are more than 20,000 children estimated in the region grieving, whether related to COVID-19 or other illnesses and causes of death.  Valerie's House provides ongoing peer grief support groups for children and families at no cost. Events like this help reach more families who need grief support. 

For more information, contact Valerie’s House Communications Coordinator & Executive Assistant Alexa Nargi at alexa@valerieshouse.org or 239-692-0764.

Valerie’s House was founded by Angela Melvin in 2016 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides grief support services to children and their families at its Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, and Naples locations. As the first and only grief support program in Southwest Florida focused solely on helping children grieve, Valerie’s House provides a safe, comfortable place for children to bond, grieve, and heal together following the death of a family member. Valerie’s House is a United Way partner agency that is supported by generous donations from the community.

For more information, or to enroll in programs, volunteer, or donate, visit www.ValeriesHouse.org or email info@ValeriesHouse.org.                                                                          
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Valerie’s House Elects New Executive Board Members

FORT MYERS, Fla. – February 9, 2021 – Valerie’s House, the only non-profit organization in Southwest Florida with the sole mission to help children grieve, has added three new members to its executive board.

Elected to the board for two-year terms are:

● Mike McMurray (Chair, Fort Myers) – Team Lead at McMurray & Members of Royal Shell Real Estate. He is also the secretary for The Sanibel Captiva Board of Realtors.

●  Lana Hollier (Vice-Chair, Sanibel) – Senior Vice President and Director of Deposit Operations at Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. She also volunteers with Champions 4 Children SWFL.

●  Jaime Suanez (Secretary, Lehigh Acres) – Executive Assistant to the owner of Storm Smart and the Executive Director of The Rist Family Foundation. She has previously served on the board of the Lehigh Acres Little League.

“Like many that grieve the loss of a loved one, I am blessed to have found Valerie’s House,” McMurray said. “My hope is that being a part of the board will be my legacy of remembrance to those that I have lost. Those that I will always honor and never forget.”

For a full list of Valerie’s House’s Board Members, please visit their website at https://valerieshouse.org/our-board

Valerie's House Receives Grief Reach Grant from the New York Life Foundation

FL, October 26, 2020 – Valerie’s House announced today a $25,000 Grief Reach grant from the New York Life Foundation to support their Virtual Peer Support Groups, which addresses the needs of bereaved youth and their families.

“We are grateful for the New York Life Foundation’s investment in this program, which will help us build our capacity in order to fulfill our mission,” said Valerie’s House Founder & CEO, Angela Melvin. “This partnership enables our organization to continue supporting the needs of grieving children and their families in our community.”

“For nearly a decade, the New York Life Foundation, through its Grief Reach Grant has provided funding to local organizations that provide support services to bereaved youth. The global pandemic has not only impacted our day to day life but also how we grieve and our access to grief support,” said Maria Collins, Vice President of the New York Life Foundation. “In order to ensure local bereavement nonprofits had the funding they needed to serve a growing population of grieving families; our investment shifted from a traditional funding structure to one that was more flexible to ensure bereavement support is available to all who need it.”  

Over 300 Grief Reach grants totaling more than $10 million have been awarded since the program’s inception in 2011. The New York Life Foundation has been one of the leading funders of the childhood bereavement field, investing nearly $55 million to date in support of grieving children and their families.  

About the New York Life Foundation

Inspired by New York Life’s tradition of service and humanity, the New York Life Foundation has, since its founding in 1979, provided nearly $360 million in charitable contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation supports programs that benefit young people, particularly in the areas of educational enhancement and childhood bereavement. The Foundation also encourages and facilitates the community involvement of employees and agents of New York Life through its Volunteers for Good and Grief-Sensitive Schools programs. To learn more, please visit www.newyorklifefoundation.org.

About Valerie’s House

As the first and only organization in Southwest Florida with the sole mission of helping children grieve, Valerie’s House has helped more than 1,000 children and their families since opening its doors in 2016. The nonprofit provides a safe, comfortable place to heal following the death of a loved one. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at their home in Fort Myers at 1762 Fowler Street and Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. The organization also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie’s House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations that can be made online at www.valerieshouse.org or by mail to Valerie’s House, Inc., P.O. Box 1955, Fort Myers, FL 33902.

Valerie’s House, WGCU Partner in Public Discussion on Grief

Live broadcast following premiere of the documentary on WGCU TV

Fort Myers, Florida – September 24, 2020 – Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida with the sole focus of helping children grieve, and WGCU Public Media, a PBS and NPR affiliate and member-supported service of Florida Gulf Coast University, invite the public to take part in a community initiative to create a more grief-aware society. Tune in to WGCU PBS Sunday, September 27th, at 11 a.m. to watch the award-winning documentary, Speaking Grief, or watch it online at www.speakinggrief.org. Then, listen in on WGCU FM Tuesday, September 29, at 1 p.m. as Gulf Coast Life producer Mike Kiniry, Valerie's House Founder & CEO Angela Melvin and others tee-up for the for a virtual Zoom discussion later that day at 6 p.m. Speaking Grief explores the transformative experience of losing a family member in a death- and grief-avoidant society. This national public media initiative includes a one-hour television documentary, campaign and numerous community engagement events, all aimed at starting a national conversation about grief.

Moving away from the idea that grief is a problem that needs to be “fixed,” Speaking Grief validates the experience of grievers and guides those wishing to support them.

“There is no right way to grieve,” Melvin said. “Speaking Grief illustrates that grief is a universal, yet individual experience. Anyone who has ever lost someone close to them or knows someone who has experienced grief should watch this eye-opening film.”

Support for this project is provided by WPSU Penn State and The New York Life Foundation.

To RSVP for the September 29th Virtual Live Discussion, go to wgcu.org/events.

To Watch a free screening of Speaking Grief, visit www.SpeakingGrief.org

About Valerie’s House

As the first and only organization in Southwest Florida with the sole mission of helping children grieve, Valerie’s House has helped more than 1,000 children and their families since opening its doors in 2016. The nonprofit provides a safe, comfortable place to heal following the death of a loved one. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at their home in Fort Myers at 1762 Fowler Street and Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. The organization also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie’s House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations that can be made online at www.valerieshouse.org or by mail to Valerie’s House, Inc., P.O. Box 1955, Fort Myers, FL 33902.

About WGCU Public Media

WGCU Public Media is Southwest Florida’s source for PBS and NPR. WGCU provides quality programming 24 hours a day and is a trusted storyteller, teacher, theater, library and traveling companion. As a member-supported service of Florida Gulf Coast University, WGCU’s mission is to provide educational programming that inspires, informs and engages our community.

Serving all or part of 12 counties in South and Southwest Florida with five distinct digital TV channels, two FM radio channels, two HD radio channels and one subcarrier, WGCU delivers national and international programming and develops, produces and delivers relevant, informative and educational local programs to the Southwest Florida community.

Educational programs, community-based initiatives and informative and entertaining events make public media integral to the vitality of Southwest Florida. WGCU is reaching beyond its service area to the country and the world through web-based applications.

Many of its locally produced programs have been broadcast throughout the country. WGCU has received numerous national, regional, state and local awards for its locally produced television and radio programs.

Valerie’s House Cancels Annual Event, Launches Giving Campaign

Sunset theme will focus on shining light in the face of darkness

Fort Myers, Florida – August 31, 2020 – Valerie’s House, the only organization in Southwest Florida with the sole focus of helping children grieve, has decided to cancel its annual Sunset Soiree event, normally held in the month of October, due to ongoing COVID-19 safety concerns. 2020 would have been the fourth year hosting the Sunset Soiree.

In lieu of the event, Valerie’s House is launching the Every Sunset Brings the Promise of a New Dawn giving campaign. Various photos of children and families in the Valerie’s House program with the backdrop of the Southwest Florida sunset will be shown throughout the next few months over social media and other outlets reminding the community of the promise of a new beginning, even in times of darkness.  The goal of the campaign is to raise $100,000 from individuals and businesses for the children of Valerie’s House across Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties.

“Our families need to see that we are not letting this tough time stop us from doing everything we can to make sure Valerie’s House is always there for them,” said Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.  “When families walk into Valerie’s House, we are often the light during a dark time, and the sunset is a reminder to them that even with sadness, beauty awaits us in life.”

Since the start of the pandemic, Valerie’s House has experienced an influx of new children entering the program for help with grieving the death of a parent or sibling.  Since April 1, more than 230 children have attended a grief  support group, either virtually or in-person at either the Fort Myers or Naples houses. Valerie’s House has incorporated the wearing of face coverings and implemented social distancing during group nights to abide by CDC guidelines.

Dollars raised during the Every Sunset Brings the Promise of a New Dawn campaign will go directly to their mission of helping children and families work through the loss of a loved one together. Valerie’s House has a vision that No Child Grieves Alone. The campaign kicks off September 1 and will run through November 30, 2020. 

Supporters can learn more about helping Valerie’s House reach it’s $100,000 goal by visiting www.valeriehouseswfl.org and clicking the Sunset Campaign page. The organization’s Facebook page also has more details on supporting the organization.

Click HERE to donate to the Every Sunset Brings the Promise of a New Dawn campaign.

 About Valerie’s House

As the first and only organization in Southwest Florida with the sole mission of helping children grieve, Valerie’s House has helped more than 1,000 children and their families since opening its doors in 2016. The nonprofit provides a safe, comfortable place to heal following the death of a loved one. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at their home in Fort Myers at 1762 Fowler Street and Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. The organization also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie’s House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations that can be made online at www.valerieshouseswfl.org or by mail to Valerie’s House, Inc., P.O. Box 1955, Fort Myers, FL 33902.

Valerie’s House to Reopen August 3 with In-Person Support Groups

Face Coverings, social distancing required to bring grieving families together

FORT MYERS, Fla. – July 21, 2020 – Valerie’s House, the only non-profit organization in Southwest Florida with its sole mission to help children grieve, is reopening Monday, Aug. 3, with in-person support groups at its three locations in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties.

“Grief is already isolating. Having to do it alone is not who we are,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin. "We have a solid plan in place. However, we also know that at any moment, things can change. We are moving forward, but with caution."

During the past 90 days, 67 new children joined the Valerie’s House program, including children who lost a family member to the virus.  Valerie’s House has been offering virtual support groups since March 29 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey sent to families indicated 80 percent wanted to come back to meeting in person.

Safety precautions will be enacted, including requiring face coverings, social distancing, and temperature checks of each person as well as a form that each person will sign attesting they have not been ill or associated with anyone who has COVID-19. Chairs and floor cushions the children sit on will be placed six feet apart. Some groups will be conducted outside under tents.

"We may not be on the hospital's front lines, but we're right behind them,” Melvin said. “That means we have to pivot and adjust. The important thing is that we're together.”

All children will receive a face covering at the first meeting that they can decorate in honor of their loved ones. Staff will clean all surfaces each night with a deep cleaning weekly by a professional company. Family dinners will no longer be offered.

Valerie's House has also added additional nights for grief support to allow for social distancing and increased demand. Groups now will be offered every night Monday through Thursday at each of the locations throughout Southwest Florida. Two additional counselors have been hired to accommodate the expanded schedule, bringing the total number of employees to 10, including three licensed clinicians.

“We are spending money that we had not planned for, but the work we are doing is crucial to helping children during this dark time," Melvin said.

Virtual groups will continue to be available for families who want to continue meeting online. In addition to providing grief support groups, Valerie's House also sends an e-newsletter to their families and focuses their efforts on connecting families with additional resources in the community.

Valerie's House is accepting appointments for new enrollments. Families in need of grief support for children can reach Program Director, Amy Strom by phone at 239-841-9186 or by emailing, amy@valerieshouseswfl.org.

“Our doors are always open to families in grief,” Melvin said.

About Valerie’s House

As the first and only organization in Southwest Florida with the sole mission of helping children grieve, Valerie’s House has helped more than 1,000 children and their families since opening its doors in 2016.  Valerie’s House provides a safe, comfortable place to heal together following the death of someone they love. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at a home on 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers and a home in Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. Valerie's House also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations that can be made online at www.valerieshouseswfl.org or by mail to Valerie’s House, Inc., P.O. Box 1955, Fort Myers, FL 33902.

Media Contacts:

Angela Melvin, Founder & CEO                               Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                           Susan Bennett Marketing & Media   

239-204-5804                                                             (239) 277-5255

angela@valerieshouseswfl.org                              sbennett@susanbennett.biz