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Inside This Issue:
- A Note From the Founder
- Solace News
- Book Spotlight
- Upcoming Events
- A Big Thanks
A Note From the Founder
After completing six years of program and facility building, I am gratified to see that our facility is running out of space. This was only possible with the help of our volunteer s who have taken the 24 hour s of training to be able to facilitate our peer support groups.
We are blessed to have a comfortable home on the UNR campus with six rooms that are designed for age appropriate sessions. But we need a minimum of 12 rooms so that when we get a call from someone in need, I can say “I can sign you up today” instead of ”It’s a four week wait.” It is hard to put grief on hold.
We are actively adding volunteer s while we are looking for a new space. At the same time, The Solace Tree is gaining national attention from teacher organizations, hospice organizations, and the press. In many ways this is because of the excellent books that we have written with Solace kids to help all grieving kids. We are releasing our 4th book, Kids Can Cope, which is intended to be a Hospice and Doctor resource publication.
Shortly, we will be communicating to teacher s, hospital personnel, and school counselor s across the country about our books as resource materials to be purchased on our web site. We will be looking for administrative volunteer s to help with this outreach program. Email Heather Woods at heather@solacetree.org if you would like to be involved with this exciting program.
Thanks so much to the many who have been so suppor tive of the development of The Solace Tree into the caring organization it is, a group that reaches out and keeps touching the lives of the many who cannot find SOLACE (Sadness Overcome in a Loving And Caring Environment) anywhere else. I have been blessed because you have been called to be par t of The Solace Tree—THANK YOU!
-Emilio Parga, M.A., Founder of the Solace Tree
Solace News
Association for Therapeutic Recreation
Emilio spoke to 1,000 member s about Grief Suppor t activities at the group’s annual conference in Reno in July.
Ground Zero NY 9/11/08
Emilio was invited and spoke at this touching memorial and also spoke at West Point. In addition, he helped setup a grieving center for children in Newburgh, NY, called “Cub’s Place For Children In Crisis”.
National Hospice & Palliative Care
This organization has funded and invited Emilio to develop a webpage on their web site to help educate caregivers, pediatricians, etc. We expect many more organizations to follow in the steps of Hospice of Troy, Ohio who has standardized our books for their caregiver s.
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Emilio spoke on the topic of Grief Support In The Classroom at the group’s annual conference in Dallas, TX. He noted the struggle teachers have when they have no support or protocols in their schools to bring comfort to a grieving child. And many times, when this is not properly addressed, the child is disruptive to the whole class.
If you would like to have Emilio Parga speak at your conference or to develop CEU content for your organization, please email your need to info@solacetree.org
Solace Angels Formed
A new support group of volunteer s was star ted in October, 2008, to provide project administrative help in the areas of donor appreciation, mailings, fund raising, and Solace moms. Please email info@solacetree.org to get more information.
Volunteer Appreciation Night
A special event is being planned for Thur sday, April 23rd, to show appreciation to all of our terrific volunteer s!
Butterfly Kisses, Wine Wishes – Open House Benefit
Gene Russell Photo Gallery will be hosting Butterfly Kisses, Wine Wishes, a wine pairing and hor s d’oevres benefit for The Solace Tree, at his new gallery at 316 Vassar St. on Friday, Feb. 27, from 7-9pm. Come enjoy some fine wines, see the gallery, and support The Solace Tree. RSVP to Dorothy Dermody at (775) 852-2029 ($25 donation).
Donate Now
Our web site has made it even easier to provide financial suppor t to our expanding kids program support needs. Any amount is welcome and credit cards are accepted. Visit solacetree.org/donate for more information.
Book Spotlight
We are excited to announce our new online bookstore as par t of our recent website redesign. Books are now available for purchase at solacetree.org/bookstore. All proceeds benefit The Solace Tree.
Love Never Stops
Love Never Stops, written by Solace Tree founder Emilio Parga, is a caring memory book for children of all ages. Guided headings includes pages for children to write or draw.
Upcoming Events
2/27/09 – Butterfly Wishes, Wine Wishes: Fundraiser
4/3/09 – NV National Association for Education of Young Children at Grand Sierra Resort: Emilio/Suzanne presenting “Helping Grieving Children Bloom”
4/7/09 – Release of New Book: “Kids Can Cope”
5/1/09 – American Air lines Grief Support Library: Solace Tree books available in all American Air lines facilities under a new program that recognizes compassion and grief for those who experienced loss at Ground Zero.
A Big Thanks To…
…The William G. McGowan Charitable Fund for their $30,000 grant supporting The Solace Tree. The Philanthropic Family Foundation was founded in 1992 by William G. McGowan to promote, nur ture, and fund promising charities.
…The Leo Buscaglia Foundation for their $7,500 gift and continued support of The Solace Tree’s center for grief and loss. The foundation was established to give special aid and attention to those who have dedicated themselves to the betterment of personkind through the dynamics of helping one another.
…BICSI for its $32,500 gift to The Solace Tree in support of its grief programs for children, teens, and adults. BICSI is the worldwide preeminent source of information, education and knowledge assessment for the constantly evolving information transport systems industry.
How You Can Help
- How You Can Help:
- Make a monetary donation
- Attend or sponsor an event
- Donate supplies
- Become a volunteer
- Save Trees! Sign-up to receive our newsletter via email. Visit: solacetree.org/signup