Reno, NV (May 14, 2012) – The Solace Tree has received a grant of $35,000 from the Chicago-based William C. McGowan Charitable Fund, which has a vision to “impact lives today, create sustainable change, and empower future generations to achieve their greatest potential.” The grant, which is subject to the Solace Tree matching it with $31,200, will be used to launch “Virtual Solace,” a web-based program that will allow the Solace Tree to offer grief support group services to remote or underserved communities. “We’re doing good work on a local level, and this program will allow us to leverage our proven model beyond the Reno-Sparks area,” said David Wertzberger, Solace Tree Board Chair. “We get requests for help from all over the country, but it’s not feasible for us to set up a Solace Tree in all these places just yet. With Virtual Solace, we can still help these people.”
“Unresolved grief and community depression can lead to delinquency and crime. Our work alleviates that for communities like Douglas County, Fallon, Fernley, Elko, and Austin, pretty much anywhere there’s an Internet connection”, says Emilio Parga, Executive Director. ”And, there is not currently grief support available for children and teens in much of Nevada and in many areas of the country.”
Money raised will go toward staff and technology necessary to implement the program, including:
- Go-To-Meeting software
- Adequate bandwidth
- Internet media specialist
- Directional cameras for groups
The Solace Tree has raised $6,000 from John Worthington toward the matching grant so far, and is now asking the community for donations to meet the rest of the fundraising goal of $25,000.The Solace Tree, Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit based in Reno, NV, with a mission is to provide peer support, information and education to schools and the community to promote healing and recovery for grieving children, teens and their families who are affected by loss. For more information on making a donation, please visit www.solacetree.org/donate or call 775.324-7723.
###