News

Swimming for Solace

In memory of his father, Robby Schlesinger will once again be braving the cold depths of Lake Tahoe to raise money for the Solace Tree and other causes close to his heart. Starting on Saturday, July 19, and continuing each day through July 26 (or until completed), he will be swimming around Lake Tahoe. This … Read more

Solace Tree Moves Into New Boys & Girls Club Pennington Facility

Solace Tree Moves Into

New Boys & Girls Club Pennington Facility

Reno, NV (May 6, 2014) – The Solace Tree is celebrating 10 years of providing service to the community by partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows.  

 When the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows opened its new William N. Pennington facility on Foster Drive in Reno this May, the Solace Tree moved its operations to the second floor, where the Big Brothers  Big Sisters of Northern Nevada is be headquartered.

More than just a geographic move, the partnership will allow all three organizations to share resources and referrals. “Losing a parent or someone close to you can be a challenging experience and we unfortunately see families dealing with it too often. We are so glad to be able to have this enhanced partnership with the Solace Tree to help our children through the grieving process in a positive way,” said Mike Wurm, Chief Professional Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows.

“Our goal is to provide children, teens, and adults an opportunity to express, acknowledge, normalize and integrate their grief experience,” explained Solace Tree Executive Director Emilio Parga. “By partnering with the Boys & Girls Club, we’ll be able to expand our services to even more people, while being in a great building.”

The Solace Tree, Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit based in Reno, NV, with a mission to provide peer support, information and education to schools and the community to promote healing and recovery for grieving

Read more

Good Grief Program at the Boys & Girls Club

Solace Tree To Offer
Good Grief Program at the Boys & Girls Club

Reno, NV (June 3, 2014) – The Solace Tree is introducing a new Good Grief Club, which provides support to children and teens, ages 5 to 18, who are dealing with loss. An orientation will be held Wednesday, June 18 from 6:00 to 7:30 at the Solace Tree, and dinner will be served. There is a monthly cost of $50 per family. For more information, email info@solacetree.org or call 775.324.7723.

The Good Grief Club will be an opportunity to help them cope with loss issues that could include:

  • Living in a single parent home
  • Living with someone who is an alcoholic or drug user
  • Having an incarcerated parent
  • Dealing with bullies in school, home or the neighborhood
  • Managing anger responsibly
  • Resolving conflict peacefully
  • Coping with loss and grief
  • Enhancing self-esteem
  • Living, learning, and growing through diversity

Participating children can benefit from learning how to self-manage more effectively in such areas of self-esteem, stress management, and social skills development. Children also learn about themselves and others; address their needs; formulate their thoughts, feelings, and actions as members of the Good Grief Club.

With more than 10 years of helping children and teens deal with loss from death, the Solace Tree staff and volunteers are well-prepared to help families dealing with the emotional strife caused by divorce, moving, visitation rights, loss of belonging(s), and remarriage, just to name a few. Through this program, children will:

  • Better understand their current life situations, as well as find communality and normalcy
  • Develop coping strengths
  • Feel safe within their group
  • Express feelings,

    Read more

Solace Tree To Move in to New Boys & Girls Club Pennington Facility

Reno, NV (May 6, 2014) – The Solace Tree is celebrating 10 years of providing service to the community by partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows.  

When the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows opens its new William N. Pennington facility on Foster Drive in Reno this May, the Solace Tree will be moving its operations to the second floor, where the Big Brothers  Big Sisters of Northern Nevada will also be headquartered.

More than just a geographic move, the partnership will allow all three organizations to share resources and referrals. “Losing a parent or someone close to you can be a challenging experience and we unfortunately see families dealing with it too often. We are so glad to be able to have this enhanced partnership with the Solace Tree to help our children through the grieving process in a positive way,” said Mike Wurm, Chief Professional Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows.

“Our goal is to provide children, teens, and adults an opportunity to express, acknowledge, normalize and integrate their grief experience,” explained Solace Tree Executive Director Emilio Parga. “By partnering with the Boys & Girls Club, we’ll be able to expand our services to even more people, while being in a great building.”

The Solace Tree, Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit based in Reno, NV, with a mission 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

Read more

Butterfly Wishes Gratitude

butterfly wishes header v2The Solace Tree is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The work we do to provide hope and healing to children, teens and families would not be possible without the considerable support we receive from this community – of money, time, services and resources.

Special thanks to event hosts KRNV News 4 newscasters Shelby Sheehan and Joe Hart for helping us honor them at the Butterfly Wishes event.

Award Recipients

  • Knights of Columbus
  • William C. McGowan Charitable Fund 
  • House of Bread 
  • SWAG/Blue Moon
  • Alliance with Washoe County Medical Society
  • Walton’s Sierra Chapel
  • Thelma B. & Thomas P. Hart Foundation
  • Reno Rodeo Foundation
  • The Bretzlaff Foundation
  • Bonanza Casino
  • Pat Mooney
  • Leonette Foundation
  • Port of Subs

The Solace Tree is only able to complete our mission because of the hundreds of volunteers who donate their time and their hearts to the families who need their help. Since the Solace Tree was founded in 2004, volunteers have donated more than 125,000 hours to this wonderful cause. We were able to recognize three of our longtime volunteers at Butterfly Wishes.

  • Monica Gonzalez
  • Jim and Julie Wardleigh

butterfly wishes email footer v1

The Solace Tree’s first-ever gala was an outstanding success, thanks to our partnership with the talented members of the National Association for Catering and Events. These people and organizations went above and beyond to make The Grove an even more beautiful location, filled with extraordinary entertainment.

Please join us in thanking the NACE members, donors, sponsors and attendees for coming together in a magical night. We know this list is long, but that’s only because there are so many individuals and businesses to thank, so that’s a good thing, yes?

National

Read more

Butterfly Wishes Gala

Butterfly Wishes 2015 March 12, 2015 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Silver Legacy Resort Casino 407 North Virginia Street Reno, NV 89502 The National Association of Catering and Events (NACE) presents the second annual Butterfly Wishes Gala, in partnership with, and benefiting The Solace Tree. Going on 11 years in northern Nevada, Solace Tree provides … Read more

Solace Tree Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Butterfly Wishes

butterfly wishes header v2

The Solace Tree is celebrating 10 years of providing service to the community with a special event, Butterfly Wishes, co-hosted by the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE), at The Grove (95 Foothill Road), on Thursday, March 6, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The evening will include a live auction of art created by Solace Tree children and teens, entertainment by the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra and others, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and live music. Tickets are $75 a person and can be purchased online.

Guests will be treated to signature cocktails: Butterfly Kisses (vodka, St. Germaine, fresh blackberries, cranberry & lime juice) and the Garden Party (vodka, fresh herbs, lavender syrup, citrus Juice, soda /water), as well as a menu of epicurean delights created by The Grove Executive Chef Shakka Moore. The menu includes:
•    Trio of duck – smoked duck breast, duck confit & duck bacon
•    Grilled watermelon, crumbled feta, basil & balsamic reduction
•    Fig, goat cheese, prosciutto cigarillo, port-pomegranate reduction
•    Much more will be featured, along with some surprise epicurean delights

“It is in line with the core values of the NACE organization to give back and support local charities, so when we were connected with the Solace Tree it was a great fit for both of us,” says Kate Patay, CPCE, of the Reno-Tahoe NACE Chapter. “Putting on a celebration of this magnitude is what we do best!”

“Our goal is to provide children, teens, and adults an opportunity to express, acknowledge, normalize and integrate their grief experience,” explained Solace

Read more