The United Way of Charlotte County Awards Valerie's House with $37,000 Grant
/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Nina Mendes, Communications Coordinator Christine Carey, Charlotte County Director
Valerie’s House Valerie’s House
nina@valerieshouse.org christine@valerieshouse.org
(239) 204-5804 (239) 841-0382
The United Way of Charlotte County Awards Valerie's House with $37,000 Grant
FORT MYERS, Fla. – February 9, 2023 – A $37,152 grant has been awarded to Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida helping children grieve, which will help expand the organization’s grief support services in Charlotte County.
This grant was made possible by the United Way of Charlotte County and will help fund Valerie’s House peer grief support groups.
“We are so thankful to receive support from the United Way of Charlotte County,” Valerie’s House Charlotte County Director Christine Carey said. “This partnership will help us expand our reach to help more grieving children in our community.”
More than 4,000 children living in Charlotte County have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. Valerie’s House Charlotte County currently provides services to grieving families out of New Life Church in Punta Gorda and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Charlotte.
“Our group nights continue to grow as we raise awareness of our services,” Carey said. “Bereaved families need support, and it’s crucial to be able to provide them with resources at no cost.”
Research shows that bereaved teens have higher high school dropout rates, lower test scores, and lower college attendance. Young children who experience the death of a parent or sibling are more likely to be expelled from school, repeat a grade, and are less likely to be enrolled in gifted education programs.
Thankfully, research also indicates that interventions, like the grief support programs offered by Valerie’s House, can mitigate these risks and improve the likelihood that grieving families will thrive despite their devastating loss.
Valerie’s House programming is designed to teach grieving children that loss doesn’t have to limit their dreams. What began as grief support groups held twice per month has evolved into a complete offering of wraparound services designed to fully support the mental health and well-being of each grieving child and their caregiver.
About Valerie’s House
Since its opening in 2016, Valerie’s House has helped more than 2,000 children grieve the loss of a 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 New Life Church in Punta Gorda and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in 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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