For 20 years, Christina Winters has been a teacher at Rayma C. Page Elementary School in Fort Myers. Earlier this year, her world was forever changed when her 13-year-old son, Karsen, died after a nearly five-year battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare muscle tumor.
Read More“I wanted to give up many times but decided I had to keep going. Valerie’s House gave me something to look forward to and gave me back some of the family I had lost.”
—Kitty Hughes, scholarship recipient
Their story highlighted the incredible bravery of three of our young adults—Carter Koehler and sisters Emely and Kaeley Calderon—who courageously opened up about the losses they’ve faced and how they’ve found hope again through Valerie’s House.
Read MoreAt Valerie’s House, we know how powerful it can be when a community comes together to care for its children—and we’re incredibly grateful to our local media partners who help tell that story.
Read MoreAshley’s story is now reaching even more people thanks to Gulf Coast News and reporter Britt Leoni. In a deeply moving TV interview for their Stories to Share segment, Ashley returned to Valerie’s House to speak about her grief, her growth, and how she’s found purpose in helping others feel less alone.
Read MoreOur Founder and CEO, Angela Melvin, sat down with WINK News reporter Bianca Smith to talk about why grief support for children and families is so important—especially in traumatic situations like this.
Read MoreValerie’s House is proud to be featured in another impactful WINK News story—this time highlighting a new initiative from the Lee County School District to support the mental health of students and families.
Read MoreOur very own Susan Rizzato, a licensed clinical social worker and grief counselor at Valerie’s House, was recently featured in a WINK News story about the emotional toll that school shootings are having on students and their families.
Read MoreValerie’s House is honored to be featured in a recent WINK News story that highlights the powerful journey of one of our high school seniors, Molly Flynn. The segment aired on April 30 and offered an intimate look into Molly’s experience with grief and how Valerie’s House has helped her find strength and direction in the wake of her father’s death.
Read MoreWe’re incredibly grateful to be featured in Florida Weekly in a heartfelt article written by Joe Landon, highlighting the impact of Valerie’s House in Naples. The story, titled “No Child Grieves Alone,” shines a beautiful light on the work we’re doing to support grieving children and families in Collier County.
Read MoreWe’re proud to announce that Kristalyn Loson Atwood, the newly appointed Board Chair of Valerie’s House, has been named one of è Bella Magazine’s Women to Watch in the April 2025 edition.
Read MoreWe are incredibly grateful to Gulf Coast News for highlighting this special moment and to Hooters of South Florida—one of our amazing community partners—for their ongoing generosity and support of grieving children and families in Southwest Florida.
Read MoreThis year’s toy drive has truly been an “extravaganza,” as described by Founder and CEO Angela Melvin Churchill. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, schools, and individuals, we’ve received over 1,000 toys and gifts for children and teens who are part of the Valerie’s House family.
Read MoreWe are incredibly grateful to Florida Weekly for their beautiful coverage of our inaugural Sunset Soiree at the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home. The event was a heartfelt evening dedicated to supporting grieving children and families in Southwest Florida.
Read MoreValerie’s House is honored to have been featured by FOX4 in their recent article about local organizations participating in Giving Tuesday. 🌟 Their spotlight helps spread awareness of the vital work we do to support grieving children and families in Southwest Florida during this time of year when the need is greatest.
Read MoreValerie’s House is deeply grateful to the Fort Myers News-Press for its thoughtful coverage of our inaugural Sunset Soirée, held on November 21, 2024, at the new Family is Forever home in Fort Myers. The event brought together supporters and guests to celebrate our mission of helping grieving children and families, and we appreciate the News-Press for shining a light on this special evening.
Read MoreAt Valerie’s House, we’re deeply appreciative of the support we receive from our community and media partners. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Gulfshore Business and WINK News, along with reporter Nancy Semon, for shining such a positive and powerful spotlight on our organization’s work in Charlotte County.
Read MoreAt Valerie’s House, we are deeply appreciative of Florida Weekly for spotlighting our organization and the community of supporters who make it possible to bring hope and healing to grieving children and families in Southwest Florida. This recent feature not only underscored our mission but also celebrated the incredible partnerships that sustain our nonprofit’s impact.
Read MoreOn the evening of Friday, October 18th, Valerie’s House held a special event to unveil its Heart Memorial at the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home. This unique memorial, inspired by the Love Lock Bridge in Paris, is a tribute for anyone in the grieving community to honor the memory of lost loved ones.
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VALERIE’S HOUSE, INC.
Fort Myers • Naples • Charlotte County • Pensacola
Phone 239-204-5804
Valerie’s House is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, registration # CH46827. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. For more information, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or visit www.freshfromflorida.com.
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