There's a new building in Ft Myers built to help heal thousands of families.

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By: Anvar Ruziev Fox-4 News

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Thanks to the generosity of the community and strategic partnerships, including a symbolic $1-a-year lease agreement with the City of Fort Myers, a new $3 million facility now serves as a home for grieving families.

Valerie's House has woven itself into the fabric of Southwest Florida over the past nine years, offering a sanctuary for families grappling with a loss of a loved one.

It's a place where stories of pain and resilience intermingle, like that of Kari Cardisco. With her voice trembling with emotion, the Valerie House mentor told her Ft Myers Community Correspondent Anvar Ruziev how she suddenly found herself on the other side, as a grieving mother.

"Unfortunately, we got the news almost exactly three years ago that his dad died, and he was fourteen at the time. That news rocked our world," Cardisco recounted as she stood next to her son.

But Valerie's House was there to help Cardisco, and it has helped more than five thousand children and families across Southwest Florida, like Jacqueline Virtue, who has left her mark on the very walls of the new facility.

Virtue, who painted a large mural inside, told me, "It's therapy for grieving children, and so as their caregivers, we benefit because we get therapy and we know how to help our grieving child so within that, we all get help. The benefit affects the whole family."

In Florida, one in eleven children face the loss of a sibling or parent before they turn 18, according to Childhood Bereavement Estimation Models.

Angela Melvin-Churchill, the Founder and CEO of Valerie's House, described the importance of community awareness. "We have a lot of families that learn about us through the school system," she said, highlighting how schools play a crucial role in connecting families to Valerie's House during their time of need.

As Valerie's House looks to the future, plans are already underway to expand the facility to offer even more support to families.

Valerie's House Opens The Doors to New Family is Forever Home

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March 25, 2024

FOR MORE INFO:

Angela Melvin Churchill, CEO                      Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC Valerie’s House                                Susan Bennett Marketing & Media  239-204-5804                                             239-277 5255 angela@valerieshouse.org             sbennett@susanbennett.biz

VALERIE’S HOUSE OPENS THE DOORS TO

NEW FAMILY IS FOREVER HOME

FORT MYERS, FLA., MARCH 25, 2024 – Valerie’s House celebrated the grand opening of its new Family is Forever home March 14 with a ribbon-cutting and tours of the new facility at 3551 Shoemaker Lane, now known as 3551 Valerie’s House Way, in Fort Myers.

More than 300 people attended the ribbon-cutting and toured the new home, including Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson, Lee County commissioners, Lee County District School Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier, Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields, Fort Myers Fire Chief Terry McMillion and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce members along with members of other local chambers of commerce and other dignitaries. 

About 200 people attended the open house the following day.

A total of $3 million was raised toward the cost of the new home, which is built on land donated by the City of Fort Myers under a $1 per year lease.

Angela Melvin Churchill, Lee Health Hospital Board Member Nancy McGovern

“We are incredibly grateful to all of the people and organizations who have made this possible,” said CEO Angela Melvin Churchill.  “Having this space will open the door to building more partnerships, educating our community, and most importantly, giving us the needed space to help thousands more families and children who are grieving.”

The home is a cozy, warm, old Florida style structure, with special rooms like a volcano room, which allows children to work out any anger or other emotions they have because of their loss.  The 7,000-square-foot facility will allow Valerie’s House to provide wrap-around services, such as individual grief counseling, parenting classes, and family retreats to support families who need it.

Fire Chief Terry McMillion

“From the moment you walk through the doors we want families to feel at home.  Along with a beautiful outdoor space for the children to play and large dining area for family meals, there also are rooms dedicated to every age group. From little ones, to teens, to caregivers, each group has their own space designed for them to come together to support one another through healing activities and discussions,” she said.

Valerie’s House has helped more than 5,000 children and their families since its founding in 2016 by Angela Melvin Churchill, whose mother, Valerie, was killed in a car accident in Fort Myers in 1987.

One in seven children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2022 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie’s House currently offers peer support groups and other activities at locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, and Port Charlotte. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.

For more information about Valerie’s House or to make a donation to the Forever Home, visit www.valerieshouse.org/forever-home  call 239-204-5804.

About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened its first location in Fort Myers, Florida in January 2016 and has served more than 5,000 children and their families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Hendry counties. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three Southwest Florida locations: 3551 Valerie’s House Way in Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples and 233 East McKenzie Street in Punta Gorda.  Valerie’s House also expanded into Northwest Florida in 2021 with a home in downtown Pensacola.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

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Valerie’s House Welcomes Elisa Bowersox, CPA at Board Treasurer

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FORT MYERS, FL (February 2, 2024) – Elisa Bowersox, CPA, a tax manager with Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co., P.A. (MNMW), joined Valerie’s House Board of Directors as the Treasurer. In this volunteer role, Bowersox will assist the non-profit organization with the financial needs and responsibilities that help Valerie’s House successfully serve all the communities in which they have a facility.

“Valerie’s House has been helping so many children since opening in 2016, and a large reason for our reach into the community has been the support of partners, like MNMW,” said Valerie’s House Founder & CEO Angela Melvin. “Elisa has been a wonderful addition to our Board of Directors, and we are thrilled that she will serve as our Treasurer to help us help children and families work through the loss of a loved one and live fulfilling lives.”

Bowersox is not the first MNMW team member appointed to the Valerie’s House Board. Victoria Rodriguez, CPA, CHBC, MNMW firm partner, served as the agency’s Treasurer from 2017 to 2023, assisting with the organization’s exponential growth while overseeing the annual budget.

About Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.:

Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A. is a public accounting and consulting firm with offices in Fort Myers and Naples. Along with traditional tax and accounting services, the firm offers a wide range of other services, including general business consulting, construction business consulting, medical practice consulting, not-for-profit services, family mediation services, forensic accounting, and litigation support. Call (239) 433-5554 or visit www.Markham-Norton.com for more information.

About Valerie’s House:

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 3,000 children and their families from Charlotte, Sarasota, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier counties as well as the Florida panhandle. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve, and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three locations in Southwest Florida: 233 East McKenzie St. in Punta Gorda, 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, and 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples. Support services are also available at the Charlotte Family Services Center at 21500 Gibraltar Drive in Port Charlotte. For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org.

# # # #

Grand Opening Set For Valerie's House New Family is Forever Home

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January 30, 2024

 

FOR MORE INFO:

Angela Melvin Churchill, CEO                      Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                   Susan Bennett Marketing & Media 

239-204-5804                                                             239-277-5255

angela@valerieshouse.org                                           sbennett@susanbennett.biz

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

GRAND OPENING SET FOR VALERIE’S HOUSE

NEW FAMILY IS FOREVER HOME

 

FORT MYERS, FLA., JANUARY 30, 2024 – Valerie’s House will celebrate the grand opening of its new Family is Forever home Thursday, March 14, with a ribbon-cutting and tours of the new facility at 3551 Shoemaker Lane, now known as 3551 Valerie’s House Way, in Fort Myers.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m., attended by Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson, Fort Myers City Council and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce members along with members of other local chambers of commerce.  Tours will follow until 7 p.m.

An open house is set for the following day (Friday, March 15) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for those unable to attend the Thursday celebration who would like to tour the home. The public and media are invited to join in the celebration.

Sponsorships of the grand opening are available from $500 to $10,000 that include mentions on social media, television recognition, publication printing as well as branding at the event..  For information, please contact Sterling Lund at sterling.lund@valerieshouse.org.

A total of $3 million has been raised toward the cost of the new home, which is built on land donated by the City of Fort Myers under a $1 per year lease.

“We are incredibly grateful to all of the people and organizations who have made this possible,” said CEO Angela Melvin Churchill.  “Having this space will open the door to building more partnerships, educating our community, and most importantly, giving us the needed space to help thousands more families and children who are grieving.”

The home is a cozy, warm, old Florida style structure, with special rooms like a volcano room, which allows children to work out any anger or other emotions they have because of their loss.  The 7,000-square-foot facility will allow Valerie’s House to provide wrap-around services, such as individual grief counseling, parenting classes, and family retreats to support families who need it.

“From the moment you walk through the doors we want families to feel at home.  Along with a beautiful outdoor space for the children to play and large dining area for family meals, there also are rooms dedicated to every age group. From little ones, to teens, to caregivers, each group has their own space designed for them to come together to support one another through healing activities and discussions,” she said.

Valerie’s House has helped more than 5,000 children and their families since its founding in 2016 by Angela Melvin Churchill, whose mother, Valerie, was killed in a car accident in Fort Myers in 1987.

One in seven children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2022 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie’s House currently offers peer support groups and other activities at locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, and Port Charlotte. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.

For more information about Valerie’s House or to make a donation to the Forever Home, visit www.valerieshouse.org/forever-home  call 239-204-5804.

About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened its first location in Fort Myers, Florida in January 2016 and has served more than 5,000 children and their families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Hendry counties. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three Southwest Florida locations: 3551 Valerie’s House Way in Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples and 233 East McKenzie Street in Punta Gorda.  Valerie’s House also expanded into Northwest Florida in 2021 with a home in downtown Pensacola.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

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Naples grieving middle schooler finds Valerie’s House, learns the tools to cope with her loss

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12-year-old Maddy ​Benner found out this week she’s been selected to sing the national anthem at the spring training Red Sox game in Fort Myers.

“I’m looking forward to getting this amazing opportunity, for so many people to hear my voice, maybe to touch other people and bring joy to them,” said Benner.

Maddy has been coming to Valerie’s House in Naples for the past year and has found her voice, literally, amidst her grief.

“It’s become a definite lifeline for me and to open me up and to get me to feel my feelings instead of just bottling them up inside, which is not what I should have been doing before,” Benner said.

Maddy’s lost her grandma Carol and her pop pop Jay. Her dad, David, died on December 10th, 2021, and her teenage cousin Cali, who was like a sister, died several weeks later.

“They mean so much because they made me what I am today,” Benner said. “My dad gave me hope and just helped me to get all my singing stuff and help me believe I can be where I am right now. And Cali, she was always there when I needed to talk about something or to hype me up.”

Holidays are traditionally a time for us to gather together, but families at Valerie’s House are feeling the absence of their loved ones in a deep way.

Maddy came in shy and guarded, but with the help of her friends at Valerie’s House, Maddy has learned to talk about her grief and realizes she’s not alone.

“Most people don’t lose our father, dad at my age. So, I felt like no one could get me. And then coming here. So many people had the same thing happen to them,” said Benner.

“We believe that our children and families we serve are not limited by their loss,” said Sarah Andrus, director at Valerie’s House in Naples. “The loss doesn’t have to limit their dreams, and Maddy is a shining example of that for all of us here.”

Maddy is a source of inspiration for both kids and adults at Valerie’s House, as she uses her voice to give her pain a purpose.

You can hear her sing at the Red Sox spring training game in Fort Myers on February 29th.

Valerie’s House Awarded $10,000 Grant From The Collier Community Foundation

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Naples, FL – November 22, 2023 – Valerie’s House is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation.

These funds will support the expansion of peer grief-support groups in Collier County Public Schools.

There are more than 7,000 grieving children in Collier County, and Valerie’s House Naples strives to reach as many of those children as possible. Since opening its Collier location in 2017, Valerie’s House has served more than 500 grieving families in Naples.

The funding from the Collier Community Foundation will allow Valerie’s House Naples to bring grief support to children directly through the Collier County education system. This gives children the opportunity to receive support if they cannot attend group night at one of the Valerie’s House locations.

Valerie’s House school groups are growing, and these funds will allow Valerie’s House to keep up with the demand.

“School groups allow us to meet the children where they are at and provide love and support as they grieve the loss of a loved one,” said Valerie’s House Founder & CEO Angela Melvin. “We are so grateful for the Collier Community Foundation for gifting Valerie’s House this grant, as it will allow us to positively impact more grieving children in our community.”

The Collier Community Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Selected organizations receive grant dollars from the Community Impact Fund. This Fund is made up of donors who believe in the Community Foundation’s ability to identify and grant the community’s most current needs.

 

 

About Valerie’s House:

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 3,000 children and their families from Charlotte, Sarasota, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier counties as well as the Florida panhandle. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three locations in Southwest Florida: 233 East McKenzie St. in Punta Gorda, 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, and 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples. Support services also are available at the Charlotte Family Services Center at 21500 Gibraltar Drive in Port Charlotte. For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

 

About the Collier Community Foundation:

Collier Community Foundation® is a tax-exempt, public, charitable organization established in 1985 to increase and focus on local private philanthropy. Today, the Collier Community Foundation manages over 850 funds, works with hundreds of nonprofits, and has granted over $328 million to nonprofit organizations, community programs, and scholarships. Informed giving. Powerful results®. Learn more at colliercf.org or call 239-649-5000.

Valerie’s House Gives Children a Voice During National Children’s Grief Awareness Month in November

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

 Media Contacts:

 

Angela Melvin Churchill, Founder & CEO                                                                                                                         Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                                                                                                                       Susan Bennett Marketing & Media

239-204-5804                                                                                                                                                                                    (239) 277-5255

angela@valerieshouseswfl.org                                                                                                                                         sbennett@susanbennett.biz

 

Valerie’s House Gives Children a Voice During

National Children’s Grief Awareness Month in November

 

National Children’s Grief Awareness Day is November 16

FORT MYERS, Fla. – October 31, 2023 – Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization helping children grieve the loss of a loved one, is participating in National Children’s Grief Awareness Month in November with numerous activities to give grieving children a voice.

“Valerie’s House is joining other members of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief to acknowledge and support children who are grieving and their families,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin Churchill. “We must stand with them and support them now more than ever.”

Two major events are planned during the month:

·       Valerie’s House in Fort Myers will host an open house so the public including families, school professionals, and other community members can tour the house and learn more about its grief support services Thursday, November 16, which is National Children’s Grief Awareness Day. Professionals who work with children are encouraged to wear blue and drop by Valerie’s House at 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Kathy@valerieshouse.org

●   Valerie’s House will produce a podcast with the Lee County school system about how to support students who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

·       Throughout National Children’s Grief Awareness Month, Valerie’s House will share personal stories from families during videos, interviews and other profiles posted on social media and on their website. They also are encouraging residents to share their own stories of loss on social media and how they have survived the trauma.

Among the initiatives of Valerie’s House and the National Alliance for Children’s Grief is “flip the script” on grief by addressing common challenges people face when supporting those who are grieving.  Various scripts are provided to replace potentially hurtful language with more comforting and constructive responses.

For example:

Instead of “I’m sorry for your loss,” flip the script and say “Thank you for telling me what happened.I know there are no words to make it better.  Just know I’m here and want to support you.”

Instead of “you need to be strong,” flip the script and say “Do you want to talk? Do you want to tell me about your (person who died)?”

“We are asking everyone to join with us in helping. Reach out to anyone you know who is grieving and tell them about Valerie’s House. Let them know we are here for them and that they are not alone.  Give them a voice, let them know you hear them,” Melvin Churchill said.

Valerie’s House was founded in Fort Myers in 2016 by Melvin, whose mother
Valerie was killed in a car accident in Fort Myers in 1987. Since then, the organization has grown to help more than 3,000 children and expanded into three additional locations in Naples, Punta Gorda, and Pensacola.

One in nine children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2022 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie's House is fully supported by community donations.

If you know of a family who is in need of grief support, please go to the Valerie’s House website www.valerieshouse.org to find out more and enroll a family for help.

 
 

 About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 3,000 children and their families from Charlotte, Sarasota, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier counties as well as the Florida panhandle. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three locations in Southwest Florida: 233 East McKenzie St. in Punta Gorda, 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, and 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples. Support services also are available at the Charlotte Family Services Center at 21500 Gibraltar Drive in Port Charlotte.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

City of Fort Myers Dedicates Valerie’s House Way

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FOR MORE INFO:

 

Angela Melvin, CEO                                                                   Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                                                                                                              Susan Bennett Marketing & Media

239-204-5804                                                                                                                                                                                         239-277-5255

angela@valerieshouse.org                                                                                                                                               sbennett@susanbennett.biz

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

City of Fort Myers Dedicates Valerie’s House Way

 

FORT MYERS, FLA. October 26, 2023 – The City of Fort Myers has renamed a city street as Valerie’s House Way, in honor of the new Valerie’s House forever home being built to provide a safe, comforting environment for children grieving the loss of a loved one.

City leaders, Valerie’s House board members, staff and families gathered for the official dedication on October 19.  The renaming of Shoemaker Lane to Valerie’s House Way was the idea of Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson who experienced the loss of his parent as a child.

"Valerie's House Way will forever be a street in our beloved city," said Mayor Anderson.  "Hundreds of people travel this boulevard everyday and will now see the name Valerie's House.  We hope this will bring even more attention to the special mission of Valerie's House."

The new Valerie’s House is under construction with completion expected in January.

"Our house of healing will be here for generations to come," said Valerie's House founder and CEO Angela Melvin Churchill.  "No child will ever grieve alone in our community once this is finished."

The home will be a cozy, warm, old Florida style structure. The 7,000-square-foot facility will also allow Valerie’s House to help more children and provide wrap-around services, such as individual grief counseling to support families who desperately need it.V

Valerie’s House was founded in Fort Myers in 2016 by Melvin, whose mother Valerie was killed in a car accident in Fort Myers in 1987. Since then, the organization has grown to help more than 3,000 children and expanded into three additional locations in Naples, Punta Gorda, and Pensacola.

One in nine children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2022 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie's House is fully supported by community donations.

If you know of a family who is in need of grief support, please go to the Valerie’s House website www.valerieshouse.org to find out more and enroll a family for help.

 About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 3,000 children and their families from Charlotte, Sarasota, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier counties as well as the Florida panhandle. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three locations in Southwest Florida: 233 East McKenzie St. in Punta Gorda, 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, and 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples. Support services also are available at the Charlotte Family Services Center at 21500 Gibraltar Drive in Port Charlotte.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

Street dedication ceremony held in Fort Myers for Valerie’s House

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FORT MYERS, Fla. — The City of Fort Myers honored Valerie’s House with a street dedication ceremony on Thursday.

A portion of Veronica Shoemaker Lane will now be known as “Valerie’s House Way”. More changes are coming to the street as well. A brand new house is expected to be open along the roadway in January.

Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson, city council members and Valerie House’s founder, Angela Melvin, were among those attending the unveiling.

Valerie’s House opened in 2016 in honor of Valerie Melvin, Angela’s mother, who died in a vehicle accident in 1987. The organization is dedicated to helping children deal with grief and heal through significant losses in their lives.

Valerie's House Expands With New Home In Charlotte County

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October 3, 2023

 

FOR MORE INFO:

 

Christine Carey                                                                          Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House Charlotte                                                                                                                                      Susan Bennett Marketing & Media 

239-841-0381                                                                                                                                                                                         (239) 277-5255

Christine@valerieshouse.org                                                                                                                                            sbennett@susanbennett.biz

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

VALERIE’S HOUSE EXPANDS WITH NEW HOME

IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY

 

PUNTA GORDA, FLA., Oct. 3, 2023 – Valerie’s House has purchased a new home in Charlotte County, enabling the non-profit organization to expand its services to children grieving the loss of loved ones.

The new home at 233 East McKenzie Street in downtown Punta Gorda includes a 1,500 square foot house plus an additional 500 square foot detached building that will be used for teen peer grief support as well as grief counseling.  The new location will allow Valerie’s House to serve the increasing number of children from both Charlotte and Sarasota Counties.

“The warm and cozy house in downtown Punta Gorda is a special place for our families to call a home away from home,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.  “We’ve been holding group counseling sessions at local churches and schools in both Charlotte and Sarasota counties for several years now.  Having a home to call our own in Charlotte County will allow us to help hundreds more children and their parents who need support and counseling after the death of a loved in in their family.”

Melvin said Valerie’s House will begin offering peer to peer grief support groups, grief counseling and other trainings, resource nights and activities at the new house in January.

Renovations costing $75,000 are needed to make the restroom and parking ADA compliant, install a new roof and air conditioning.  All sponsorships of $25,000 or more may be pledged over five years.  A Walkway of Remembrance also will be installed with pavers available from $500 to $1,000.

More information about the new Charlotte County home and how to get involved can be found by contacting Charlotte County Director Christine Carey at christine@valerieshouse.org.

Valerie’s House is also nearing the completion of a three-year long building campaign in Lee County for its Family is Forever Home on a donated piece of land from the City of Fort Myers.  The Fort Myers home is expected to open to the public in December.

“We are grateful to our volunteers, donors, Valerie’s House Board of Directors and staff for making the vision that No Child Grieves Alone in Southwest Florida a reality,” Melvin said.

Valerie’s House has provided grief support services to more than 400 children and adults in Charlotte County since expanding there in 2019.

Valerie’s House was founded in Fort Myers in 2016 by Melvin, whose mother
Valerie was killed in a car accident in Fort Myers in 1987.  In addition to homes in Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, Valerie’s House also has homes in Naples and Pensacola.

One in nine children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2022 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie's House is fully supported by community donations.

If you know of a family who is in need of grief support, please go to the Valerie’s House website www.valerieshouse.org to find out more and enroll a family for help.

 

About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 3,000 children and their families from Charlotte, Sarasota, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier counties as well as the Florida panhandle. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three locations in Southwest Florida: 233 East McKenzie St. in Punta Gorda, 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, and 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples. Support services also are available at the Charlotte Family Services Center at 21500 Gibralter Drive in Port Charlotte.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

                                                                                                                       30

Longtime Southwest Florida Business Owner Jeff Miloff Joins Valerie’s House Board of Directors

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

 Media Contacts:

 

Angela Melvin, Founder & CEO                                                                                                                                         Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                                                                                                                       Susan Bennett Marketing & Media

239-204-5804                                                                                                                                                                                       (239) 277-5255

angela@valerieshouseswfl.org                                                                                                                                         sbennett@susanbennett.biz

 

Longtime Southwest Florida Business Owner Jeff Miloff Joins

Valerie’s House Board of  Directors

FORT MYERS, Fla. – August 1, 2023 – Longtime Businessman Jeff Miloff of Miloff Aubuchon Realty Group has joined the Board of Directors of Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida helping children grieve the loss of a loved one.

“Jeff has been a long-time volunteer for Valerie’s House and has his own personal story of loss that resonates with our Valerie’s House families,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.  “His passion for our mission combined with his decades of experience leading successful boards and our community will be an asset to Valerie’s House.”

Losing his father when he was eight years old, Miloff knows firsthand why the mission of Valerie’s House is so important.

“My mother had five children to raise on her own after my Dad died,” he said.  “We could have really benefitted from a place like Valerie’s House.”

Miloff has been involved in the Valerie’s House Val’s Pals mentoring program for the past year.  He spends time with 12-year-old Landon who also lost his father.  The two use their shared experience to heal from their losses together.  The two also bond through their love of sports.

Miloff has twice been named Humanitarian of the Year by the Cape Coral Association of Realtors, is past president of Ronald McDonald House Charities SWFL and is a past recipient of the President’s Award from Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Originally from Florida’s east coast, Miloff served six years in the U.S. Coast Guard.  He met his wife Jacque in New Jersey and the couple made the decision to return to Florida and make Southwest Florida their home.

He partnered with Gary Aubuchon of Aubuchon Homes in 1999 to initiate a real estate company, Miloff Aubuchon Realty Group, which has become one of the top independent firms in Southwest Florida with nearly 90 real estate agents. 

Giving back to his community is important to Miloff, who has organized dozens of fund-raising events for local charities, including fishing and poker tournaments, and serving on several local non-profit boards of directors. Miloff and Jacque also were instrumental in the fund-raising and building the Cape Coral Animal Shelter.

Valerie’s House opened in 2016 in Fort Myers with 20 children and has grown to serve more than 3,000 children and parents in the past seven years, by providing a safe, comfortable place for children and their families to heal together following the death of someone they love. Valerie’s House 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 in Charlotte County. 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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Valerie’s House Announces $54,000 in College Scholarships for Local Grieving Students

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

 Media Contacts:

 

Angela Melvin, Founder & CEO                                                                                                                                         Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                                                                                                                       Susan Bennett Marketing & Media

239-204-5804                                                                                                                                                                                      (239) 277-5255

angela@valerieshouseswfl.org                                                                                                                                         sbennett@susanbennett.biz

 

Valerie’s House Announces $54,000 in

College Scholarships for Local Grieving Students

FORT MYERS, Fla. – June 26, 2023 – Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida helping children grieve the loss of a loved one, has awarded $54,000 in college scholarships for graduating high school seniors who have come through and found support in the Valerie’s House grief support program.

It’s the second year that Valerie’s House has offered the scholarships of $1,000 to $2,500 per year for four years. Six local students were chosen based on an essay they each wrote about their personal grief story and how their loss shaped them as the person they are and the person they want to become.

The scholarship recipients are:

●        Jason Bishop of Cape Coral, who graduated from Bishop Verot High School and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University;

●        Jacob Jordan of Cape Coral, who graduated from North Fort Myers High School and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University;

●        Kaitlyn McCormack of Naples, who graduated from Barron Collier High School and plans to attend Florida SouthWestern State College;

●        Sam Mejia of Naples, who graduated from Lorenzo Walker Technical High School and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University;

●        Bailey Spotz of Cape Coral, who graduated from Cape Coral High School and plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University; and.

●        Kendall Sulmasy of Naples, who graduated from The Village School in Naples and is undecided on which college to attend.

“We believe it is important to empower our youth to strive for big things and to know that loss doesn’t have to limit their dreams,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.  “We are very grateful to our donors who have made this scholarship program possible.”

The scholarship funds may be used for classes, materials, or anything they need during the school year.

“The students are asked to check in with Valerie’s House each college semester and tell us something that they worked through that was challenging during the semester, and something great that they believe they might have accomplished, “ Melvin said.

To donate and help the Valerie’s House Scholarship Fund, visit www.valerieshouse.org/donate

Valerie’s House first opened its doors with 20 children and their caregivers on the evening of January 11, 2016 in a small house in downtown Fort Myers.  Since then, the organization has grown to help more than 2,000 children and expanded into three locations across Southwest Florida, including one in Naples and Punta Gorda.

One in seven children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2021 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie’s House provides a safe, comfortable place for children and their families to heal together following the death of someone they love. Valerie’s House 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 in Charlotte County. 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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Bailey Spotz

Jacob Jordan

Jason Bishop

Kaitlyn McCormack, Sam Mejia, and Kendall Sulmasy

The day before my 17th birthday, my dad died. Here's how I cope on Father's Day.

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Kaitlyn McCormack

The Naples Daily News

Kaitlyn McCormack

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I'm sure anyone who loses a loved one comes to the realization that life keeps going, even if we are not ready for it. Some cope with this truth better than others. I lost my father the day before my 17th birthday. I can’t say that I coped well, but I do know the reality of his death hit me so intensely I was left stunned.

I remember the day the first signs of my dad’s cancer showed. He had been coughing for months and had pain in his throat, but he put off going to the doctor with a long list of excuses and self-diagnoses as to why it would eventually pass. I remember one specific day, I called my dad and learned that he was in the hospital because he wasn’t feeling well. He wouldn’t give me any other information. I was angry. He had been perfectly fine a few hours earlier.

I didn’t know my life would soon be changing forever. I went from a normal Junior at Barron Collier High School to a teenage girl with a dad dying from cancer. I grieved for him even though he was still alive as I watched the man who raised me slip away from me with each day that passed. Anyone who knew my dad knew he always had a joke to crack, and he loved to play his guitar. Toward the end of his life, there were no more jokes made or melodies played. He wasn’t himself anymore. His sickness made him unrecognizable. I try not to remember him that way.

In March of that year, the day before my 17th birthday, my father died. I was holding his hand when he passed away in the living room. I didn’t know I could cry so much in one day.

My dad would do anything for me. As a very creative child, my dad always did his best to keep my imaginative mind entertained. One year for Christmas, my dad gave me a video camera. With dreams of becoming a journalist, I thought it was the best gift anyone had ever given me. I wrote scripts for us, and we used my new camera to record our skits. A couple of days after he died, I looked through the footage on that camera. I found one of my favorite videos where we pretended to be enemies in battle, as “The Eye of the Tiger” played in the background.

Now that it has been a little over a year, things from that time feel more in perspective. Living it felt exceptionally fast but very slow at the same time. I don’t remember much from my junior year. I realize now that was probably because of stress. In order not to get overwhelmed, I tried not to feel much at all, and I spent most of my time alone. After he died, my mom and I found a community of others grieving at Valerie’s House in Naples. Valerie’s House is a special place in our community where families like ours learn the tools to cope with our grief.  I rarely miss a group night. I learned it is important to spend time with people that I love, do things I enjoy, and work hard for what I want. I don’t have to feel guilty about it because that is not what my dad would want for me.

Every day I wish my dad was still alive. I miss him more than I would be able to articulate with words. His death will never make my life easier, and it is going to affect all the biggest events of my life. This realization hit me the night of my high school graduation when I broke down in tears because he wasn’t there to see me. I can only imagine how proud he would be.

Kaitlyn and her Dad

Even though I am sad he can’t see my achievements, I’m not going to stop working towards them. I think about how happy he would be to see me now. I miss my dad every day, but I continue to move forward for him.

This Father’s Day, I will spend time with my mom, and we will visit my Dad’s grave. I like to sit by him and talk. Sometimes I’ll write letters to read.

For those of you who know a family grieving the death of their Dad on this Father’s Day, please reach out to them and let them know you care. Recognize they might want to just stay home and let the day pass by. That’s ok. I learned from Valerie’s House that all of us grieve differently, and we grieve at our own pace. 

My advice for other grieving children and parents without Dad this Father’s Day is that it’s going to be hard, but it will get better. It’s important to stay focused on things that benefit your life and make you happy. Without your person, you can feel lost, but they are always with you. With a day like Father’s Day, for those of us who don’t have a Dad, we can honor another male figure who has made our life better. We also have teens at Valerie’s House who choose to honor their mother or caregiver who has also been in the role of a father because Dad is gone. This day can be anything you want it to be. 

 

Kaitlyn McCormack graduated from Barron Collier High School this past May.

Valerie’s House in Naples helps those grieving loved ones

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May marks the start of mental health awareness month, and one group is working to help people understand how unresolved grief plays a role in mental health.

Haley Thalheimer spends a lot of time at Valerie’s House in Naples.

“My dad actually died when I was 11 years old.. and so, just kind of thought that someone was like, you need to hear about Valerie’s House,” Thalheimer said.

She’s on the advisory board and volunteers to help lead group nights at Valerie’s House. She told WINK News being the support system she needed when she was younger means everything to her.

“The subject or the stigma around death.. there’s a lot around it, in our culture, in our country, in society. As a child, I was fortunate enough to go to therapy and to be able to have that support, but it was just me. I had no one my age or no one in my grade, aside from family members, who understood what I was going through,” Thalheimer said.

Valerie’s House plays a huge role in helping people understand how unresolved grief can impact mental health.

“For these children to have a network of support, a network of their peers to support them.. is just incredible. And I really do believe it will change the course of their lives forever,” Thalheimer said.

“When you were sitting in a circle of peers, and they can say, me, too, yeah, I feel angry, too, yeah, I’m happy, but then I feel guilty that I’m happy, it’s powerful. So, then you know that you are not alone,” Sarah Andrus, the director of Valerie’s House, said

And that’s a gift that kids in grief can depend on.

The folks at Valerie’s House told WINK News they eventually plan to expand and offer grief support counseling in areas like Immokalee, Golden Gate, and Marco Island.

Link to the WINK News article: https://winknews.com/2023/05/01/may-is-mental-health-awareness-month/?fbclid=IwAR2vxF-gnOxbDLMjDcnu9IQx5x-7uC313HoiyfJzvCGVbOc0zbThFSCCi18

Valerie’s House Pensacola welcomes community at Open House

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FOR MORE INFO:

Crista Brandt, Northwest Florida Director                                                                         

Valerie’s House Pensacola                                                                                      

850-266-0795                                                                             

crista@valerieshouse.org                                                         

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Grieving Families in Northwest Florida Have a Place to Call Their Own

Valerie’s House Pensacola welcomes community at Open House

 PENSACOLA, FLA. April 24, 2023 – Children grieving the death of a loved one in Pensacola now have a cozy, comfortable house to call their own.  After two years of serving the Northwest Florida area, Valerie’s House Pensacola (VHP) officially opened its new home to the community Friday, April 21 during an official Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting and Open House at 904 E Gadsden Street near downtown.

 More than 250 people filled the rooms for tours and had the opportunity to speak with families, board members and volunteers about the services at Valerie’s House. Guests strolled through the historic home which has been renovated to include healing rooms, art spaces, and gathering rooms for adults and children to be together during their grief journey.

 “Thank you to all the people who took time to attend Valerie’s House Open House. Hundreds of people walked through the doors of Valerie’s House at The Chadbourne Foundation Home to witness the impact and space we are providing so no child in our community grieves alone. The outpouring of support was nothing short of amazing” said Crista Brandt, Valerie’s House Northwest Florida Director.

 Valerie’s House is the first and only non-profit in the panhandle with its sole mission to help children grieving the death of a loved one. The Pensacola chapter of Valerie’s House opened in 2020 spearheaded by Brandt. The program spent nearly two years in a donated space from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida before the Chadbourne Foundation donated a home of its own to Valerie’s House.

 “The Chadbourne Foundation is indebted to Valerie’s House for enabling us to put our funds to use in an effective and palpable manner with the founding of The Chadbourne Foundation Home,” said Caroline DeMaria, Chadbourne Foundation Board Member.  “We are also thankful that the founder of Valerie’s House, Angela Melvin, sanctioned a location in the panhandle under Crista’s passionate leadership.”

 More than 230 children and adults receive support from Valerie’s House, including students at Pace Center for Girls, where Valerie’s House hosts an in-school group. Valerie’s House Peer-to-Peer support model helps children share, connect, and build bonds with other kids their age dealing with similar experiences. Children have the opportunity to decrease isolation, identify and become aware of their normal feelings of grief, and learn safe and effective ways to manage their difficult feelings. Valerie’s House helps make connections between the participants’ grief stories, so they know they are not alone.

 15 percent of children in the panhandle are predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25. One in 11 children in Escambia County and 1 in 14 in Santa Rosa county will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18.  Valerie’s House hosts grief support groups and other activities for children and families during the week at no cost to families.

 To enroll a child who is grieving, or to find out more, please visit www.valerieshouse.org/pensacola or contact Crista Brandt at pensacola@valerieshouse.org.

Valerie’s House was founded in January 2016 in Fort Myers, Florida and has grown to help more than 3,000 children and their families across the state at locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Port Charlotte and at its newest location in Pensacola. The organization is named after Valerie Melvin, a Fort Myers wife and mother of two who died in 1987 in a car accident. For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org 

                                                           

Valerie’s House helps grieving wife, mother, journey on

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Cape Coral widowed mom of four works through heartbreaking tragedy to finish law degree for self and family

By DEVON CRUMPACKER | Apr 21, 2023

“I had to keep moving. Or else I just would have laid there. I had to keep moving forward,” said Rochelle Pitts from the front steps of a large, old Florida home in downtown Fort Myers, known as Valerie’s House. Rochelle was there to be sworn in as an attorney, having just passed the Florida bar. But she was thinking back on what it took, in the face of immense tragedy, for the widowed mother of four to get to that point.

Just before Christmas, in December, 2020, Rochelle’s husband, Jesse Pitts, died after a car crash on his way home from work. He was 32 years old.

Rochelle was 30.

The couple had three children together–two girls and a boy–and Rochelle was pregnant with their fourth, a girl. Rochelle was also days away from beginning her final semester of law school at Ave Maria School of Law.

Her husband’s healthy organs helped save the lives of four others on Christmas day that year, as he was able to donate his heart, liver and kidneys.

But, for Rochelle, a bleak new reality was beginning to set in.

And processing it all was nearly impossible.

She had waited by his side for three days as he lie in a hospital bed on a ventilator, waiting for the organ removal procedure. She already knew there was nothing else the doctors could do for him at that point. Still, she stayed with him those three days. She laid next to him. She held him. She placed his hand on her belly to feel their unborn baby. And then, eventually, it was over. And it was just Rochelle and her kids.

She couldn’t sleep. Guilt wracked her conscious. Her life didn’t seem real. It was a horrible dream. Everything was coming at her all at once, and she needed a way out, a plan. So, in a moment of despair, at 6 in the morning, crying, she called her old boss, Allan Parvey. It was Parvey who got Rochelle in touch with Valerie’s House.

Founded in 2016 by Angela Melvin, Valerie’s House provides open-ended peer support groups and activities for children and families in hopes of helping them heal after a significant loss in their lives. It seeks to provide a sense of community and a platform for individuals to come together, share, and mentor each other through their grief.

“It’s a place where people come to not feel alone,” said Melvin of Valerie’s House. “Grieving families can come together here, and bond, and become friends.”

Melvin was inspired to found Valerie’s House after examining her own experience with grief, having lost her mother, Valerie, to a car accident when she was just a young girl.

“In Fort Myers, we didn’t have anything like this back in 1987,” said Melvin of Valerie’s House to the crowd of friends and family gathered for Rochelle’s swearing in ceremony. “But we’re not alone anymore.”

Rochelle said she immediately took to the Valerie’s House style of coping with grief. She said there’s no placating, or patronizing at Valerie’s House. Grieving people are allowed to feel their feelings. Phrases like, you’ll feel better, or time will heal it aren’t part of curriculum.

“It was very validating,” said Rochelle. “If I feel like crying, I’m going to cry. I’ll cry right now if I want to.”

Valerie’s House also represented a small slice of normalcy for Rochelle and her family.

“I needed to find people that were similar ages, and people that actually understood grief,” said Rochelle. “It was the only place we could go and feel normal.”

Rochelle also credited law school and her legal studies in general for giving her life some structure during a time where everything seemed so chaotic.

“I needed someone to tell me, ‘Hey you need to be (in class) at 8 a.m.’ I needed it to function. I needed to be responsible for things.”

Rochelle went on to finish law school and pass the Florida bar exam, studying any moment she could. She would listen to lectures in her car on her way home from work. She would listen to more study material while she made dinner for her kids. She would stay up until almost midnight. She would even teach her kids the law as a type of study exercise on days and nights she wasn’t able to find a babysitter.

“I would sit there and explain the law to them,” Rochelle said. “Because, if I couldn’t explain the law to them, then I wasn’t going to understand the law myself.”

But, Rochelle has banked the hill now, as she was sworn in as an attorney on Friday evening at Valerie’s House by Lee County Circuit Judge Robert Branning. She will go to work at Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan, PLLC, as an associate attorney specializing in personal injury law.

“Not one of us can profess to know what you have been through,” said the firm’s co-founder and senior partner, Ty Roland, who was at the ceremony. “But it certainly feels like it makes sense to be in a place whose mission is to … help people who have suffered unimaginable loss.”

Before the ceremony came to a close, Rochelle confirmed her intent to keep coming to Valerie’s House. She has no illusions about ever fully getting over the tragedy that befell her family. But she knows Valerie’s House can help with that, even if it’s an ongoing battle. That’s why she wants to be there to help others when the situation arises.

“Even if we grow in our journey, we want to keep coming back to help the next family that comes through those doors,” said Rochelle.

Juniper Makes $100,000 Gift for Valerie's House New Forever Home

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March 29, 2023

 

FOR MORE INFO:

 Angela Melvin, CEO                                                   Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

Valerie’s House                                                 Susan Bennett Marketing & Media 

239-204-5804                                                             239-277-5255

angela@valerieshouse.org                                           sbennett@susanbennett.biz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNIPER MAKES $100,000 GIFT

FOR VALERIE’S HOUSE NEW FOREVER HOME

FORT MYERS, FLA. March 29, 2023 – Valerie’s House is one giant step closer to completing its dream of having a home of its own for grieving children and families in Lee County with the donation of $100,000 in landscaping services from Juniper, a Fort Myers-based company with offices throughout Florida.

Landscape Design by Juniper

Juniper will be providing all design, landscape, irrigation and outdoor lighting on the one acre site at 3551 Shoemaker Lane in Fort Myers.

Juniper is the latest in a long list of community support for Valerie’s House, which initially began with the donation of the one acre property from the City of Fort Myers in November of 2019.  The project is now 50 percent complete with an anticipated opening this fall.

“We are grateful for all of the people who continue to want to be a part of Valerie’s House,” said Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.  “Having the talents of Juniper for our outdoor areas is helping us bring this house of healing to life with the Old Florida style that we love.”

“The design will include a memory garden, walking trail, larger, mature trees and outdoor lighting so the spaces can be enjoyed into the evenings,” said Dan deMont, chief revenue officer for Juniper.

“Juniper Cares, our charitable fund, has primarily focused its outreach and support on worthy youth organizations. Valerie’s House could not be a better example of that,” deMont said.

A total of $2.6 million has been raised toward the $3 million cost of the new home that is under construction on land donated by the City of Fort Myers under a $1 per year lease.  

The home will be a cozy, warm, old Florida style structure. The 7,000-square-foot facility will also allow Valerie’s House to help more children and provide wrap-around services, such as individual grief counseling to support families who desperately need it.

Valerie’s House is still looking for sponsors for several areas in the home, including the playground area, the activities gazebo and some of the children’s rooms.

“If you haven't donated yet, please consider being a part of our family,” Melvin said. “We are so close to reaching our goal. When the doors open later this year, you will know you are a part of this legacy for our community.”

To review the Family is Forever Home, visit www.valerieshouse.org/capital-campaign, call 239-478-6734, or email Project Manager Sterling Lund at sterling.lund@valerieshouse.org

Valerie’s House has helped more than 2,000 children and their families since its founding in 2016 by Angela Melvin, whose mother Valerie was killed in a car accident in 1987.

One in seven children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2022 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie’s House currently offers peer support groups and other activities at locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and Pensacola. Valerie's House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.

 About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 2,000 children and their families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Hendry counties. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three locations: 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples and group therapy meetings at several churches in Charlotte County.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

About Juniper

Juniper was founded in 2001 and has grown to become the 17th largest landscape provider in the United States, according to Lawn & Landscape Magazine.  The Fort Myers-based company employs 2,200 people in 18 branches throughout Florida. For more information, visit www.junipercares.com

 

The United Way of Charlotte County Awards Valerie's House with $37,000 Grant

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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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