Rooted in Hope: Spring at Valerie’s House Ends with Gratitude, Growth, and Healing
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As we close out the 2025 spring semester at Valerie’s House, our hearts are full—of hope, healing, and deep gratitude.
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Looking Ahead: College and Career Fair at Valerie’s House
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Our teens and young adults took an inspiring step toward their future at the Valerie’s House College and Career Fair, held Tuesday, April 30 at our Fort Myers Family is Forever Home.
Read MoreChampions 4 Children Brings Former Pro Athletes to Valerie’s House for a Day of Joy and Connection
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Valerie’s House was honored once again to be a part of Champions 4 Children — an annual tradition that brings professional and collegiate athletes together with local nonprofits to uplift and inspire children across Southwest Florida. This year, dozens of athletes, many of whom are former stars in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and beyond, spent the day laughing, playing, and connecting with grieving children at our Fort Myers Family is Forever Home.
Read MoreValerie’s House Charlotte County Hosts Inaugural Fundraiser to Support Local Grieving Families
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Valerie’s House Charlotte County recently hosted its first-ever fundraiser, Cocktails for a Cause: Sunset Soirée, bringing together community members to support grieving children and families. Originally scheduled for November 2023, the event was postponed due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. But when the evening finally arrived, it became a powerful reflection of how far Valerie’s House has come—from its early days of serving families in a church to opening its own home in Punta Gorda—and the bright future ahead.
Read MoreA Beautiful Transformation: Valerie’s House Hosts First Butterfly Garden Planting and Release
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Valerie’s House families came together for a truly powerful and unforgettable moment—our first official Butterfly Garden planting and butterfly release. This special event was made possible by the Stryker family, who found healing through the Valerie’s House program after losing their beloved child, Logan.
Read MoreFlorida Everblades Fundraiser Brings Community Together for Valerie’s House
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Valerie’s House families, supporters, and volunteers came together for an unforgettable night at Hertz Arena, where the Florida Everblades hosted a special fundraiser to support grieving children and families. The event wasn’t just about hockey—it was about connection, community, and raising awareness for childhood grief support.
Read More🎄 Christmas for a Cause: Supporting Grieving Families in Charlotte County
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Explore the heartwarming moments from "Christmas for a Cause," an incredible event hosted at unWined in Punta Gorda that brought our community together to support Valerie's House Charlotte County. Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $10,000 to help grieving families find hope and healing. Check out the photo gallery to relive this unforgettable evening filled with joy, connection, and giving. 🌟
Read MoreValerie’s House Holiday Party 2024
/The holidays can be especially tough for grieving families, but coming together makes all the difference. This year’s Holiday Party, held at CityGate Ministries in Fort Myers, was filled with joy, connection, and moments of healing.
We’re so thankful for the trust our families place in us to walk alongside them on their grief journeys, especially during this season. With the support of our amazing community, we shared a day of love, laughter, and togetherness. Check out the photos from this meaningful celebration!
Capturing the Magic: Sunset Soirée at the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home
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Step into the magic of our inaugural Sunset Soirée at the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home! This unforgettable evening was filled with love, laughter, and incredible support from our community. Browse through the moments captured during the event as we celebrate the mission of Valerie’s House and the lives of the grieving children, teens, and families we serve.
Read MoreValerie’s House Prince & Princess Party 2024
/Explore the magical moments from our Prince & Princess Party! Thanks to our unbelievable community partners, this night was unforgettable for our kids. 🌟 Visit our article here to learn more about how each sponsor made this evening so special for the families of Valerie's House.
Tattooed Grief Gallery: Honoring Love and Healing Through Ink – A Grieve Love Heal Podcast Feature
/Explore our Tattooed Grief Gallery, a tribute to love and resilience through grief-inspired tattoos. Each piece tells a unique story of remembrance from our Valerie's House community. Discover these meaningful tattoos, inspired by Episode 2 of Season 3 on the Grieve Love Heal podcast.
VH Summer Camp 2024
/Valerie's House has been hosting events for our families all summer long! This is the first year we have run a FREE summer camp for our children, and it was a great success! Thank you to all of our local community partners for helping the week go smoothly. We’d also like to recognize the Gentiva Foundation for sponsoring this camp. We couldn't have done it without their support!
National Alliance For Children's Grief Symposium
/Valerie's House longtime leaders Vice-President of Operations and Clinical Support Amy Strom and Training Director Melody Madigan had the honor of presenting to hundreds of bereavement professionals at the 27th annual National Alliance for Children's Grief Symposium in Denver, CO, this past June.
Valerie's House presented on the different art therapy techniques that have made our center for grieving children so effective over the past nine years. The packed crowd had many questions for our team and walked away with a more in-depth knowledge of how to apply art therapy when working with grieving children.
Valerie's House had one of the largest presences of any grief center, sending 19 of our employees to learn and connect with others who have dedicated their professional lives to helping grieving children. Together, we engaged in meaningful collaboration on the latest research and tools in childhood bereavement.
Thank you to former Denver Broncos quarterback Brian Griese and his wife for hosting us at their center, Judi's House in Denver. Their center is a dream come true for the Griese family and a bright light in the field of children's bereavement for us all to follow.
Gator Baking Day 2024
/Valerie’s House hosted members of the Southwest Florida Gator Club Saturday, May 18, for “Baking with Gators” day in the new kitchen of the Family Is Forever Home in Fort Myers.
It was a sea of orange and blue as alumni of the University of Florida baked Gator-inspired cookies with the children and teens of Valerie’s House, a non-profit organization that helps children grieve the loss of loved ones.
“Everybody had a great time baking cookies in the shape of Gators, then decorating them with frosting and sprinkles. We are very grateful to the Southwest Florida Gator Club for selecting Valerie’s House for their annual Gator day of service,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin Churchill, who also is a University of Florida graduate.
International Gator Day is the annual community service day when Gator Clubs throughout the United States unite to utilize the size and spirit of the Gator Nation to impact their communities.
