Valerie's House CEO Angela Melvin and Board Chair Mike McMurray Named Among Southwest Florida's Nonprofit Leaders of the Year

Valerie's House CEO Angela Melvin and Board Chair Mike McMurray Named Among Southwest Florida's Nonprofit Leaders of the Year

Valerie's House is thrilled to announce that our Founder and CEO, Angela Melvin, has received the prestigious 2024 “Nonprofit Leader of the Year” award from The Community Foundation of Southwest Florida! At the same awards ceremony, our Board Chair, Mike McMurray, was honored as “Board Member of the Year,” recognizing their exceptional leadership and dedication to supporting grieving families in Southwest Florida.

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Valerie’s House Extends Heartfelt Gratitude to Calusa Sportsman Foundation for Their Continued and Remarkable Support

Valerie’s House Extends Heartfelt Gratitude to Calusa Sportsman Foundation for Their Continued and Remarkable Support

The Calusa Sportsman Foundation has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the children and families of Southwest Florida, raising an extraordinary $177,000 at the fourth annual Inshore Benefit held on September 6-7, 2024. This event, hosted at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, benefited both Valerie’s House and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, helping these organizations continue their missions of providing essential services to children and families in need.

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Tattooed Grief Gallery: Honoring Love, Loss, and Healing Through Memorial Tattoos

Tattooed Grief Gallery: Honoring Love, Loss, and Healing Through Memorial Tattoos

At Valerie’s House, we understand that grief is a deeply personal journey, and the ways people remember lost loved ones vary greatly. One meaningful way many express their love and remembrance is through memorial tattoos. In our Tattooed Grief episode of the Grieve Love Heal podcast, part of Season 3, we explore the powerful impact of grief-inspired tattoos as symbols of love, loss, and resilience.

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Valerie’s House Supporters Among Finalists for 2024 Industry Appreciation Awards

Valerie’s House Supporters Among Finalists for 2024 Industry Appreciation Awards

Valerie’s House is thrilled to celebrate several of our key supporters being recognized as finalists in the 2024 Industry Appreciation Awards! This prestigious event, hosted by the Horizon Foundation, Horizon Council, and Lee County Economic Development Office, honors local businesses that contribute to the growth and success of Lee County.

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Valerie’s House Receives Governor’s Recognition for Community Impact

Valerie’s House Receives Governor’s Recognition for Community Impact

We are honored to announce that Valerie’s House has received the Governor’s Faith and Community Initiative Certificate of Recognition, acknowledging our commitment to supporting vulnerable children and families across Florida.

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Omar and Rebecca Zucco: A Father-Daughter Journey of Healing and Grief Support in Charlotte County

Omar and Rebecca Zucco: A Father-Daughter Journey of Healing and Grief Support in Charlotte County

At Valerie’s House, Omar and Rebecca Zucco are making a profound impact as group facilitators, helping grieving families find support and healing. Their shared commitment to the mission of Valerie’s House reflects the power of connection and the importance of grief counseling for both children and caregivers.

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Honoring 10 Years of Grief and Healing: The Tharpe Family's Journey

Honoring 10 Years of Grief and Healing: The Tharpe Family's Journey

Grief is a powerful journey, and for Heather Tharpe Moorhead and Hailey Tharpe, their world changed forever when they lost their beloved husband and father, Matt, to a sudden heart attack in 2014. Hailey was just six years old at the time, and their lives were turned upside down. Seeking grief support, they found hope at Valerie’s House, a children’s grief center that provides emotional healing for grieving families.

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Healing Through Helping: Janette L'Heureux and #LEGS Support Grieving Families at Valerie's House

Healing Through Helping: Janette L'Heureux and #LEGS Support Grieving Families at Valerie's House

At Valerie’s House, healing and helping go hand in hand. One person who truly embodies this belief is Janette L'Heureux, President of the Fort Myers Chapter of the Ladies Executive Golf Society (#LEGS). After the loss of her son, Josh, Janette found her own healing through volunteering at Valerie’s House, supporting grieving families in Southwest Florida.

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Valerie's House to Unveil Heart Memorial Honoring Loved Ones Lost – A Symbol of Healing and Connection

Valerie's House to Unveil Heart Memorial Honoring Loved Ones Lost – A Symbol of Healing and Connection

In October 2024, Valerie's House will unveil a new Heart Memorial at the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home. This unique memorial, designed by Marcy Turner, serves as a powerful tribute to those we've lost and offers grieving families a way to honor their loved ones.

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Thank You to the Amazing Sponsors of the 2024 Calusa Sportsman Foundation Inshore Benefit

Thank You to the Amazing Sponsors of the 2024 Calusa Sportsman Foundation Inshore Benefit

The highlight of the weekend wasn’t just about reeling in fish. It was about the connections formed and the community that came together. As the sun set, participants gathered for the Awards Dinner to celebrate the day’s successes and honor the event’s mission to give back. The live auction and festivities provided additional opportunities to contribute to Valerie’s House and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, with the funds directly supporting our efforts to help children heal.

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Valerie’s House Teens Fish with Captain James Marko at Calusa Sportsman Foundation Benefit

Valerie’s House Teens Fish with Captain James Marko at Calusa Sportsman Foundation Benefit

Valerie’s House was honored to be one of the beneficiaries of the 2024 Calusa Sportsman Foundation Inshore Benefit, a weekend filled with incredible memories. One standout moment was when several of our teens had the opportunity to fish with world-renowned Captain James Marko, also known as Goliath Fishing. With a large social media following and his own ESPN show, Captain James is a household name in the fishing community.

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Lennar’s Generosity Helps Valerie’s House Continue Its Mission

Lennar’s Generosity Helps Valerie’s House Continue Its Mission

On Friday, August 30th, Lennar presented Valerie’s House with a $50,000 donation, continuing their incredible support for grieving families in Southwest Florida. Lennar has been a major partner in making our Family is Forever Fort Myers Home a reality, and their contribution is helping us expand our programs and services.

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Aniyah's Journey—Turning Pain into Purpose

Aniyah's Journey—Turning Pain into Purpose

Discover how Valerie’s House helped Aniyah Celestine find purpose after the loss of her mother. Aniyah’s story of resilience and her journey to become a nurse anesthetist is a powerful testament to the healing and support provided by Valerie’s House.

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Healing Through Art: A Powerful Collaboration Brings Children’s Grief to Life at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples

Healing Through Art: A Powerful Collaboration Brings Children’s Grief to Life at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples

Discover a heartwarming art exhibit at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, showcasing artwork created by children from Valerie’s House as they express their grief, memories, and hope for the future. Visit before the display ends in 2024.

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Finding Strength and Support: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren After Loss in Southwest Florida

Finding Strength and Support: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren After Loss in Southwest Florida

Losing a child is a heartbreaking experience, one that leaves parents grappling with immense grief. For many grandparents in Southwest Florida, this sorrow is deepened by the responsibility of stepping into a parenting role once more, raising their grandchildren. While this new reality brings its own challenges, it also reveals a remarkable strength and resilience that these grandparents possess. With the right support, they can find new hope and purpose in their roles.

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When Is the Right Time to Get Help After Losing Someone?

When Is the Right Time to Get Help After Losing Someone?

I'm in an all-moms group. And I remember leaving the first meeting of that group and kind of taking an exhale. When you're going through grief, those are really great moments because you're always feeling like you're holding your breath. I just remember going (breathes out)... And I remember thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, these are people who are having the same thoughts on a daily basis, moment to moment, that I’m having.

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November is National Children's Grief Awareness Month

November is National Children's Grief Awareness Month

November is National Children’s Grief Awareness Month. At Valerie’s House, children's grief awareness is recognized every day. However, to people outside of Valerie’s House, the feelings of grieving children can easily be underestimated or misunderstood. For this reason, it is important to inform people how deeply grief can effect a child.

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Teaching Your Child to Regulate Their Emotions and Feelings

Teaching Your Child to Regulate Their Emotions and Feelings

One of the most difficult things to do with our children who are going through grief is to help them regulate their emotions. You can have the smartest, most amazingly talented child in the world, but if they are going through grief, their intellect is “out the window” because the innate sense of survival, along with their emotions of safety and security, is their number one goal. This is the main reason why their emotional regulation is very difficult to control.

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