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Sponsored by: The Cove Center for Grieving Children
October 20, 2021 Giving Guide 2021

The Cove Center for Grieving Children

 

MISSION:

Providing Hope and Healing to grieving children and teens and the professionals who work with them.

In 1989, when Mary Emswiler died suddenly of heart failure at the age of 39, her husband Jim began a long struggle to find help for himself and his three young children. Finally, frustrated by the lack of available services for grieving families, he formed the 501(c)(3) New England Center for Loss and Transition with a two-fold mission: to train human service professionals on dying and grief, and to provide support services to adult grievers.

The Cove Center for Grieving Children, a volunteer-driven program developed by the New England Center for Loss and Transition, first opened its doors in 1995 in Guilford, Connecticut. Founded by Jim and second wife, Mary Ann, and therapist Rénee McIntyre, all of whom were then raising grieving children, this program was developed after an exhaustive study of the best national models available to help children deal with grief.

The Cove’s mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment for children to work through their grief, thereby empowering them to heal. The Cove’s objective is to avoid the negative consequences of unresolved childhood grief. The Cove provides programming for grieving children, and their surviving caretakers, at five sites across the state, consisting of twice-monthly support group meetings, as well as education, consultation and referral for community residents at large.

The Cove operates peer support programs across Connecticut by 1) enlisting and training licensed and experienced therapists to direct Cove sites, 2) recruiting and training community volunteers to act as facilitators working directly with grieving children in support groups, 3) securing community sites to host the support group meetings, 4) generating community funding and other private funding resources to sustain program operations. Within the peer support groups, children are invited to explore and express their grief reactions through projects involving art, music and games. At the same time, surviving caretakers meet separately to learn how to support their children in healing from their grief.

GOALS

  1. Raise awareness of The Cove’s free services.
  2. Provide increased services to grieving children in CT.
  3. Develop an Ask The Experts Webinar series that would include information on how to manage a new normal.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES

Annual Run for The Cove held in October. The event includes a timed 5K, Memorial Walk and Kids Fun Run. Locations include Madison and Farmington. Anyone can register to support The Cove. We are looking for sponsorships from local businesses. Hope and Healing Virtual Auction – anyone can bid on items. We are looking for auction items.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The Cove seeks volunteers to participate in our Family Program, Camp Erin, Run for The Cove Committee, Auction Committee, Spring Fundraising Committee, Marketing Committee, Volunteer Outreach Committee.

POST PANDEMIC

Our Family program sites had to transform from fully in person to fully online programs, prompting the creation of new programs, a Men’s Cove Program, a Teen Cove Program and Caring Connection. We are returning to in-person programs, but the Men’s and Teen program will remain virtual. Caring Connection allows families to be followed by one of our staff until they are able to enter our Family Program. This provides a bridge from the time the family begins the grieving process to their participation in our program.

“I believe the universe put all the lovely people at Camp Erin in my path. The opportunity to meet and relate to other kids who have lost someone important is priceless. As my niece’s guardian, I’m often lost on how to support her. Today I was given new ways to do that. Many thanks.”

ABOUT US

Year established: 1995

Annual revenues (most recent fiscal year): $450,000

Total number of employees: 9

GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA(S):

The entire state of Connecticut.

TOP FUNDING SOURCES:

Aflac

Aetna

Rainwater Charitable

Friends Fiduciary

CONTACT:

250 Pomeroy Ave., Meriden, CT 06450

203-634-0500

www.covect.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Allison Gamber Executive Director
Kevin Kearney, Chairman: The Hartford

Jason Gallaway, Secretary: The Hartford Insurance Group, Human Resources Business Partner

Al Leonardo, Treasurer: CVS Health Director of Finance

Scott Beeman: Aflac Group Insurance SVP, Premier Life, Absence & Disability Solutions

Elizabeth Berry: Managing Director, Human Resources

William J. Fuzzard: Deloitte Sr. Manager, Finance and Enterprise Performance

Tracy Lotko: Anthem Principal Consultant, Strategic Initiatives; Anthem Reimagine Solutions Team

Ivette Matos: Riverside Magnet School, Social Worker

Steve Mongelli: President & CEO, Clarity Software Solutions, Inc.