New York Life Foundation Commits $1.4 Million to Childhood Bereavement Providers

 

The New York Life Foundation today announced that it has committed $1.4 million to forty-eight bereavement organizations serving grieving children across the country.  The grants will be given over a two year period and range from $10,000 to $100,000.  This is the fourth year the New York Life Foundation has collaborated with the National Alliance for Grieving Children on the Grief Reach program which supports grief providers’ efforts to broaden their services to reach diverse and disadvantaged youth across the country. 

 

In response to the overwhelming number of applications received last year, coupled with the feedback from smaller start-up bereavement service sites, the annual budget was increased to support capacity building, a new category of grants that focuses on organizational development and effectiveness.  This new category is in addition to last year’s community expansion grants category, which brings support services to youth not currently served by existing bereavement programs.  

 

“Grief Reach applications tripled in number last year, demonstrating a greater need for bereavement services across the country,” said Maria Collins, vice president, New York Life Foundation.  “We wanted to satisfy the demand, so we restructured the Grief Reach program by increasing our support and introducing new categories of grants to allow a bigger pool of organizations to apply for more funding.” 

 

“The New York Life Foundation has responded in a huge way to the needs of bereavement support programs by expanding Grief Reach funding to include more multi-year grants and adding 20 additional capacity building grants,” said Andy McNiel, chief executive officer, National Alliance for Grieving Children.  “Bereaved children and teenagers often feel alone and misunderstood, which can impact their lives in a negative way.  These funds will impact the lives of hundreds of bereaved children across the United States, ensuring that they have access to understanding, compassion and support as they adapt to the changes brought about by their losses.”

 

The Grief Reach program was created to help providers overcome barriers to bringing grief support services to youth not served by existing bereavement programs.  One hundred eleven Grief Reach grants totaling nearly $4 million have been awarded since the program’s inception in 2011.