The WARM Way A Publication for the Families and Friends of The WARM Place
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Where Grieving Children and their Families Find Hope
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Spring 2017
When April Ashley Augustine’s ex-husband, Jason, died in January of 2015, the first call she made was to The WARM Place. In April’s words, “I knew that my boys would find the tools and relationships they would need for this new grief journey.” April first learned of The WARM Place in 2010 when her brother died unexpectedly; she needed somewhere that her boys, Josh, Jake, and Joe could process their feelings about their uncle’s death. As it turned out, April’s experience that first time attending The WARM Place resulted in her feeling that she was helped equally as much as her boys were helped. Shortly after her return to The WARM Place upon the death of their father, they noticed flyers placed around the house about our Walk 2 Remember Them (W2RT.) They decided it would be a great way to remember their dad, uncle, and other loved ones who had died. The boys absolutely loved being a part of the little 1-mile fun run so much that when they returned the next year, they brought about 20 friends, family and extended family members to participate. Top Left: April and her oldest son, Josh. Top Right: The Ashley Family at the W2RT in 2016. Bottom Left: A favorite photo of the boys with their dad, the last photo they took with him. Center: Joe, Jake, and Josh Ashley with their ribbons after placing in the 2015 W2RT. Right: The boys with their mom, April.
“There are not enough words to express my sincere gratitude for TWP. Just a HUGE, HUGE, THANK YOU to all the counselors, facilitators and other volunteers for doing what you do at TWP! Everyone has such loving hearts to serve our families during our grief journey…it does not go unnoticed. I honestly do not know where we would be without y’all.” -April Ashley Augustine, WARM Place Family If you are racing in memory of a loved one, bring a photo to place in your free “Memory Holder”
Saturday March 4, 2017 10K | 5K | 1 Mile Fun Run Register Today!
thewarmplace.org/r2rt Sign up before Feb. 4th for the lowest entry fee!
1 Mile Fun Run/Walk: 8:00am $20* 10K: 8:15am $35* 5K: 8:30am $25* *Fees increase on Feb.4th and Race Day
Starting and ending at Trinity Park in Fort Worth All proceeds directly benefit the children and families of The WARM Place
Finish Line Celebration immediately following awards presentation! The WARM Place is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides support for children ages
That little walk was created when WARM Place alumni, Katherine Giuliani and Parks Blackwell wanted to find a way to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of John M. Blackwell, Katherine’s husband and Parks’ father. Originally we thought the W2RT would be an intimate event for families attending The WARM Place. However, over the past 4 years, the W2RT grew into a beloved tradition bringing together over 400 participants, including current and former WARM Place families, their extended family members and many, many friends of The WARM Place. We recognize that our walk has grown into something much bigger and as a result, on March 4th we will host the 1st Annual Race 2 Remember Them (R2RT,) also known as the John M. Blackwell Memorial Race. This race will include a 10K, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run to benefit The WARM Place. Our goal is to raise a total of $55,000 with this new fundraiser and we are expecting over 500 participants to attend. We hope that includes you! There are several ways to get involved as participants, sponsors and also fundraisers. Individuals and teams can set up their own fundraising pages to help meet our $55,000 goal! April is excited to see our event grow-providing an opportunity for her boys to compete in the run, while she plans to stick with the walk. Fundraisers who raise over $250 will be recognized at the event as ‘WARM Place Warriors’ and receive a special gift! We hope you will join us in helping meet our goal so that we can continue to provide grief support to families like the Ashley’s at no cost.
A note from Shirley The WARM Place Founders
Peggy Bohme John M. Richardson, M.D.
Board of Directors
President Bill Hallgren Vice President Frank W. Shiels Secretary Joe Greenhill Treasurer John Fonvielle Board Members Gordon Appleman Peggy Bohme Lisa Brock D. Russ Brown Katherine Giuliani David C. Goodroe Russell Green William W. Harrell Jeannette Whitney Iglesias, M.D. Anne Jameson Jeff Moten Roger Nober Joseph P. Regan John M. Richardson, M.D. Christi Thornhill, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC Helen Todora Ex Officio
Staff
Executive Director Shirley Bowen Director of Development Katie Lane Development Associate Marcille Clark Director of Events and PR Shelley Spikes Volunteer Coordinator Natalie Chapa Office Coordinator Pam Mooney Program Director Lisa Nichols, M.A., LPC-S Counselors Teresa Bartnicki M.S., LPC-Intern Gina Brown, M.S., LPC Program Assistant Myrna Binion 2
Happy New Year! I hope that everyone enjoyed the holidays! I am always excited to welcome a new year and see what lies ahead. Often, with a new year comes reflection on the prior year. As I reflect on the generosity of you, our donors, I am so grateful that you continue to share our belief that the work we do has such a profound impact on the lives of the families that we touch throughout the year. Sometimes, I think we are so close to what we do each day that we may lose sight of the many transformations that take place within these walls. Our program is based on such a simple concept of listening, being present, and providing a safe place where children and their families can talk about their memories—good or bad—without judgment and with understanding from their peers, WARM Place volunteers, and staff. I am consistently amazed as I witness these families transform from devastation and brokenness to hopeful functioning families in the process of their healing. With your continued support and generosity in 2017, we have confidence in knowing that we will be able to fulfill our mission to provide grief support for children, set forth by our cofounders, Peggy Bohme and Dr. John Richardson. Our new Race 2 Remember Them (R2RT) is another WARM Place transformation that evolved from the much-loved Walk 2 Remember Them (W2RT.) We will be gathering with families and friends of The WARM Place at Trinity Park on March 4th to participate in a 10K, 5K, or 1-Mile Fun Run in memory of their loved ones. We hope you will join us in our excitement and anticipation of a successful R2RT. WARMest Wishes,
Shirley Bowen Executive Director
Save the Date February
April
March
May
Race 2 Remember Them WARM Place Volunteer Early Registration Deadline Appreciation Luncheon February 4 April 1
Race 2 Remember Them 10K, 5K, 1 Mile Fun Run benefiting The WARM Place
March 4
Spring Break- No Groups March 13- March 17
Firemen’s 5K
June & July
benefiting The WARM Place
May 27
Young Adult Group June: 6, 13, 20, 27 July: 12, 19
June
August
Family Night June 9
Family Night August 25
For more information on these events please visit thewarmplace.org/events
Counselors’ Corner Working Through Grief Can Begin With a Wish Recently at The WARM Place, one of our groups made Mini Wishing Wells to take home. The idea came to me one day when I was standing in our beautiful backyard with a new family. We are so fortunate to have our own WARM Place Wishing Well made by Eagle Scout Jacob Furr. So many children over the years have made wishes in that well. I’ve heard children say:
“I wish that my sister had not died.” “I wish that my Mom always remembers me.” Wishing Wells are a wonderful way for children to express their feelings of loss. There is something magical about saying your wishes out loud, and feeling them travel from your heart into the breeze. I can just imagine how many wishes our well holds for all the WARM Place children! A Mini Wishing Well is also a great family activity to do together. After making their own Wishing Well, children can write wishes on slips of paper and put them inside! Or children may want to put their Wishing Well in a special place where they can make wishes in private. Making a Mini Wishing Well is just one way families can grieve, and heal, together. Supplies and instructions are listed to the right. Have fun! By Lisa Nichols, MA, LPC-S Program Director
Mini Wishing Well How To: Supplies needed:
Popsicle sticks of different lengths, empty toilet tissue roll, scissors, Elmer’s glue, paint pens, stickers, Washi Tape or any decorative tape, ribbon. (Hot glue can be used but only with adult supervision)
Total Project Time:
Approx. 30 minutes not including dry time.
Instructions:
Cut the tissue paper roll in half. That will be the base of your well. One by one, glue the Popsicle sticks around the outside of the tissue paper roll until you have the base of your well completed. Use two Popsicle sticks to form the posts of the well. Next, lay out pieces to make a roof for the well. Young children can make the roof out of construction paper. Allow your project time to dry. Then you can decorate your well any way you’d like. Use paint pens to write names, memories, or wishes. Children can use a variety of supplies including stickers, ribbon, and Washi tape. Now that your Mini Wishing Well is complete, you are ready to make your wishes!
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Since 1993 we have hosted a Young Adult Group for people ages 19-25. We know grief does not have an end date, and this group provides continued support for college-age students and young adults. Together, they can talk about their grief with trusted group facilitators, along with the unique challenges they face as young adults grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or other loved one. We don’t want any WARM Place children to feel like they will “age out” of our program. We are honored to provide this service to the community. This group meets for three 8-week sessions every year, and a scheduled intake is required to attend. For more information, contact Teresa Bartnicki, LPC-Intern at teresa@thewarmplace.org.
We also have a special program for our youngest grievers: the Pre-K Group. Children ages 3 ½ to 5 attend an 8-week grief support group where they play fun and interactive games to help them in a variety of ways. They learn how to identify and verbalize their feelings, process memories of their loved ones, and work through an understanding of what death means. This group is led by enthusiastic facilitators who have a special heart for the littlest WARM Place children. On the last day of Pre-K Group, the children are visited by our friends, Jake, a Certified Therapy Dog, and his owner Lynn McKelvey. This group is offered two times a year, and a scheduled intake is required to attend. For more information, contact Gina Brown, LPC at gina@thewarmplace.org. Fall 2016 Pre-K Group at The WARM Place.
Have you heard about Family Nights at The WARM Place? These are quarterly events created for families to make new memories together with the entire family and are open to current, past, and future families of The WARM Place. Did we mention Family Nights are absolutly FREE? In 2016 we were thrilled that each Family Night had well over 100 attendees. Our highest attended event was our Family Day at the Zoo in June! In addition to that we also hosted a Valentine’s themed dinner, a night of mosaic making and a Fall Festival! This year we look forward to making even more memories on Family Nights and we hope you will join us as an attendee or volunteer. For more information, contact shelley@thewarmplace.org. Stay tuned for Family Night theme announcements on our social media! 5
Major Donors $5,000+
Wow! You did it again! Thanks to the support from hundreds of individuals, businesses, and organizations within our community, YOU helped us reach our 2016 fundraising goal to ensure no WARM Place child will ever have to grieve alone. 27 years ago, people just like you made a commitment to the mission of The WARM Place. Today, YOU are making it possible for children and their families to find hope and healing again. Thank you. (For a complete listing of all donors for 2016, thewarmplace.org/complete-donor-list/)
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please visit
Amon G. Carter Foundation Andy and Nancy Thompson Foundation Ann L. & Carol Green Rhodes Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee Anne T. & Robert M. Bass Foundation Apex Capital Corp Bras for a Cause Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Russ Brown BNSF Railway Foundation Colonial Country Club Communities Foundation of Texas Cook Children’s Medical Center Ecolab Foundation Edwards Partners Limited - C6 Giving Fallen Family Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas Firemen’s 5K Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation Frances Hollis Palmros Trust Frost Katherine and Pete Giuliani J.E.S. Edwards Foundation J.P. Morgan James and Dorothy Doss Foundation Kenneth & Cherrie Garrett Foundation Marsha and John Kleinheinz Mrs. Jane Korman Mr. Jeffrey T. Kremer Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Employee Charity Fund Macy’s Fort Worth Neonatology Ben and Amanda Ogletree Hunt and Laura Pettit Range Resources Ms. Sheryl Sewell Sid W. Richardson Foundation Southlake Women’s Club Foundation Texas Capital Bank - Fort Worth Texas Capital Bank - Dallas The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation The Grainger Foundation The Lowe Foundation The Morris Foundation The Rees-Jones Foundation The Richard K. and Lois B. Craig Family Fund of the North Texas Community Foundation The Walsh Foundation The Ryan Foundation Anonymous (Donations listed are from 1/1/2016-12/31/2016)
Thank you to our 2016 Cool Night Event Sponsors
Diamond Sponsor Marsha and John Kleinheinz Platinum Sponsors Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. D. Russ Brown Gold Sponsors Apex Capital Corp Frost Jane Korman Range Resources
Silver Sponsors Caroline and Russell Green Chuck and Sanae Fulkerson John M. Richardson, M.D. Elizabeth & Mark Jones and Bill & Greta Hallgren Eric & Mary-Margaret Lemons and Greg & Angel Grizzle John and Christy Fonvielle Ladies of the Stayton Marlys Spikes RMP Industrial Supply Inc. Whitley Penn Winstead PC
Bronze Sponsors Alamo Autosports Anne and Bob Jameson David and Tricia Amend Jeff and Katie Farmer Joe and Dana Morrin Junior League of Fort Worth Kathleen and David Atnip Lone Star Communications, Inc. Nathaniel O. Owings Nick and Maria Murray Pier 1 ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings Radiology Associates of North Texas Rancho Del Oso Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth Transglobal Services, LLC Village Homes William W. Harrell XTO Energy Copper Sponsors Ann and Bill Greenhill Becky and Tom Tenseth
Bryan and Christy Livingstone Charlie and Melissa Snow CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Drs. Jose and Jeannette Whitney Iglesias Dr. Steven and Rachel Marker Elizabeth and Paul Ray Exencial Freese and Nichols Gene and Gaylia Fortson The Haggerty Family Hahnfeld, Hoffer, Stanford Helen and Michael Todora Katey Stimek and Susan Ross Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP Matthew and Jessica Morrison Melissa and Joe Greenhill Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial NBI & Associates PB Unlimited Jane and Roger Nober Ryan and Tara Lockhart Sean and Brooke Scogin Southland Data Processing Susan Adams Susan and David Weeks
Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett LLP Verafin Named Sponsors Bob and Elizabeth McCarthy Frank W. Neal & Associates, Inc. Fort Worth, Texas Magazine GM Financial John Sons Press Katherine and Pete Giuliani MEDNAX - Fort Worth Neonatology Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial Nuduul Texas Capital Bank
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of our needs.
Where grieving children and their families find hope
From: The Mom of a WARM Place Child Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2017 To: The WARM Place Subject: Thank You Thanks to The WARM Place I feel we are growing as a family in our grief process, each in our different ways and at our own pace. I want to say thank you for all you do for the community. We all grieve differently and attending groups seems to really meet all of us where we are and helps a lot. See you next time at group!
The WARM PlaceÂŽ
Where grieving children and their families find hope
809 Lipscomb Street Fort Worth, Texas 76104-3121 t: 817.870.2272 f: 817.870.2570 thewarmplace.org