If you heard about us through a Fundraising Ambassador, the media, or a friend…

Become Our Partner

Then we encourage and welcome your monthly support! Please learn more about how you can join our cherished partners who give $10.00 or more monthly, automatically deducted from their debit or credit card to further our mission to help children, teens, young adults and their families grieving a loved one’s death.

Some partners even become Fundraising Ambassadors who then introduce us to their family, friends and business colleagues encouraging their partnership as well.

Partners receive private access to our blog which provides the inside look at what we’re doing, where the need is, how the funds you contribute are working, news from the folks we’ve given grants to, articles and tips on how to help grieving children, conferences that help bereaved families as well as professionals who need to learn how best to help the bereaved, and other news on our work.

Please take a few minutes right now to become our partner.

As we commemorate the 7th anniversary of that fateful day in our country, join with us in remembering the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Since that time, much healing has occurred…Infants born, children have grown, some graduating high school and college, even as a Valedictorian. Widows and widowers have become engaged and some have remarried. Life has continued…as it should.

Our country was handed a significant blow that day, but all this time later we have risen up again and in their honor, have continued our life’s journey. They will always be remembered.

Wednesday, March 21st, 2008 was an exciting time for the Foundation for Grieving Children as we held our first Heart of Gold Raffle Drawing at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in Times Square, New York City.

It was through the generosity of Steve Simas, President of Virtual Document Solutions, Inc. and Vice Chair of our Board, who donated all the printing, Graphic Design by Rasan Lawrence, and O’Brien’s who donated their space, delicious food and drinks, that our fundraiser became so successful.

Lending to the excitement was having the grand prize winner present when we pulled the winning tickets that evening. Billy Tloczkowski of Woodside, New York won the first prize of $5,000 which shocked everyone, including Billy, who immediately proclaimed that he never wins anything.

Once reality set in, he said to me, “Mar, what am I going to do with all that money?” And within seconds spontaneously decided to give half of the money back to the FGC.

What makes the story even more thrilling, is that once I called all the winners the next day, three of the four prize winners either gave back one-half or all of their prize winnings! We are truly blessed.

Here is a list of the winners:

Grand Prize of $5,000 – Billy Tloczkowski of Woodside, New York – Giving back ½ of his winnings.

Second Prize of $2,500 – NorteVita, Inc. of Miami, Florida – Its Manager, Jacob Villasmil purchased the most tickets - $1,000 worth! When I called him to inform him he was second prize winner, he also said, before I ever told him about Billy’s gesture, that he would like to donate back ½ of his winnings to the FGC!

Third Prize of $1,000 – Scott Reindel of River Vale, New Jersey. Scott has been a wonderful volunteer for us over a number of years.

Fourth Prize of $500 – BB&T Bank of Altamonte Springs, Florida. Chris Underwood, the branch’s manager, had proclaimed when he purchased his five tickets, that if he won, he would donate the prize back to the FGC. And when I spoke with him about his win, he did just that.

Additionally, tickets were sold throughout the United States, even as far as New Zealand. And many of those who purchased did so through Network for Good online from our website, taking advantage of the ease of using their credit card easily and safely.

Special thanks to Carol Reindel, Chair of the Fundraising Committee, all our board members and especially our key volunteers including Esme Hilman, Yvette John, Susanne Grossman, and Gina Irwin, whose talent, time and wisdom helped make this such a success.

And many thanks to you, our devoted supporters who participated in the Heart of Gold Raffle. Without your support and promotion through forwarding emails, selling tickets and purchasing them, we couldn’t do the work we do.

We look forward to your help when we hold our next raffle early next year.

Click here to see some pictures of the event