For many children struggling through the loss of a loved one, Ele’s Place may be the best place for them to turn.
With one in twelve children facing the loss of either a parent or sibling, it is crucial to have a strong support system to help ease the pain of the grieving process. That is why Ele’s Place, founded in 1991, was created. Helping children age 3-18, the organization has upheld their mission of providing guidance to over 30,000 individuals who have experienced a great loss, all at no cost to the families.
“The cause is so unique, and some GreenStone staff have family and friends who have benefited from their services in the past,” says Jennifer Pawlowski, GreenStone intern. “Once you volunteer at Ele’s Place, you get an even better understanding of what they do and how important these services are for grieving children and families.”
With the help of volunteers, sponsors and events, Ele’s Place continues to provide free resources to community members in need. Their most recent event, a 5K Run and Walk, drew nearly 1,000 registrations for the annual race, raising over $85,000 for Ele’s Place and children dealing with difficult times.
“The money raised will provide 170 grieving children or teens in the area a free support group,” says Dawn Haddad, event and outreach coordinator at Ele’s Place. “We couldn’t do it without the community’s involvement.”
Inspired by the mission of Ele’s Place, four employees from GreenStone’s tax and accounting team set out to make a difference. On July 26, Jennifer joined Stephanie Luark and Jordan Holka to help get ready for the race. To prepare for the next day’s big event, the women set up tables, organized t-shirts, and worked together stuffing over 1,000 bags for participants.
“Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, because we get involved and support causes that we are passionate about,” Jennifer says. “Part of GreenStone’s values are to help people when they are in need and volunteering is another example of that.”
If you are interested in learning more about Ele’s Place, how you can give back or about upcoming events, visit their website here: www.elesplace.org
