e-Newsletter | May | 05.01.19
In This Issue
  • Celebrating Matthew: Matthew's Garden and Matthew's Milk & Cookies
  • Volunteer Appreciation Fiesta
  • Ride with Buddy
  • Pilates with a Charitable Twist
  • Magazine Drive
  • SpawGlass Fishing Tournament
Celebrating Matthew: Matthew's Garden and Matthew's Milk & Cookies
On May 13, 2017, Bo’s Place officially dedicated Matthew’s Garden, created in loving memory of Matthew Bishop Gray (February 11, 2015-May 28, 2016) for the children of Bo's Place. Kenneth J. Doka, a professor of psychology and counseling at The College of New Rochelle and a senior consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America once said, “If rituals are sacred times, memorials are sacred places.” Matthew’s Garden is, indeed, a sacred place for everyone at Bo’s Place. It is a place enjoyed by our support group participants, our volunteers and our staff as a place of calming beauty and peace. It is a place to go to feel connected to Matthew and a place for our group participants, young and old, to feel connected to their loved ones who are no longer here with us on earth. Matthew’s Garden is used by our support group participants in many ways. It is used as a place to plant rosemary for remembrance or bulbs for growth, as a quiet respite for mindful walking, as a resting place for specially created memory rocks, and as a place for our Little Friends to have a scavenger hunt to identify things in nature that are living and nonliving.
Last year, Bo’s Place wanted to provide a “sweet” reminder to our support group participants of the dedication of the garden and the legacy of Matthew. The Gray family and volunteers provided cookies and milk for each of our support groups. We called this new tradition Matthew’s Milk & Cookies . This year, Dessert Gallery is generously sponsoring Matthew’s Milk & Cookies . Over a two week period, they will be providing nearly 600 cookies for our support group members to enjoy with small individual tubs of Bluebell ice-cream. Thank you, Dessert Gallery, for your caring hearts for bereaved children and families.
Volunteer Appreciation Fiesta
Bo’s Place celebrated our volunteers on April 6, at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Fiesta. Over 120 volunteers were in attendance for the event, which featured fajitas prepared by the Over the Hill Gang, vibrant piñatas, frosty margaritas and fun door prizes. After a special moment of silence in memory of Carla Bagalay, our long-time Volunteer Coordinator, we raised our glasses high to honor and toast our friend. Program Director Marian Mankin reminded the crowd that Carla would have insisted that “the party must go on” and would have inevitably said, “This is the BEST group of volunteers Bo’s Place has EVER had!” And that is part of the “magic” that is Bo’s Place. Every year we DO have the best group of volunteers that we’ve ever had. With over 900 volunteers annually, together we are ensuring that no one, especially no child, ever has to grieve alone.
Bo’s Buddies invites you to cycle for a cause! Join us for a heart pumping work out and celebrate afterwards with snacks and mimosas. Every rider will take home a stuffed buddy puppy after class! Reserve your spot now by registering!

RIDE with Buddy
Saturday, May 18th
12:30 pm
RIDE Indoor Cycling
548 W 19th Street
Houston, TX 77008
Pilates with a Charitable Twist
Bo’s Place is excited to be one of the five participating charities during April, May and June at The Studio Form. For each class you take, $5 will be donated back to the community. At the end every class you’ll be asked to choose your favorite charity, and at the end of June the charity with the most pink $5 bills will receive the majority of the donation. Visit The Studio Form to benefit Bo’s Place while you work out!
Magazine Drive
We need your help collecting family friendly magazines for an upcoming “vision board” project for our grief support groups. Magazines can be dropped off at Bo’s Place during normal business hours, 8:30-5:30 Monday-Thursday, 8:30-4:30 Friday.

For questions, contact Cristina at cristina@bosplace.org or 713-942-8339.
Bo’s Place is grateful to be a beneficiary charity for the annual CJ Strnadel IV Memorial Fishing Tournament. This year, the tournament is being held in San Leon, Texas. We would love for all you avid fishermen and women who like competition to consider joining us for a weekend on the water!

Entry and sponsorship opportunities can be found online here.

For more information, contact Andrea Sivells at andrea@bosplace.org or 713-942-83389!  
Happenings
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church transformed the dining room with festive Easter decorations on April 8 and then served a delicious meal to our families and volunteers! Thank you for supporting the families of Bo’s Place!
Many thanks to Advisory Board and former Board Chair, Travis Torrence, for inviting 10 Bo’s Place staff members to the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work’s 2019 Scholarship Luncheon on April 11. We have many alumnae of the program on staff who were glad to help support their alma mater.
Members from Congregation Beth Yeshurun visited Bo’s Place on April 11 and served families a wonderful meal complete with fried chicken, mac and cheese, green beans and dessert! We are so grateful for their support!  
On April 17, Bo’s Place Executive Director Mary Beth Staine and Development Director Andrea Sivells were on hand at a celebration of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Pilgrimage that raises funds for local charities. Bo’s Place received a much needed grant to acquire a storage shed and replace some indoor and outdoor furniture. Thank you to our Kappa friends!
PBK Architects served a delicious enchilada dinner to our families on April 17. Thank you for the work you do to #helphealhearts!
On April 23, volunteers from Optum served families a delicious dinner, welcoming first time participants. We appreciate their ongoing support of our program!
Bo's Place Grief Support Services
At Bo's Place, we believe that enabling grieving families to share their experiences with each other helps these families navigate the grief journey and move towards hope and healing. We offer free Grief Support Groups in English and Spanish to families and individuals in Houston and West Houston/Katy.

If you or someone you know would like information about Bo's Place Grief Support Groups for children, families, and adults, visit our website here or call 713.942.8339.
Bo's Place exists to enhance the lives of those who have experienced the death of a loved one.