THANK YOU & FAREWELL
Donna Smith Sharff
Donna Smith Sharff

We would like to thank Donna Smith Sharff for her many years of dedicated service to The Children's Room. 

When our staff were asked to contribute their thoughts about Donna, two clear themes emerged: Donna's unwavering dedication and her compassion. 

Here are just a few of the things that people shared about Donna:  

"Donna embodied and engaged with an open mind, an open heart, and a creative will, always visioning forward. She valued and encouraged collaborative action among her staff, co-initiating, co-evolving, and co-creating as we all held space for the families we serve."

"Donna's work is the solid foundation that we are building upon today. Her legacy at The Children's Room is one of compassion and hope."
 
As many of you may know, Donna is no longer serving as the Executive Director. Our Clinical Director, Dr. Nancy Frumer Styron, is currently serving as Interim Executive Director while the Board of Directors and senior staff members conduct a search for a new Executive Director.
 
Donna is happily planning a move to Vermont so that she can spend more time with her son, daughter-in-law, and new granddaughter.

We wish Donna well and feel fortunate to continue to count her as a member of our community. We hope you will take time to read about her important contributions to The Children's Room on our website.

Tips & Tools
For Back To School

While back to school can bring plenty of excitement, it can also be a time of major changes and profound emotion for those who are grieving.  

We've compiled some of our best tips to help as you and your family navigate all the transitions and emotions that can arise when returning to school.  We hope you find them helpful.

Join Us for Our 14th Annual Memories Walk:
Sunday, October 15, 2017

Our Annual Memories Walk is a great opportunity to come together to celebrate our special community, remember those who have died, and support the important programs of The Children's Room. 

The Walk will cover 3 miles along Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington. Afterward, we will gather at Arlington Town Hall to celebrate with food, entertainment, and an inspirational program to commemorate the day. This is a very family-friendly event, and we encourage you to bring your children.
 
Sunday, October 15th
10:30 am beginning 
at Arlington Town Hall


Walk registration is underway. Sign up today to be a part of TCR's biggest community event and set up your personal fundraising page when you register. We look forward to walking together on October 15th!

If you have any questions about registering for the Walk, please contact Becca at walk@childrensroom.org or 781-641-4741 x334.

TCR Teen Program:
October Open House/Kickoff Event

TCR Teen Program
October Open House/Kickoff Event:
Wednesday, October 4th; 6:30-8:30 pm

We hope that you'll join us for this 
free event  just for  teens to kick off the 2017-2018 program year ! Have dinner, learn about what we're working on for the upcoming 2017-2018 program year, and spend time with others interested or involved in TCR Teen Program.

Teens, ages 13 to 18 years old, who have ever experienced the death of a parent or sibling are welcome.

Parenting While Grieving
Begins Wednesday, October 11th

Eight-week series, meets weekly 
on Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:30 pm at TCR;
Series begins on Wednesday, October 11th

Please join us for our fall series supporting parents/caregivers who are parenting children and teens who have had a  parent die.  We will practice the essential parenting skills of listening, problem-solving, and setting limits within the context of a grieving family.  There is no cost to this series, but space is limited. 


Two Upcoming Workshops
For Educators & Professionals

Helping Your School Community Respond to Crisis: 
Creating a Crisis Team and Plan of Action

Wednesday, October 4th 
9:30 am - 4:30 pm



"If We Lost Uncle Davey, Why Don't We Just Go and Find Him?": Strategies for Helping Young Children (ages 3-8) Understand and Cope with Death, Loss, 
and Other Stressful Life Events

Tuesday, October 24th
9:30 am - 4:30 pm 

Celebrating Peace with our Partners
at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

We had a wonderful time with our partners at the  Louis D. Brown Peace Institute on Saturday, August 5th, at their Second Annual Peace-B-Que! We had so much fun running the photo booth and celebrating community.

For more about the Peace-B-Que and the important work of the Peace Institute, be sure to read more in the  The Boston Globe.
 

Our Heartfelt Thanks

Family & Friends of Catherine Malatesta

August 2, 2017, marked the anniversary of Catherine Malatesta's death, and her friends and family chose to come to The Children's Room as part of a Day of Kindness remembering her. Her friends and family helped us clean up, organize materials throughout the house, and get ready for the start of our program year. We're grateful for their help!



The Hereafter Party raises $3,500

Thank you so much to everyone who came to  ONCE Somerville  to support The Children's Room at the Hereafter Party! This fun 80's night event raised $3,500 to support grieving children, teens, and families. 

Thank you so much to ONCE Somerville for hosting the event, and to Bob Voges and Boston Rock Opera for all of their time, talent, and energy in making the event such a success. 

We hope everyone who attended had as great a time as we did!


The Light of Dawn & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Thank you so much to  The Light of Dawn for presenting us with their  $2,500 community service award, given each August 2nd in memory of Dawn Angelopoulos. 

Warm thanks to  Harvard Pilgrim Health Care for awarding us a Community Spirit 9/11 Mini-Grant.

We are deeply grateful for these important funds as we work to ensure that no child, teen, or family grieves alone.  Thank you!


Memories Walk Volunteers

On August 8th, we had a wonderful evening getting ready for our 14th Annual Memories Walk. 

Thank you to all of the members of our Walk Committee, who came to help with our postcard mailing and to help us plan the event!


Community Tours

To RSVP for a scheduled tour or for more information, please contact 
tours@childrensroom.org  or call Becca at
781-641-4741 ext. 334.


Shopping With A Purpose

Please remember to support TCR when you shop on Amazon!

A portion of your eligible purchases will be donated to TCR when you shop through smile.amazon.com.

     
Vehicle Donation Program

The Children's Room has partnered with Donate for Charity to make it fast and easy to donate your old vehicle to TCR. Your vehicle will be picked up - free of charge! - from anywhere and TCR will receive a donation in the amount of the vehicle's value.
     
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1210 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476

 

Phone: 781-641-4741   

Fax: 781-641-0012   

 

childrensroom.org