Grant funds ensure accessibility to youth grief services for Charlevoix County residents
CHARLEVOIX, Mich. (Jan. 29, 2026) – Hospice of Michigan recently received a $2,000 grant from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation to support Camp Good Grief, a free, one-day bereavement camp designed to help children and teens heal after the loss of a loved one. The grant was awarded through the foundation’s Youth Needs grant cycle and will help ensure the program remains accessible to families throughout Charlevoix County.
Camp Good Grief serves youth ages 8–17 and offers a safe, supportive environment where participants can connect with peers who share similar experiences while learning healthy coping strategies. Programming includes therapeutic and recreational activities such as art and music therapy, memory projects, mindfulness exercises, and outdoor activities, all led by trained grief professionals and volunteers.
“Grief can be isolating for children, especially when they do not see their peers experiencing the same loss,” said Stacy Malenfant, grief support program manager for Hospice of Michigan. “This grant allows us to continue offering Camp Good Grief at no cost to families, giving children a place where their feelings are understood, validated and supported in meaningful ways.”
Camp Good Grief pairs evidence-based grief education with age-appropriate activities that encourage emotional expression, peer connection and resilience. Funding from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation helps cover essential program costs, including facility use, supplies for therapeutic activities, trained staff support and meals, removing financial barriers for families seeking grief support.
This grant was made possible by the Boyne Mountain Fund for Youth, Cliff and Beth Bye Fund for Youth, Bob and Gay Pung Fund for Youth, Towsley Fund for Youth, Tunison-Garlock Fund for Youth and the Youth Fund, along with additional donor-advised funds at the Charlevoix County Community Foundation.
For more information about Camp Good Grief and Hospice of Michigan’s Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, visit hom.org.
About Hospice of Michigan
A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan (HOM) is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. A founding member of the NorthStar Care Community, the not-for-profit delivers the highest quality of care, raising more than $5 million each year to cover costs for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life. HOM also provides grief support and counseling, as well as caregiver education and support. A member of the NorthStar Care Community, HOM also provides palliative care through NorthStar Palliative Care, pediatric hospice care and compassionate support services through Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through the NorthStar Institute. The NorthStar Care Community also includes Arbor Hospice and Centrica Care Navigators. In total, NorthStar Care Community members serve more than 9,800 patients annually across Michigan. For more information, call 888-247-5701 or visit www.hom.org.