Grief Support Grants

Grief Support Grants

Funder: Mid-America Transplant Foundation

Overview

Grants supporting grief centers and counseling programs serving donor families throughout Mid-America Transplant's service area. These grants fund professional counseling services to help families heal following the loss of a loved one.

Mission

Ensuring donor families have access to professional grief support as part of honoring the legacy of their loved ones' donation decision. The Foundation identified the critical need to help donor families heal through counseling services.

Geographic Scope

• Eastern Missouri
• Southern Illinois
• Northeast Arkansas
• Service area: 84 counties, 4.7 million population

2020-2022 Grief Center Grant Recipients

Annie's Hope - St. Louis

Comprehensive support for children, teens, and families grieving a death

Serves 3,400+ clients annually (20%+ related to organ/tissue donors)

Programs: Camp Courage, retreats, family support groups, Horizons program

Operating since 1998

Heartlinks Grief Center - Belleville, IL

Program of Family Hospice

Serves 2,500+ people annually (100+ donor family members)

Services: counseling, peer support groups, community programs

Adding: addiction/substance abuse loss programs, rural grief programs

Infant Loss Resources - St. Louis and Springfield, MO

Connects families affected by infant loss to grief support services

Serves 250+ people annually

"You're Not Alone" program providing free grief support to bereaved parents and families

Lost & Found Grief Center (LFGC) - Southwest Missouri (near Springfield)

Only professional counseling service in two-and-a-half hour radius

Operating for 20+ years

Serves 2,400+ individuals annually

Therapeutic grief support groups for children, parents, adults

NEA Baptist Center for Good Grief - Jonesboro, AR area

Comprehensive bereavement center providing free grief support

Serves 250+ individuals annually

Developing teletherapy grief service program for rural, underserved communities

Uses video conferencing for remote access

The Counseling and Social Advocacy Center (CSAC) - University of Missouri-St. Louis

Affordable counseling by professional counselors and graduate students

Serves 800+ people annually

Focus: North St. Louis County (historically underserved for mental health)

Comprehensive grief services

Funding Impact

2020 grants represented 57% increase in funding allocated to grief services

Context

In 2019, Mid-America Transplant served 2,500+ donor families, highlighting the significant need for grief support services

Contact Information

Mid-America Transplant Foundation
• Phone: 314-735-8200
• Toll-Free: 888-376-4854
• Email: info@midamericatransplant.org
• Website: midamericatransplant.org