Through Solari Hospice Care my team of compassionate caregivers and I have been blessed to care for thousands of terminally ill patients and their families. We strive 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to improve their quality of life with service that stresses the highest level of comfort and dignity. But no matter how diligently we work to achieve this mission, there’s always more we can do.
That’s why we’re committed to the growth of the Solari Hospice Foundation.
I started this nonprofit organization more than a decade ago to help grieving children and their surviving caregivers through a series of innovative bereavement camps, educational resources, and other support services. At Camp Solari in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Houston, Texas, professional grief and loss counselors provide children ages 6 to 17 and their surviving guardians with the tools they need to cope with their loss and move forward with joy and enthusiasm while honoring the memory of the deceased. Age-appropriate activities include art and music therapy, journaling, and one-on-one and group talk therapy sessions. Perhaps most importantly, at Camp Solari kids learn that they are not alone.
It’s amazing to see the change in these grief-stricken children in just three short days — the joyous feeling of camaraderie that lights up their faces as they interact with other young people who have experienced similar losses. It’s truly a life-changing experience for both the campers and those involved in helping them work through their grief.
Personally, I find an incredible sense of fulfillment through my work with the Solari Hospice Foundation. When you can help a child overcome such a devastating loss and then redirect his or her life, you have truly made a difference. Since we started Camp Solari, the success stories we’ve heard are incredibly touching. We’ve seen children who almost refused to talk open up and come to terms with their loss. We’ve seen children in denial finally acknowledge their inner feelings. And, over and over, children have told us how they no longer feel so isolated knowing that other families are working through the same issues as they are.
We always have a waiting list for our camps, which are open to the public and are fueled by financial and in-kind contributions. There is absolutely no cost for participating families. The need for this service is immense … so donations are critical to our success in reaching as many grieving children and families as possible.
With that goal in mind, we are launching our first Camp Solari in Phoenix, Arizona, in April 2013. If you or someone you know could benefit from the camp, or if you would like to support this important cause through a financial or in-kind donation, please visit our website at www.solarihospicefoundation.org to download an application or learn about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities.
Your support will help fill a void in a child’s life. Thank you very much for your consideration.
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