OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center Celebrates 21 Years

Originally posted at 8:12 a.m. Oct. 28, 2014.

From a press release:

On Saturday, Nov. 1, OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center, one of the most respected non-profit grief centers in the nation, is proud to honor Sheri Rapaport, the Wells Fargo Foundation and One Last Hug: Three Days at Grief Camp Emmyâ Winning HBO Documentary at the House of Hope Gala.

These award recipients will be recognized for their work in helping grieving children, teens and adults embark on their journey to hope and healing.

Keeping people’s spirits lifted as Emcees during the evening will be 2013’s Good Grief Award recipient Melissa Rivers and TV Host Andrew Krasny.

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The Founder’s Award, named after OUR HOUSE’s founder, Jo-Ann Lautman, will be given to Sheri Rapaport. The award is OUR HOUSE’s highest honor and is given to individuals who have contributed significantly both in time and resources to the advancement of its mission to provide the community with grief support services, education, resources, and hope.

“Sheri has been an integral part of OUR HOUSE for more than 10 years and the last three as Chair of the Board. Her compassion and dedication to helping those in our community experiencing grief is why she is being honored with this award,” said Michele Prince, executive director of OUR HOUSE.

The H.U.G. Award will honor the Emmyâ winning HBO Documentary film One Last Hug: Three Days at Grief Camp that follows children at OUR HOUSE’s Camp Erin – LA, their annual sleepover camp for grieving children. A testament to the healing power of shared sorrow, One Last Hug shows the often-unseen and particular experience of children’s grief. The award will be accepted by Greg DeHart, producer, Paul Freedman, producer/director, and Lauren Schneider, associate producer and OUR HOUSE clinical director.

The Wells Fargo Foundation will receive the Good Grief Award, which honors those who through their philanthropic involvement and understanding of grief makes a significant difference in our community. Jonathan Weedman, Vice President of the Foundation, will accept the award.

2013 Good Grief Award recipient, TV host and executive producer of E! Entertainment’s Fashion Police Melissa Rivers will co-emcee along with Tennis Personality and friend, Andrew Krasny. As co-emcee, this year’s gala will be particularly poignant and significant for Melissa Rivers, “It’s unbelievable that within the year that I was honored and became an ambassador for Our House Grief Support Center that I was hit by the sudden death of my mother. OUR HOUSE has taken on an even greater significance in my life and I am so grateful that everyone has access to the support that they provide,” said Rivers.

Rivers’ father, TV producer Edgar Rosenberg, ended his own life when she was 18. As the only child of famous parents, she was forced to grieve in the public eye. Rivers chose to face her pain with courage and has emerged as a vocal advocate on grief support. Her work is helping to address the alarming statistics around grief among children in particular. Nearly 5 million children under the age of 18 are grieving the death of a parent, and one out of 10 children in Los Angeles experience the death of a parent before they reach the age of 15.

The program will not only recognize OUR HOUSE supporters, but also bring hope, artwork and dance performances by a myriad of celebrities. The Gala will include inspiring artwork, as OUR HOUSE enlisted the creativity of a wide-range of celebrity supporters, including Anthony Hopkins, Calista Flockhart, Reese Witherspoon, Thomas Lennon, and the cast of Mike & Molly including Fred Willard, Matthew Perry, and Reba McEntire who all created innovative Works of Art, using Art Kits that were provided to them. These “Celebrity” Art Kits will be auctioned off that evening with 100% of the proceeds benefiting OUR HOUSE. Additionally, Dancing with the Stars favorite professional dancers, Karina Smirnoff and Tony Dovolani, will perform.

To support OUR HOUSE’s vital work and learn more about the House of Hope Gala, please visit http://www.ourhouse-grief.org/events/gala2014/

PHOTO Credit: Edo Tsoar.

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