The late actor Paul Newman’s foundation has given Calvary Hospital a $200,000 grant for its bereavement program for young people.
The grant from Newman’s Own Foundation will provide critical support to the hospital’s year-round bereavement support programs for school-age and teenage children in the Bronx and downtown Brooklyn, and for Camp Compass— a unique summer camp for children ages 6 through 17.
Newman’s Own Foundation is an independent, private foundation which turns all net profits and royalties from the sale of Newman’s Own products into charitable donations. Since 1982, Newman and the foundation have donated over $350 million to thousands of charitable organizations around the world.
“For more than 23 years, Calvary’s bereavement groups have supported thousands of adults, adolescents and children at a very difficult time in their lives,” said Frank Calamari, president and CEO. “Over the years, Calvary has been very fortunate for the ongoing and generous support of Newman’s Own.”
Every year, approximately four percent of children in the United States experience the death of a parent or other close loved one, many of them often forgotten in the chaos in families after a death.
Bereavement services at Calvary provide a safe place where children can express their emotions and share their grief with others who have suffered loss.
“The grant from Newman’s Own Foundation is essential to Calvary’s ability to provide bereavement support services to all those children we have been able to serve,” said Sherry Schachter, director of bereavement services.
Calvary’s Camp Compass just hosted its 15th annual day camp from August 20-24, taking place for the first time at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn.
“Precious Moments,” Calvary’s bereavement program for children ages six to 1l, offeres group sessions at the Morris Park campus after school hours throughout the school year.
Since 2001 when Calvary began offering teen bereavement support for 12- to 17-year- olds, its program has grown from six participants to 76 in 2011.
Kirsten Sanchez can be reach via e-mail at ksanchez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3394
