A Newsletter for Friends of the Children’s Grief Center of El Paso • SPRING 2006

A Place Of Healing and Hope for Grieving Kids and Their Families

Celebrating

10 Years of Service

to the Community

Families from the Children’s Grief Center were invited to contribute “memory squares” to our 10th anniversary quilt. The quilt was lovingly sewn and designed by Denise Daniel, who spent several hours weaving each family’s memories onto the fabric that would represent the Center.

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage

PAIDEl Paso, TX

Permit #458

You may find us on the web at www.cgcelpaso.org

If your mailing information is incorrect or we sent you multiple copies, please call us at (915) 532-6004 and we’ll correct it.

Thank you El Paso Electric for your continued support

Centre Bldg. • 123 W. Mills, Ste. 650El Paso, Texas 79901

My thanks to Joanne Osburn, the

other Cofounder of the Children’s

Grief Center. I look back on what

we have accomplished and realize

that without her shared dream,

this Center might have never

begun. I thank her for her

vision and contribution.

From the DirectorThe Children’s Grief Center is proud to announce its 10th

anniversary of service to the community. In that time, hundreds

of children and adults have come through our doors with as

many personal experiences of loss. The Children’s Grief Center

began from a dream that Joanne Osburn and I shared many

years ago with the support and vision of four founding board

members; Ruth Harris, Trese Cunningham, Dr. Don Combs and

Andrea Keener. We were fortunate that they shared our dream

in making a difference in the outcome of grieving childrens’

lives. As I look back on our early days, I think of the

challenges we experienced as “the new kid on the block” in the

nonprofit sector. We have since established ourselves as a valued

and respected organization in the community.

I have personally witnessed the growth and transformation of

emotionally wounded and troubled children following the loss

of a parent, sibling, grandparent or friend. I believed from the

inception of this organization that we could be instruments of

change. I hold that belief even stronger as the years progress

and our efforts prove measurable. I have faith in our current

board of directors to guide this organization to a new level of

service for the next 10 years and I commend their courage to

accept the challenge.

Board of DirectorsDavid Alvarez, President

Anthony Turrietta, Vice President

Scott Thrasher, Treasurer

Todd Fowler, Secretary

Vanessa Corral

Britt Porter

Laura E. Olague, M.Ed., CTEx. Director, Cofounder, Certified in Thanatology,

Dying Death and Bereavement

Thank you to these outgoing board members who have shared their time, talents, resources and love:

Terry Bassham

Steve Busser

Kelly Duke

Linda Volk

Pauline Scott

Claudia Rubio

Thank You Joanne Osburn

The Children’s Grief Center held its fundraiser and silent auction,

“New York, New York,” at the Camino Real Hotel on Friday,

May 13th. Children attending the

Center’s grief support program

proudly displayed and contributed

their art that was auctioned to

help further the mission of the

Center. Billy Townes played his

wonderful jazz music and the

Shundo Dance Studio provided a

ballroom dance demonstration for

participants.

Fundraiser Event New York, New York

The Children’s Grief Center provided 260 peer groups for kids and their families throughout 2005.

Zoo PartyThe Children’s Grief

Center celebrated its

10th anniversary with a

party at the zoo for Center kids

and their families. Magician

Jamie O’Hara provided

entertainment for the event.

Save the Date!

2006 Benefit Fundraiser Event

Thursday, May 11th, 2006

atop the Plaza Theatre

Thank you UTEP Counseling Department for your partnership in providing 6 Master’s Level Counseling Students for training.

Spotlight on our VolunteersThe Children’s Grief Center proudly introduces Paulien Veltman, a

volunteer group facilitator. Paulien is from Emmen, the northern

part of Holland and is here with her husband, Peter, her two

children, Tom and Sarah. Paulien was a child life specialist for a hospital and

trained volunteer for a children’s bereavement program in Holland. She found us through our

website. She has been an asset to the organization in working directly with the kids in our peer

support groups and we are blessed to have her.

Volunteers contributed… 9,800 hours of service to improving the lives of grieving children and families. Thank you to these volunteer facilitators:

Teresa Almengor

Gizelle Alvarado

Veronica Barriga

Shirin Ditmore

Michelle Escobedo

Brenda Gallos

Marilyn Jones

Elena Saucedo

Cecilia Siller

Nancy Torres

Paulien Veltman

Welcome to these new volunteer facilitators:

Miki Ahl

Tanya Denson

Michael Perez

Lourdes Romero

Teresa Almengor

Robert Alvarado

David Alvarez

Monica Amaro

Wynn & Kymm Anderson

Brenda A. Arrieta

Arthur & Gloria August

Veronica Barriga

Kenneth H. Bruder

Steve & Maria Busser

Yvette Marie Caballero

David & Rebecca Calderon

Jose Candelaria, Jr.

Lee O. Cannell

Miguel & Margarita Cardenas

Antimo Carreon

Terri Caviglia

Ricardo Chapa

Laura Cohen

Christine & Kenneth Cramer

Jim & Trese Cunningham

Dolores Veytia Dunbar

Mrs. Tommy J. Duncan

Edward & Margarita Escudero

Rossana Esparza

Pedro P. Euzarraga, Jr.

Maritza A. Fernandez

Ruth S. Fernandez

Rene Flores

Todd Fowler

Hugh K. Frederick, Jr.

Eduardo A. Frias

Scott & Brenda Gallos

Russell & Kathleen Gibson

Jessica Gomez

Joe & Viveca Granados

Col. Eugene W. Green, Jr.

Maria Guevara

Edward & Ana Gutierrez

Patricia Hall

Laura Muñoz Hallal

Frank & Roberta Harrison

Tania Hermosillo

Marta Duron Hernandez

Mary F. Hernandez

Fred E. Hirsch

James C. or Stacy J. Hunt

Susie Jensen

Lanier John

Susan C. Johnson

Guillermo Silva Jr. & Teresa A. Keller

Bill Kenney

Enoch & Ivette Kimmelman

Francis & Josephine Leroux

Stephanie Lomuscio

Lorenzo Mendez

Bob Mihalyov

Daniel Montes

Monica Mireles

Carmen & Asuncion Molina

George & Cheryl Moore

Abel Morales

Susana Navarro

Marcela Nungaray

Mrs. & Mrs. Cleo Olague

Gilbert & Laura Olague

Jannet Ortiz

Monica A. Ortiz

Manny Pacillas

Audra Patch

Shari K. Patrick

Frank & Maribel Perry

Gregory & Lucy Pfirman

Mary Ellen Portillo

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ramenofsky

Rodolfo & Ana Ramirez

Joe Ramos

Paul E. Raudenbush

Dr. Morris & Beverly Reiter

LTC Joyce R. Richardson, Ret.

Javier & Anabel Sanchez

Victoria Saucedo

Ann S. Schaechner

Doug & VJ Smith

Terry & Sandra Squier

Howard & Christine Swan

Carl & Carol Swanson

Jeffrey Todd Weikert

Gary L. Tarter

Scott Thrasher

Christine Torres

Reyes & Alicia Torres

Anthony Turrietta

Neva Uphoff

Mary Vasquez

James R. Walaski

Jeffrey Todd Weikert

David S. Wilbanks, DDS

Bruce & Margie Yetter

Donors

The Mission of the

Children’s Grief Center of

El Paso is to provide loving

support and education

for children, teens and

their families, following

the death of a loved one,

as they move through the

healing process of grief.

In Honor of

Terry & Zulema Bassham by G. G. Hendrix

Terry Bassham by Philip & Mayela Martinez

Ann S. Schaechner by C. B. Ramenofsky

In Memory of

Anna Thierry by Jim & Trese Cunningham

Ben Diffenderfer by Carl & Carol Swanson

Claudia Mihalyov by Robert Mihalyov Family

Florinda L Calderon by Elena Saucado

Florinda L. Calderon by Jane Warach

Florinda L. Calderon by Laura Olague

Harold Olsen by Christine Swan

Samuel Patch by Sammy’s Friends Foundation

Foundations

Cesle C. Dues & Mamie F. Dues Foundation

Cimarron Foundation

El Paso Community Foundation

Gannett Foundation

Hervey Foundation

Rio Grande Cancer Foundation

Robert E. & Evelyn McKee Foundation

The Hervey Foundation

UPS Foundation

United Way

United Way of King County

Schools

El Paso Bridges Academy

Churches

House of Prayer, Church of God in Christ

Temple Mount Sinai

In Kind Donors –Businesses

Café Centrale

Camino Real Hotel

Cappetto’s

Cattle Baron Steak House

Clear Channel Communications

El Paso Convention & Performing Arts

El Paso Electric Company

El Paso Electric Employees

El Paso High School

El Paso Quilt Guild

Geogeske

IT Business Solutions

Johnny Carino’s

Kona Kreek Steakhouse

Linus Project

Loco Novelties

Passion Chocolates

Perfumeria Rachelle’s

Pike Street Market

Power House Gym

Singing Group “Celebration”

Shundo Dance Studio

Stahmann’s Country Store

Village Inn

Wells Fargo

In Kind Donors –Individuals

Cleveland Atkinson

Joe Barriga

Denise Daniel

Sam Jensen

Susie Jensen

Juan Martin, Jr.

Grace Mihalyov

Carol Peña

Frankie Perry

Elena Saucedo

Mary Vasquez

Organizations

Ft. Bliss Officers’, Civilians’ & Spouses’ Association

Horizon City Lions Club

Nolan Richardson Charity Golf Tournament

St. Francis On The Hill Episcopal Church

Western Hills United Methodist Church

Corporations

Bank of The West

Bruder Investments, Ltd.

Clark,Thomas & Winters

El Paso Electric Company

Garcia-Shamma & Acosta, PC

Hoy Fox Automotive Market

JP Morgan Chase Bank

Jack White Building Specialties, Inc.

KPMG

Martin Funeral Home West

New York Life Insurance

Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.

Rivel Research Group Inc.

Sahara Co.

Semko & Minor PC

Southwest Dairy Museum

State National Bank

Sunset Funeral Home

Wells Frago Bank

Wiener Strickler, LLP