Rick’s Place Receives $10,000 Grant to Bolster Grief Support Programs

WILBRAHAM — Rick’s Place announced it has received a $10,000 grant from the Alternatives for Youth Foundation (AYF) to support its ongoing grief support programming for children, teens, and families who are grieving the death of a significant person.

This funding will help sustain the free peer support groups and family-centered services, which provide opportunities for participants to connect with others who have experienced a death loss. Through support groups, special events, and community outreach, Rick’s Place offers a welcoming environment where youth and caregivers can express their thoughts and feelings, build supportive relationships, and develop tools for navigating grief.

“We are deeply grateful to the Alternatives for Youth Foundation for their generous donation,” said Therese Ross, executive director of Rick’s Place. “This investment helps ensure that children, teens, and families who are grieving continue to have access to a community of support where they can share their experiences, feel understood, and find connection as they move forward.”

Founded in 2007, Rick’s Place serves youth and family members from throughout Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Rick’s Place’s peer support model helps reduce feelings of isolation, strengthens connections among participants, and supports healthy grief processing and personal growth.

The support from AYF comes at a time when the need for grief support services continues to grow. By investing in Rick’s Place, the foundation is helping ensure that families who are grieving have access to compassionate support at no cost.

“On behalf of the children, teens, and caregivers we serve, we thank the Alternatives for Youth Foundation for recognizing the importance of grief support and for helping us continue this vital work,” Ross said.