This week, Mandi Zucker dropped both her children off for college. It wasn’t the first year for either of them–one of her kids is starting his senior year, the other is going into his sophomore year–but when her neighbor stopped by to say hello and ask how she was doing, Mandi burst out crying. “I’m…

by Hearts of Hope Educational Advisory Team August 04, 2022 “Life presents us with all kinds of losses–the loss of loved ones, the loss of relationships, the loss of health, the loss of youth.” – Dr. Phyllis Kosminsky Grief & Loss Specialist, Grief Counselor, Immediate Past President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling…

By Orly Zimmerman-Leizerov, Jill Jerome  Teachers can create emotionally safe spaces in their classrooms while also recognizing when students need mental health help from outside sources. Educators play a critical role in the emotional well-being of their students and are often the first point of contact for students experiencing mental health issues. Many educators feel…

Summary: When Crum & Forster held its 200th anniversary gala on May 19, 2022, the insurer showcased its employee volunteer program and its special partnership with the nonprofit Hearts of Hope healing arts program. It’s part of their companywide corporate social responsibility program. The results were, in a word, magical. It was a celebration of…

Her thoughts about re-entering school following quarantine from COVID-19 Dylan Pinto is entering her senior year at Masuk High School in Monroe, CT. We met Dylan when she showed interest in volunteering with our Hearts of Hope Newtown, CT team where she has been active since spring 2021 spreading the word about events and assisting…

Summary: Corporate social responsibility managers look for programs that provide social value to create a positive impact on their brands. Hearts of Hope Foundation gives companies of all sizes the opportunity for employee volunteers to create and share tangible messages of kindness and hope with the communities they serve. Here are examples of how companies…

by Judith Pedersen, MSW; Founder of Hearts of Hope May 2021 Figen Murray’s Heartbreak Soothed by Comforting Others Martyn Hett What do you do when a terrorist bombing at a music concert takes the life of your beloved child? If you are Figen Murray of Manchester, England, you knit Peace Bears, lots of Peace Bears,…

It’s not easy to mend a broken heart. But by giving of their own hearts, a dedicated group of individuals is offering a path toward healing in the face of grief by participating in community service programming. That’s the idea behind the Hearts of Hope, a unique community service program that fosters healing through art.…

Hearts of Hope is thrilled to announce our newest partner participating in our Hearts of Hope Community Service Program – Crum & Forster. Crum & Forster (www.cfins.com) provides specialty and standard commercial lines insurance products through admitted and surplus lines insurance companies. With over 2,400 employees located in offices nationwide, Crum & Forster (C&F) is committed to…

I think we all feel a little helpless at times and during social distancing we're looking for ways to stay connected while practicing safe socializing. Our neighborhood has come up with many ways to keep families entertained while staying safe. This includes activities like bear hunts, hanging shamrocks in the windows for St. Patrick’s Day,…