The Summit Foundation Awards $19,000 Grant to Imagine

Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss, has received a generous $19,000 grant from The Summit Foundation. This funding will directly support the expansion of Imagine’s peer support group programs, which provide free, life-changing services for children, teens, young adults, and caregivers navigating the painful loss of someone close to them.

When a family is interested in joining Imagine's support groups, they speak with a member of the program staff. Often, the first question asked is to inquire about the insurance that Imagine will accept or the fees for their support groups. Imagine's staff feel the incredible sense of relief on the other end of the line when they are able to tell families and caregivers that Imagine's support groups are 100% free, and they can attend for as long as they need support. It's because of the generosity of individual donors and community partners like The Summit Foundation that Imagine can continue to offer free support to those coping with loss seeking community.

Imagine’s peer support groups meet bi-weekly, offering a safe environment where participants can share their stories, participate in activities that promote memory sharing and connection, and give and receive support during the grief journey. Many participants in Imagine's support groups remain a part of the Imagine community for years, forming deep connections with their group members—building relationships that go far beyond Imagine's walls.

"For Imagine to continue to grow and widen the circle of support for families who need us, we need partnerships in the communities we serve," said Lindsay Schambach, Executive Director of Imagine. "The Summit Foundation has been instrumental in Imagine’s ability to continually grow to meet the needs of the 151,000 NJ youth who may lose a parent or sibling before the age of 18. (Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.) We are grateful to be able to partner with the Summit Foundation who share our values and beliefs, as we support our families and work to ensure that no one grieves alone."

The partnership between The Summit Foundation and Imagine ensures that critical, free resources are available to local families at the most vulnerable times of their lives.

About the Summit Foundation:

Since 1972, The Summit Foundation has enhanced lives in the Summit, NJ area by addressing local needs, fostering philanthropy, and building partnerships. It invests in the community through grants, scholarships, special-purpose funds, and donor-advised distributions to advance opportunities for people to thrive. Visit the Summit Foundation's website at www.summitforever.org.

About Imagine:

Imagine is a 501c3 that offers grief and loss education and training to the community and free year-round grief support groups for children ages 3-18 and young adults 19-30 who are coping with a loss due to death. Concurrently, support groups are available for the parents and guardians of the children in the groups and offered in English and Spanish. For more information please contact Imagine at 908-264-3100 or info@imaginenj.org or visit our website at www.imaginenj.org.