Rainbow for All Children Hosts Event to Welcome Executive Director

On Tuesday, July 11, Rainbows for All Children, an international grief support program for children, hosted a meet and greet event at Royal Melbourne Country Club to welcome new executive director, Stephanie Garrity (Highland Park). Guests were greeted by advisory board chair, Breck Hanson (Chicago) and governing board chair, Anjum Abassi-Voight (Wilmette). “I am excited to have both Stephanie and Anjum at the head of this organization, at this time. I know we are headed in the right direction,” said Hanson. Abassi-Voight spoke to Garrity’s professional history, but added, “Stephanie has already shown the board that she won’t take ‘no’ for an answer, but in a great way. She has approached her work at Rainbows with a passion and determination we need.”

Garrity comes to Rainbows with more than 21 years of experience in non-profit leadership at organizations like Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center and Regina Dominican High School. An alumna of Houghton College (New York), Garrity is a member of Chicago Women in Philanthropy, Women in Development North, and Forefront.

“I am thrilled to join such a strong organization with a long history of serving children in trauma,” says Garrity. “With the help of Rainbows very committed staff, board of directors and advisory board, we are turning our eyes to growth and diversification of resources, while ensuring all Rainbows supporters and facilitators remain engaged and connected with our mission. Grief is big when you are small, and it’s our responsibility to help children with this very large issue.”

The meet and great event allowed donors to meet the staff and interns of Rainbows over cocktails and appetizers. Additionally, over $30,000 was raised to assist Rainbows’ the mission, to provide support services to grieving children.

ABOUT Rainbows:

Rainbows for All Children exists because 88% of children in America will experience a life altering event triggering profound grief before they turn 18 years old. Youth are affected by significant loss such as: death in the family, divorce, abandonment, military deployment of a loved one, incarceration or diagnosis of a life-threatening illness. Rainbows is dedicated to helping youth successfully navigate the very difficult grief process associated with these types of loss. Rainbows is a source of support for all youth as they navigate grief and heal from loss, whether from death, divorce, or other trauma. Rainbows fosters awareness that youth require support to heal. We nurture a community of effective Rainbows-trained facilitators, supported with a repository of resources designed to guide youth in their grieving process. Groups meet in 27 states and 10 countries.

For 34 years, we have sustained children and families in the wake of their tragedies through our peer-support group programs and services, strategically designed to properly address their social and emotional well-being after a life-altering loss event. For more information, contact: Stephanie Garrity 847-828-3796.