Grief’s Journey Volunteer Wins Prestigious National Award

On June 22, 2017, the National Alliance for Grieving Children bestowed upon Kay Kronholm its highest honor, the Founder’s Award.

The Founder’s Award is given annually to one individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of children’s grief support as a volunteer. For over four decades, Kay Kronholm has played an integral role in the provision of children’s grief support in Nebraska and Iowa. She is currently one of Grief’s Journey’s most active volunteers, logging hundreds of volunteer hours each year as a member of the Programs, Training, Conference Planning, and Curriculum Development committees. Some of Kay’s more notable contributions to the field include helping to develop: One of the first school crisis teams in the greater Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area; Camp Hope, Grief’s Journey’s overnight retreat for teens; Adults Helping Adults (AHA), Grief’s Journey’s free support group program for adult caregivers (now serving all adults); and Grief’s Journey’s first non-bereavement support groups for families grieving a life-changing illness or injury.

Since 2001, Grief’s Journey (formerly Ted E. Bear Hollow) has been a welcoming, safe place where grieving children, teens and adults find hope. As the region’s cornerstone for grief support, Grief’s Journey provides free peer support programs as well as training, education and consultation throughout Nebraska and Iowa. Grief’s Journey relies on charitable contributions, special event income and volunteerism to support its free programs. For more information, visit www.griefsjourney.org.