Tears Foundation

TEARS Foundation recognizes Levinson and Stefani

February 25, 2016 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Nothing like a gift to brighten a dreary afternoon

On Wednesday, we received a pleasant surprise from our friends at the Illinois Chapter of the TEARS Foundation, one of the great non-profit organizations we work with and sponsor. The folks at TEARS sent us a plaque in appreciation of our support in 2015, though it’s TEARS that deserves recognition.

The TEARS Foundation has provided meaningful assistance and resources to thousands of people since its founding in 2012, helping families recover from one of the most difficult situations imaginable: the loss of a baby.

Part of their work is to lift a heavy financial burden by covering the cost of burial or cremation services. The organization also provides free support groups and specially trained peer companions who have completed a highly comprehensive training program.

The Seattle-based non-profit has received recognition for Innovation in Service by the Non-Profit Excellence Awards and the Pay It Forward Award by Principal Global Financial. TEARS founder Sarah Slack was named a finalist for People Magazine’s Heroes Among Us Award in 2009, and was named one of the Top 5 Women of the Year by Seattle’s Evening Magazine.

Along with our annual support of the TEARS Foundation, we were thrilled to act as a presenting sponsor for its annual Illinois Rock and Walk, where Ken spoke on behalf of the firm. We’re proud to be associated with TEARS and we look forward to even more great events and opportunities in the future. And rest assured, we’ll find a prominent place in the office for our new plaque. Many thanks, TEARS Foundation.

Nonprofit Spotlight Event: The TEARS Foundation Rock & Walk 2015

June 9, 2015 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

The TEARS Foundation is a strong, devoted organization operating in fourteen states and Puerto Rico, with the goal of helping families in one of the toughest times imaginable: after the loss of a baby. Yesterday was the annual Rock & Walk, an event to raise money for families benefiting from the Foundation’s support. Aside from financial support, the event lets them know that they are not alone in their time of need. During the event, the community comes together to walk – or rock in rocking chairs – for their bereaving friends and family members. We’ve profiled this excellent organization back in 2014, as one of our first Nonprofit Spotlights.

Levinson and Stefani is an annual supporter of the TEARS Foundation, and was a Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Illinois Rock & Walk. Despite the clouds and rain, the community joined the TEARS Foundation for this important event that serves a deep and special purpose to those families calling upon the Foundation’s support. Ken Levinson, the founding partner of Levinson and Stefani, spoke to the crowd of supporters at last Sunday’s event, which was held at the St. James Forest Farm Preserve in Warrenville, Illinois. Ken reiterated how honored we were to help support such a wonderful organization and that we will continue to do our part in the future. The event honored many of the children that attendees lost, and reminded the families they are never alone after such a tragic loss. For Ken, being asked to address those in attendance was a humbling moment.

If you’d like more information on The TEARS Foundation, the Rock & Walk, or how you can get involved, visit http://www.thetearsfoundation.org/ or contact Raquel Gorman or Dianne Umphress at (815) 546-4133.

Non-Profit Spotlight: The TEARS Foundation

October 14, 2014 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

The TEARS Foundation is our second Non-Profit Spotlight this month.

October is Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month. On October 15th, organizations and communities across the U.S. will come together to raise awareness for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death System, the leading cause of death among infants 1 month to 1 year old) and other life-threatening diseases, many of which continue to bring about unspeakable heartache for millions of parents around the country.

Given the importance of the month and the October 15th event, it’s only fitting that we salute the TEARS Foundation as our second Non-Profit Spotlight this month. The Seattle-based 501 (c)(3), with local ties in LaGrange, IL, has been providing emotional and financial support to bereaved parents and families since 2002. In 2012 TEARS commemorated its 10^th anniversary, noting that it had helped more than 1,000 families through its services.

TEARS aims to “compassionately lift a financial burden from families who have lost a baby by providing funds to assist with the cost of burial or cremation services,” according to its mission statement. TEARS also provides free support groups and specially trained “peer companions” (generally a bereaved parent or family member that has been through similar circumstances) that have completed a highly comprehensive TEARS training program. Peer Companions make themselves available to speak over the phone or in person.

“We believe that every baby’s life deserves to be honored and memorialized in accordance with the grieving parents’ wishes and are committed to helping bereaved parents with this experience,” continues the organization’s mission statement. “We also believe that every grieving parent deserves access to ongoing bereavement support.”

The non-profit has received recognition and awards both for the foundation and for its founder, Sarah Slack, including the award for Innovation in Service by the Non-Profit Excellence Awards and the Pay It Forward Award by Principal Global Financial; Slack was named a finalist for People Magazine’s Heroes Among Us Award in 2009, and was named one of the Top 5 Women of the Year by Seattle’s Evening Magazine.

Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks selected the TEARS Foundation to be a charity partner of the Super Bowl-winning cornerback’s Blanket Coverage Foundation, which held the second annual Richard Sherman Celebrity Softball Game earlier this year, bringing even more attention to the foundation and its mission of support.

Each day, 13 babies will be lost to SIDS and other sudden, unexpected infant deaths. More than 70 new mothers will suffer stillborn pregnancies, and countless lives will be lost to miscarriage and other complications with pregnancy. Locally, there are over 1,500 infant deaths in Illinois each year, a near incomprehensible reality that can be devastating in more ways than one. Thanks to the TEARS Foundation, parents and families that have suffered the loss of a child take comfort in the fact that they’re not alone.

“TEARS was there for us and lifted a financial burden when our daughter died,” reads one testimonial on the TEARS website. Just one of many you can find on the TEARS website. “It meant so much.”

Though the Illinois chapter remains relatively young, that hasn’t stopped them from planning ahead. On June 7, 2015, TEARS kicks off its now-annual Illinois Rock & Walk at the St. James Forest Preserve in Warrenville, a chance to raise money and support for grieving families. Registration opens on the TEARS website shortly.

“God bless The TEARS Foundation,” says another testimonial. “They were there for my daughter through all her pain, grief, agony, and financial strain. They helped her in her saddest moment in life.”

If you are interested in becoming involved with the Illinois Chapter of The TEARS Foundation, contact Raquel Gorman or Dianne Umphress at (815) 546-4133 or IllinoisWalk@TheTearsFoundation.org.