Dear Friends of the Nest,
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Summer is almost officially here. While schools let out and Southern Arizona heats up, families plan time to relax and recharge together. With Father’s Day later this month, we acknowledge and honor those who have experienced the death of a father or father figure. Fathers who have experienced the death of a child may also struggle more during this time. The approaching holiday and the pressure to take part in summer activities can make it easy for those who are hurting to feel even more isolated.
At Tu Nidito, we know that grief does not take a vacation, so we are always here to be your place for grief support. Whether you are currently enrolled in one of our programs or not, you can reach out for free resources, referrals, or to simply be heard. And if you know someone who is struggling—know, you don’t have to fix everything. You can’t “fix” grief, but there’s so much power in just being present and letting the person in your life know they are not alone.
This coming October marks our 30th anniversary of providing this work in the community—always completely free of charge to families. Like our community depends on us to be the place of comfort and hope they deserve, we depend on the generosity of incredible donors and partners to sustain our programs. To honor our 30th anniversary, an anonymous donor is matching up to $30,000 in endowment donations. Now is the time to invest in our endowment and double your impact. With your support, Tu Nidito will exist for another 30 years and beyond.
In this letter, you will find plenty of additional ways you can have fun and show up for grieving children and their families. On that note, Tu Nidito is currently accepting applications for new board members. If you or someone you know is moved by our mission and wants to make a tremendous difference in the community, contact me directly with your interest at liz@tunidito.org.
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Liz McCusker,
Executive Director
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FUN WAYS TO SUPPORT TU NIDITO
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Tickets for Dueling Pianos are officially on sale! The Duel will be held in a theater in the round at The Grand Tucson. Individual tickets are $100 and include a mouth-watering buffet. Drinks will be available all evening at the cash bar.
Tip and request your favorite songs by the talented duo from AZ Dueling Pianos. Get ready to enjoy a fun and competitive show; the more tipping you give, the more control you have over what music plays! All tipping proceeds bring hope to Tu Nidito children and their families grieving a serious medical condition or death.
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Registration is now open for the 43rd annual El Tour de Tucson, and we are excited to return as a nonprofit beneficiary. Did you know registering as a non-profit rider discounts your fee? If you or someone you know plans to ride the tour and is passionate about supporting grieving children and their families across Southern Arizona, Ride for a Child and join team Tu Nidito! Complete this form, and we will be in touch.
Together, we can raise $25,000 to support children, teens, young adults, caregivers, and their families grieving a serious medical condition or death!
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Purchasing tickets for the Jim Click Millions for Tucson Raffle helps us create a community of acceptance and understanding for those grieving a serious medical condition or death. Thank you, Jim Click! Together we will ensure No Child Grieves Alone. Tickets for the 2026 raffle are now for sale, and the drawing takes place on December 10th, 2026. Entrants will have a chance to win one of three great prizes:
- NEW 2026 Nissan Frontier Pro-X4 Roush Edition®
- Two round-trip, first class airline tickets to anywhere in the world
- $5000 cash
Tickets cost $25 each or 5 for $100, and all proceeds for tickets purchased below are retained by Tu Nidito. Buy yours today.
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HAPPENING AROUND THE NEST
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Littles (children ages 4–8) in our bereavement support groups will make puppets this month. Through this activity, Littles can use the puppets to help speak on their behalf and express difficult feelings, remember their person who died, share moments when they were brave, and ask questions they might be afraid to ask otherwise. After sharing, the Littles will use their puppets in a shared puppet show.
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Creative activities like these are a core principal to meeting children where they are in their grief journey. It is common that at Tu Nidito, children feel safe enough to voice difficult feelings for the first time. When you support a child in their grief, you also support the adult they become. Because we have supported the community for 30 years, we are proud to serve children of parents who attended Tu Nidito at a younger age. With a $30,000 investment committed by a generous donor, now is a critical time to support our endowment and protect access to care for future generations.
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