Meredith Jaramillo, Author at Tu Nidito

Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight Barnard Mthembu

I had the opportunity to talk with Barnard about volunteering with Tu Nidito and what drew him to our organization. Barnard is studying to become a social worker because he is committed to helping people who are struggling. His focus is on clinical therapy and supporting families.

“I couldn’t think of a better place to do my internship than Tu Nidito,” he shared after his experience here. “I want to be part of their journey and healing. Humans are so unique and deal with their trauma in different ways.”

Barnard views Tu Nidito kids as courageous. He found it rewarding to see how strong they are and how willing they are to come to Tu Nidito and ask for help. “I am inspired and encouraged by the kids.” He believes he is a bridge between caregivers and kids, both can come to Tu Nidito and get the support they need. Caregivers have someone to be with, to share and to be heard, while their kids are in a safe space.

Volunteering with Tu Nidito gave Barnard the chance to look kids in the eye and earnestly say, “I see you, I am here with you, I want to know how you are doing.”

Barnard will be an impactful social worker; his compassion and empathy shine when he speaks about his work and his love of volunteering with Tu Nidito. Barnard and his wife, a resident at Banner University Hospital, are expecting their first child this year. Barnard will complete his degree and pursue clinical practice. Barnard, thank you for sharing your time, your talent, your wisdom and heart with all of us at Tu Nidito.

The Remarkable Celebration 2023 Wrap Up

THANK YOU!

The Remarkable Celebration is Tu Nidito’s largest fundraising event, raising critical funds for our programs and services that serve more than 700 grieving youth each year. This year’s event raised more than $230,000, thanks to the generosity of individuals like you.

The Remarkable Celebration honored five Remarkable Moms, who through their life experiences advance Tu Nidito’s mission of creating a community of acceptance and understanding for those grieving a serious medical condition or death.

This year’s honorees were: Laura Baker, Linda Hardy, Ann Lovell, Sylvia Quigley and Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider. These women are pillars of strength and resilience for their children and our community.

LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES

Laura Baker

Linda Hardy

Ann Lovell

Sylvia Quigley

Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider

Thank You Sponsors!

Mamma Mia! Presenting Sponsor

Dancing Queen Sponsor

Jim & Vicki Click

Take A Chance on Me Sponsors

SOS Sponsors

Larry Wetterschneider

Super Trouper Sponsors

May Newsletter

Dear Tu Nidito Friends:

Dear Friends:

May is a busy month here at Tu Nidito. We are getting ready for our Remarkable Celebration, honoring Ann Lovell, Linda Hardy, Laura Baker, Sylvia Quigley, and Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider. We are excited for our Mamma Mia themed event, once again hosted by our friends, Jim and Vicki Click, at Tucson Country Club.

Our team at Tu Nidito is growing. Last month we welcomed Oliver Kammeyer to the staff, as our Manager of Philanthropy and Communications. Oliver is a Tucson native, having attended the Gregory School and UA. He completed his master’s degree in creative writing and spent several years on the philanthropy team at Easterseals Blake Foundation.

This month, we also welcome new team member, Sophia Dunne. Many of you might know Sophia. She has been a volunteer in several of our groups and just completed an internship with us. Sophia graduates this month from the University of Arizona with a degree in Public Health. She is looking forward to continuing to work with Tu Nidito children, teens, and families as a group coordinator and Pathways support specialist.

Over this past weekend we trained 18 new volunteers and welcome them to our Little Nest. Our work with grieving, children, teens, young adults, and caregivers is not possible without our volunteers. We are honored that these 18 individuals are joining our volunteer team, bringing the number of active volunteers to 139!

Have a beautiful month of May. Thank you all for being friends of Tu Nidito and helping us create a community of acceptance and understanding for those grieving a serious medical condition or death.

Yours,

Liz McCusker,

Executive Director

The Remarkable Month of May at Tu Nidito

This year's Remarkable Moms are Ann Lovell, Linda Hardy, Laura Baker, Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider, and Sylvia Quigley.

Children wait all year for Christmas, but at Tu Nidito we wait all year for May. This is a busy and exciting month for all of us, and even more so this year.

On May 13th Tu Nidito holds its biggest event and fundraiser of the year, our Remarkable Celebration! It's our own way to celebrate Mother's Day and this remarkable group of five wonderful mothers. For Abba fans, this year's theme is the musical Mama Mia. Be sure to buy tickets or check out our silent auction and the amazing gifts businesses have donated this year.

To get tickets, learn about the event, or our Remarkable Moms, visit TN's Remarkable Celebration.

Speaking of fundraisers, Tu Nidito is once again the beneficiary of Enterprise Rent-a-Car's 33rd Annual Golf Tournament! On May 20th at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon, participating sponsors and players will raise money for Tu Nidito's services. Last year, they raised more than $22,000. To learn more or sign up, check out Enterprise Golf. We cannot thank Enterprise enough for their continued support and generosity!

We're also changing up our Teen Night a bit! Teen Night at Tu Nidito is an opportunity for teens in our bereavement groups to come and get to know some of our teen volunteers and others. Seven to nine pm on the evening of Friday May 19th, Tu Nidito will have pizza, Eegee's, games like cornhole, and a tie-dye shirt station. Thanks to our partnership with Geico, we'll also have a photo booth with the Geico Gecko! Please RSVP by May 17th so we can get your teen's T-shirt size, but make sure to come regardless!

It's not just events and our social events that make this May remarkable. We've also made some interesting additions to our curriculum such as a puppet show illustrating the importance of grieving, and...

Telephone of the Wind,

The Newest Addition to TN Curriculum that's Already Changing Lives

An unassuming and simple disconnected phone is all that's needed.

A therapeutic concept originating from Japan, Telephone of the Wind is for anyone who has lost a loved one. Tu Nidito brought this into our curriculum in April, and we can already see the profound effect it has on those that use it.

Telephone of the Wind has participants call their special person who died and have a conversation. Participants can tell their departed loved one something they wish they'd said before, tell them how life is going, or simply that they miss them. It's awe-inspiring the impact such a simple activity can have.

One young woman shared that her father completed suicide and that he had called her the day before he died, but she didn’t take the call. On her own telephone of the wind, she finally had the call she missed with her dad, and later shared that this helped to significantly ease her mind.

Many others at Tu Nidito find the Telephone of the Wind an enormous comfort, and this is just its beginning!

The Remarkable Celebration! Only 2 Weeks Away!

The Remarkable Celebration honors five inspirational women, Ann Lovell, Linda Hardy, Laura Baker, Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider, and Sylvia Quigley, and is getting closer! We are all very excited to honor these Moms, as we raise critical funds for Tu Nidito programs. Remarkable Celebration is our largest fundraising event accounting for more than 25% of our annual budget.

If you can not join us on May 13, 2023 at Tucson Country Club for Mamma Mia, you can still join in the fun by participating in the Remarkable Celebration Silent Auction – online. The auction goes live (insert link) on Thursday May 4th, 2023 at 5pm. Everyone is welcome to partake. In fact, we encourage to sign up early and bid often!

Thanks to these generous businesses and partners, we once again have some amazing prizes to offer you this year.

Just some of the amazing things you could win are...

Two-Night Stay at the Phoenician Hotel in Scottsdale

Immerse yourself in the contemporary elegance at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale. A timeless lifestyle experience awaits at this eye-catching and imaginative AAA Four Diamond resort. The Phoenician invites you to soak in the splendor of unparalleled resort amenities with a two-night stay in a deluxe guest room along with dinner at Mowry & Cotton where you will sample bold, simple flavors of Modern American cuisine along with spirited drinks in a lively yet laid-back setting.

Two-Night Stay in Healdsburg Wine Country

Enjoy a two-night-stay at the Vallette Guest Cottage, along with the Vallette's VIP Chef's Five-course tasting menu for two, including gratuity, at this exquisite eatery located in the town of Healdsburg. This picturesque town is located in the Russian River Valley of Northern California, bustling with wineries, boutiques, galleries, and acclaimed restaurants. And Chef Vallette is nothing short of an artist. The plate is his canvas, and local produce and proteins are his paint. You will also receive one bottle of 2021 Valette Sauvignon Blanc and one bottle of 2019 Valette Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir to enjoy with your dinner at Valette. Package includes Winspire booking and concierge service.

Seasonal Passes for Ava Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol

Enjoy each and every show and concert at Casino del Sol's Ava Amphitheater for its 2023 AND 2024 season at the Casino del Sol Event Center. Two season passes for both seasons will give you lawn seating to see some great entertainment from Rap & Hip Hop (Ice Cube on 5/27/23), Comedy (George Lopez on 6/27/23 and Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias on 8/26/23), Latin (Marco Antonio Solis on 9/8/23 or Jazz (Buddy Guy on 9/9/23) to name a few with shows being added for 2023 and soon to be announced for 2024.

The Remarkable Silent Auction Goes Live May 4th

and includes these experiences and so much more!

Thank You to our Amazing Sponsors!

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April Newsletter

Dear Tu Nidito Friends:

April is volunteer appreciation month and we at Tu Nidito have so many amazing volunteers to celebrate. Our Board of Directors, who guide the strategy of the organization and provide oversight, bring their expertise to their service at Tu Nidito, helping to craft policies, raise funds and govern. We welcome Charlie Bowles back to the Board. Charlie has served Tu Nidito in a variety of Board positions over the years and we are grateful that he is returning to continue his service to grieving children, teens, young adults and caregivers. Charlie’s connections in our community are vast and he readily shares our work with colleagues and friends.

Our support group volunteers and facilitators are dedicated, empathetic and compassionate. They give of their time and their heart space to ensure that no child grieves alone. I often hear them say, “Coming to volunteer with these children is the most rewarding experience I have ever had.” I know that our children and their caregivers thrive at Tu Nidito because of our committed volunteers. It is a joy to see the connections volunteers make with our kiddos. They are always ready to listen deeply, reflect our client’s words and help them integrate their grief into their lives through facilitation of thoughtful program activities and meaningful free time.

Tu Nidito can not provide support to grieving children and families without these inspiring volunteers. And… we need more of you to help. For the first time in our history we have a waiting list for our Bereavement support groups. We have some innovative ideas to address those waiting but we can’t implement new programs without the support of volunteers. Please help spread the need throughout the community. We have a volunteer training scheduled for April 29th and we would love to have a full house.

As I close, I want to lift up two incredibly dedicated and loving volunteers, Tuesday Tom Messmore and Maria Schuchardt, who give of their time and talent weekly as Tu Nidito office volunteers, Tom fixes everything and Maria minds the library.

I am grateful for each and everyone of you and wish for many more volunteers just like you!

Yours,

Liz McCusker, ED

What Tu Nidito Families Are Doing in April

April is the month for tackling big and complicated questions in Tu Nidito support groups. Participants are reflecting on questions about death and the words that are left unsaid. Every age group is working through the same theme.

Our Middles and Teens are writing their questions down and putting them in a can. One by one the questions are pulled from the can and discussed with the group, everyone shares their thoughts, there are no right or wrong answers. It is beautiful to watch answers unfold as the group members realize their shared experiences.

At the end of the month, families will be invited to connect with their special person with the Telephone of the Wind. The Telephone of the Wind allows one to hold a one-way conversation with their special person, using a disconnected telephone. While families wait to use the phone, they can paint river rocks with acrylic pens. They are welcome to write their special person’s name on the rock and share words of hope and encouragement. These rocks will become part of Tu Nidito’s inspirational collection decorating the property.

To close the month, our wonderful volunteer Bruce will create songs about each families’ message to their loved one. Bruce Phillips has volunteered countless hours in creating beautiful melodies that touch the heart of grieving families.

It is so special that April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we get to harmonize with Tu Nidito’s volunteers and make it a truly special experience for our families.

Oro Valley Doctors Served as Tu Nidito Volunteers

Julie Hunt, CNO, Dr. Sally Vetter; Cameron Lewis, CAO; Dalton Homer, Administration Specialist; Josh Custer, CFO

The Medical Executive Committee (MEC) at Oro Valley hospital surprised us by naming Tu Nidito as the beneficiary of their Doctor’s Day gift. The MEC, led by Dr Sally Vetter, decided to use funds, that would have provided Doctor’s Day gifts, to support local charities. Dr. Vetter shared, “The Medical Executive Committee of OVH chose Tu Nidito as our charity of choice this year because several of us have volunteered there over the years and have witnessed firsthand the amazing work they do to help our community heal, especially the children. There are 15 members on the MEC and we represent all of the physicians at Oro Valley Hospital in each medical specialty that provides care. I lead the physician staff as Chief.”

“We were so surprised and honored by this unexpected gift from the Oro Valley Medical Executive Committee” said Debbie Rich, Director of Philanthropy and Communications. “It was touching to learn that many in this community of physicians had volunteered with Tu Nidito over the years”. Cameron Lewis, Chief Administrative Officer, praised the work that Tu Nidito does for those who are grieving and shared how Tu Nidito has impacted Oro Valley hospital’s patients and staff.

Tu Nidito Support Specialists and Banner Diamond Children’s Social Workers team up for seriously ill children and their families.

As you know, hospitals were closed to anyone other than patients during the pandemic. This included our Tu Nidito team of support specialists who would have been visiting with their clients regularly throughout their hospital stays. Our team works with the children, their siblings and provided respite and comfort to caregivers during what could be long arduous hospital stays. During the pandemic the team scheduled Zoom visits with clients and families, but nothing compares to our in person one to one support for children with a serious medical condition.

We missed seeing our clients in person and our partners at Banner felt the void of not having our support for their patients.

I had a chance to talk with Jamie Sanchez, LMSW, one of the Oncology Social Workers at Banner, about our renewed post pandemic connection to their team and patients. Jamie has such a tough yet rewarding job. She shared that there is so much that is unknown for the children in her care. Oftentimes she builds long term relationships with her children and families other times her patients decline quickly and die while in the hospital. Every case is different, but for Jamie, the one thing she wants for all of her patients and their families is that they be connected to Tu Nidito. It was difficult for caregivers to reach out to Tu Nidito during the pandemic. Jamie shared that they just didn’t have the energy to set up one more appointment or make one more phone call.

Jamie was relieved when the hospital started opening up again. She could refer families to Tu Nidito and our support team would once again be able to visit during the hospital stay. This makes the connection seamless and the families quickly learn the resources for comfort, hope and support they have through Tu Nidito. Jamie believes there are also great benefits for children to attend support sessions at Tu Nidito, she shared the value of the Art room, the Imagination room and of course the Volcano room.

Jamie lifted up the importance of Tu Nidito’s support for her families, sharing that our team can spend more time with her patients and be there for them when they are not in the hospital. She would like to see the Tu Nidito team facilitating group activities during clinic time and one day resuming the Family Ties support group for children with a serious medical condition and their families. For now, she is grateful that we all can connect in-person, again.

Sneak Peek- The Remarkable Celebration!

The Remarkable Celebration honoring five inspirational women, Ann Lovell, Linda Hardy, Laura Baker, Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider and Sylvia Quigley, is coming soon! We are all very excited to honor these Moms, as we raise critical funds for Tu Nidito programs. Remarkable Celebration is our largest fundraising event accounting for more than 25% of our annual budget.

Thanks to our generous community businesses and partners we have some amazing prizes again this year.

Imagine: Your Winning Bid

Private Dinner and Beverage Pairings for Ten by Janos Wilder

Janos Wilder is a true Tucson culinary treasure. A pioneer of the local foods movement, Chef Janos has passionately explored and utilized local and regional ingredients since his earliest days in 1983. Now you and 9 friends can gain some of Janos' culinary knowledge and eat his incredible food. Dinner will be held in his new, private jewel box in downtown Tucson. Janos will personally prepare your 7-meal, with beverage pairings, right in front of you and your guests. Janos was a 2000 recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest, as well as many other accolades. This is a priceless opportunity, don't miss out!

Tee off in Monterey and a 3-Night Stay

Situated along the Big Sur coastline, the Monterey Peninsula is one of California's most iconic destinations. The Monterey Peninsula is also a world renowned golf destination. Picture yourself and one guest as you prepare to tee off with a round of golf, including golf cart rental, at both The Pebble Beach Links at Spanish Bay and Del Montel Golf Courses. Your Monterey adventure includes a 3-night stay in a golf course view room (King or Double) at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa, minutes from the Regional Airport and a short drive to such world-famous attractions as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, John Steinbeck's Cannery Row, Pebble Beach, 17-mile Scenic Drive and Carmel-by-the Sea.

Taste of Inde Overnight Experience

Inde Motorsports Ranch is a members only private raceway and motorsports resort located in Wilcox. Discover what it's like to be a member! This exhilarating experience allows for unprecedented access to the most exclusive motorsports club in North America. You will have access to the 2.75 mile road course. Seat time in one of its exotic sports cars. Personal high-performance driving instruction. In-car video footage. Concierge services with catered lunch and dinner. One night stay in a Luxury Trackside Casita and access to all other amenities.

The Remarkable Silent Auction Goes Live May 4th

and includes these experiences and so much more!

Top 8 Benefits for Volunteering at Tu Nidito

Free training on facilitating conversations about grief
Boost of self-confidence and self-esteem
Provides sense of purpose
Get to know people with similar interests
Help children cope with their emotions
Learn about how to cope with your own emotions
Make a difference in children every day
Gather tools for self-care

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March Newsletter

Dear Friends:

Can you believe it is almost Spring? I love this time of year as the days get longer and our Tu Nidito kiddos have more daylight time outside on the playground during group nights. It is such a joy to watch them connect and hear their laughter as they find moments of joy and blossom in their new-found friendships.

Our programs are blossoming as well. For the first time in a very long time we have a waiting list for our Children to Children program. It is difficult to tell families that they need to wait to join a group. I am proud of our team for finding innovative ways to serve these families as they wait for an opening. Whether it is a phone call to check in or providing an activity that can be done at home, we are letting these families know that they are not grieving alone.

Our Grief Education and Response work is growing, with trainings facilitated for school districts, individual schools and the County School Superintendent’s team. Our response team has recently been deployed to three incidents. We are always ready to help in these situations and hope that our presence provides comfort and understanding.

We have seen increased need for one on one support for children with a serious medical condition. Our partnership with Banner Diamond Children’s Hospital has become stronger as we are now able to return to the hospital for patient visits. We will be providing support during clinics, in the coming months.

Tu Nidito is blossoming, and we want you to know we could not meet the needs of our grieving community without you, our partners, our donors, our volunteers and our families.

Enjoy this beautiful Tucson time of year.

Yours,

Liz McCusker

Take a Look at What Tu Nidito Children Are Doing in March...

The Way I Feel Read by Sophia Dunne

“When Someone Dies, We Might Have

All Kinds of Different Feelings at Once.”

With Spring right around the corner, this month Tu Nidito is creating space for our children to reflect on their feelings. Our Littles are learning about feelings when reading “The Way I Feel” by Janan Cain and the Middles are reading “My Favorite Color is Blue, Sometimes.” By Roger Hutchison. Following the book, our group coordinators are facilitating a fun activity for our kiddos to visually express their big feelings through art. In our Teens group, we will be sharing how we cope through music. Our teens are asked to reflect on a song that relates to their grief, along with a song that lifts them up. Each teen will be given a chance to share with the group the songs that have helped them in their grief journey.

Tu Nidito Littles and Middles are creating spin art to visually show that we can have a lot of different feelings at once. In our talking circle, one by one, each kid will sit in the center of the circle. They will share 2 or 3 of their big feelings they have had since the death of their special person. Then, they will choose a color of paint they associate with each feeling. In a salad spinner, a facilitator will drop paint for each of the kid’s emotions onto a round disk. Then to create their spin art, we spin the salad spinner. After a few spins, they get to see their many big emotions come together to make beautiful art. We hope for our kids to learn that having all kinds of different feelings is ok and everyone is allowed to feel them.

Did you know?

Women are more likely to express their feelings of grief with other people. They may be more willing to seek out connections and accept the help of others. During grief, women may be more likely to:

-Feel isolated.
-Try to connect with others.
-Feel frustration with others’ inability to share grief.

Women may try to cope by:

-Talking about their grief.
-Seeking support.
-Creating new social networks.
-Questioning or blaming others.
-Expressing grief through writing.

There is no typical or “normal” grief response. It is common to have a variety of feelings and behaviors. For most people, some responses will be typical of gender. Others will not be. The important thing is that each person feels like their grief is accepted and supported by other family members.

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Enterprise Rent-A-Car Golf Tournament

Saturday, May 20, 2023

7am Registration

8am Shotgun Start

6200 N Club House Lane, Tucson, AZ 85750

We hope that you will consider sponsoring and/or playing in the event once again this year. This will mark the 33^rd Annual Enterprise Rent-A-Car Golf Tournament benefiting Tu Nidito. Last year we raised close to $22,000 to support Tu Nidito’s efforts in the community.

-Glenn Z

February Newsletter

In Light of her Retirement, a Message from Linda:

My last day of work at Tu Nidito is in just a couple weeks, so I can’t put off writing this farewell letter any longer. After 31 years, it is difficult to say goodbye. What brought me to this work was the death of my mother to breast cancer when she was 47 and I was 15. I didn’t have a Tu Nidito – a place to be with others who could understand what I was going through and support me. I felt so alone.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, I learned quickly that there were support groups for both my husband and me, but nothing for my teenage daughter. When I completed treatment, I was able to start a program here at Tu Nidito for children who have a parent with a serious medical condition. Tu Nidito has been a pioneer in creating new programming for unmet needs in our community and I am proud to have been a part of that. These programs have provided a space to be comforted, understood, supported and cared for to ensure that no one feels the isolation of being alone in their feelings and choosing less than ideal strategies to fill that void.

In the last weeks as I have been preparing for my retirement, I have been filled with memories. Memories of the families that I have learned so much from and who trusted us during the most difficult days of their lives. Memories of the staff members, volunteers, board members, donors, community members and others who have made a Tu Nidito possible with their generosity of time and resources.

I leave with abundant gratitude for all those who have made this place what it is today and for a future where the healing continues. This little nest is in the good hands of those who love it as much as I do.

Sincerely,

Linda Hardy

A Note from our Board Chair: Richard Thompson

I am excited and honored to serve as your Board Chair this year. As I begin my term I wanted to reach out to all of you and share an important volunteer opportunity. Tu Nidito is strategically working to expand our Board of Directors. Last week, I took a look at the 2022 year-end statistics for our program participants and was incredibly moved by the depth and breadth of the diversity of the community we serve. I realized that our Board is not as representative of our community as we would like it to be. It is important for our Board of Directors to lift up the voices of those we serve in our programs and represent the fabric of southern Arizona. If you are interested in learning more about our Board service opportunities, please reach out to me at [email protected] or Liz McCusker [email protected]. Volunteering on the Board is open to past volunteers and program participants as well as representative from the community at large.

A Moving Experience,

Volunteer Training

By: Debbie Rich

I got up on a beautiful Saturday morning to attend the Tu Nidito volunteer training that was held on January 28th. As a new employee, I was excited to learn about the volunteer training and meet our incoming volunteers. I noticed that I was running a few minutes late, but wasn’t too concerned – saying to myself, “this is Tucson, no one is ever on time”. I drove into the parking lot and it was packed at 8:55. Everyone was inside ready to go, waiting for the day to start.

Dive Deeper

Kendra Gives Back Event

Meet Tu Nidito at Kendra Scott at La Encantada on Thursday February 9, from 12pm to 2pm. Enjoy sips, sweets & shopping for good! 20% of sales will go to Tu Nidito when you mention us at checkout.

Can't make it? Shop online using code GIVEBACK-DMNUU on Thursday 02/09 and Friday 09/10

Shop Now

A new resource to care for all you love

You’ve supported us in lifting up children, young adults, and each other as we grieve deaths of
those we love, and we’re so grateful to have you on this journey. With deep gratitude, we’re sharing our new partnership with FreeWill: an estate planning resource you can use to make or update your will in just 20 minutes for free—no matter where you are in your life journey. Having an up-to-date will is critical for protecting your loved ones and securing your future. Creating a community of acceptance and understanding for everyone grieving a serious medical condition or death begins with keeping one another safe, so begin your plans today!

Tickets Now Available!

Save the date for The Remarkable Celebration, Mamma Mia! May 13, 2023 at 6pm at The Tucson Country Club.

Celebrating Laura Baker, Linda Hardy, Ann Lovell, Sylvia Quigley and Laurie Wetterschneider.

Buy Tickets Now!

Did you know?

The #1 coping strategy for those grieving is spending more time with family and friends. Almost a full 50% of those grieving intensely say spending more time with friends and family is extremely helpful. Here are the top 5 coping strategies:

Listening to music

Spiritual practices

Reading books

Exercising

Being creative

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January Newsletter

Dear Friends:

We welcome 2023 in with some major announcements, Linda Hardy, our Executive Program Director, will be retiring as of February 10, 2023 after over 30 years of service to our children, families and volunteers. Join me in thanking Linda for her incredible work with Tu Nidito and wishing her the very best in retirement. I am happy to announce that Brigid Frasquillo will assume all program director duties, Serena Sahajian has been promoted to Bereavement Programs Manager, and Kristin Harrison has been promoted to Lead Support Specialist. These three dynamic individuals are ready to lead our programs into the future with steadfast commitment to our mission to create a community of acceptance and understanding for those who grieve. We are also welcoming Alanna Castro to the Tu Nidito family as our Office Manager and Lynda Stites as our Coordinator of Volunteer Services.

Richard Thompson has become Board Chair as we thank Aditi Gupta for serving as Board Chair for the last 5 years and through the many changes of the pandemic. Aditi has been a great partner in leadership and will continue as the Immediate Past Chair in 2023. We say goodbye to Board members, Miguel Cruz and Lisa Owens- Sredzinski and thank them for their service and support.

On the horizon for 2023 is a return of in-person events for our families and volunteers. We are looking forward to special teen nights, family gatherings, and volunteer workshops and social activities. We know building connections outside of the support group setting will add depth to the special bonds that are forged at Tu Nidito.

Speaking of getting back to in-person gatherings, we will host several fun special events this year alongside our sponsors and donors. Mamma Mia the Remarkable Celebration is set for Saturday May 13, 2023, under the stars at Tucson Country Club, honoring five incredible women while dancing the night away to the songs of AbbaFab. Dueling Pianos returns on Friday September 8, 2023 at the beautiful Arts Express Theater in Park Place. In October the amazing Flores family of El Charro and Don Guerra of Barrio Bread will host Day of the Bread in Celebration of Dias de los Muertos and Ambassadors will once again Ride for a Child in El Tour de Tucson 2023. These are just a few of the events we have planned to raise critical funds for Tu Nidito programs.

2023 will bring children and families together to receive the support they need as they grieve a serious medical diagnosis or death. We are grateful that each of you will walk this journey with us as we lift up those who are grieving.

Yours,

Liz McCusker, ED

Learn about what to expect on your first visit by Bilingual Support Specialist Amerika McDaniel

Meet our Remarkable Moms!

Laura Baker

Linda Hardy

Ann Lovell

Sylvia Quigley

Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider

Tu Nidito Children and Family Services is proud to announce the 2023 Remarkable Moms who will be honored on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at our signature event, The Remarkable Celebration. A Remarkable Mom is the heart of our community. Remarkable Moms exemplify qualities of compassion, kindness and resilience, as they share themselves with not only their families but with our entire community. Often times overcoming hardships of their own.

Laura Baker- Laura is mom to 20-year-old Jordan. Laura served over 20 years in the fire service carrying the message of women’s proficiency and ability amongst largely male ranks. Retiring as the first woman to serve as Assistant Chief, she led with her strength of physical and moral character having fought fires, nursed babies and saved lives through courage and kindness. Laura and her dear friend and colleague, Chief Cheryl Horvath, founded Camp Fury, the immersion program for girls with an interest in public service. Laura was married to the love her life, Jacki deHaro, who was also a firefighter and succumbed to occupational lung cancer in 2020. Laura, herself a breast cancer survivor, and daughter Jordan, were by Jacki’s side as she battled the disease.

Linda Hardy- Linda is mom to Sierra, grandmother to Colton, wife to Skyler, and mentor to many. Linda has dedicated her life for over 30 years to the mission of supporting grieving children and families. Her nominators all champion her for changing their lives as she created programs that gave them space to grieve. Experiencing the death of her mother to breast cancer at the age of 15 gave Linda her depth of compassion and empathy for those who grieve. In 2005, when Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer, she showed grace and resilience throughout her treatment and maintained her sense of humor and optimism. Linda is exuberant, she feels with her whole heart, and she radiates joy. Linda will retire from Tu Nidito in February and is long deserving of this honor.

Ann Lovell – “Ann raised six children, two she birthed and four she inherited in a divorce. Ann treated all 6 children equally without any differentiation.” said her partner Tom Warne. Ann was there for every one of her children, never missing an event or an opportunity teach them a new skill. Her daughter shared, “she taught us how to be good humans”. Along with raising her children, Ann is an accomplished business woman and philanthropist. She is the chair of the Lovell Foundation which has provided over $9,000,000 in support of Pima County and statewide approaches to acknowledging, preparing for, understanding, and supporting families and community organizations as they engage with serious illness, end of life, and associated grief.

Sylvia Quigley – Sylvia is mom to Christopher and the widow of marine, Thomas Quigley. Sylvia and Christopher attended Tu Nidito for 2.5 years. As a single mom, Sylvia held down a variety of jobs while serving as an inspiration to Christopher. Christopher credits his mom for the man he is today. Sylvia became a Tu Nidito volunteer 6 years ago and continues to support Tu Nidito families to this day. She is a role model to all of her co-facilitators and the adults she serves in support groups. She readily shares how Tu Nidito shaped her experiences as a single grieving mother. Sylvia’s warmth, resilience and commitment in action define her. As her co-facilitator shares, “she gets it all – death and grief, life and hope.” Sylvia has maintained contact with her Marine Corps family and was selected as the Marine Corps League Chaplain. She also is active in church ministries and is always ready to jump in to serve and support those in need.

Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider – Laurie’s husband Larry shared, “Laurie is a wonderful step mother to daughter Elan and has spent her life supporting thousands of other children”. Laurie leads by example as a donor, a volunteer fundraiser and advocate for the causes she believes in. Laurie has served in leadership roles in dozens of organizations, always ready to share her wisdom and guidance, as she works to create better conditions for youth. Laurie has built strong relationships with the youth she has been involved with over the years and she is devoted to their success. Laurie’s commitment to service extends to our community’s foundational organizations like Tucson Medical Center and United Way of Southern Arizona. In more recent years, Laurie has become an advocate for honoring End of Life Care wishes after the somewhat sudden death of her father through her work with United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona and Hospice Giving Foundation of Monterey County.

It is difficult to share brief biographies of these Remarkable Women. Each one of these Moms has given of their time, treasures and talent to make our community better for children. We hope that you will join us at the Remarkable Celebration on Saturday, May 13th, 2023, to fully experience their lives as we celebrate them with their families and friends. Through honoring these women, you honor and support our community’s grieving children.

Did you know?

Death has an intergenerational impact. Among adults who lost a parent when they were growing up, 79% said that when they became a parent, they missed having the guidance of the parent who died. 80% said the experience was the hardest thing they ever had to face. Learn more here.

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Volunteer Newsletter

A Message from Brigid:

Hello Wonderful Tu Nidito Volunteers!

I am so happy to be writing this letter to you all. I have been at Tu Nidito for nine years now, but started long before that as a volunteer. When I discovered Tu Nidito, I knew I had found my calling. I'm sure that's how many of you feel as well, that you have found a place that adds a deep sense of meaning to your lives. It feels important that we can share in that connection together. In my life I have experienced important changes and those changes have brought about important opportunities for growth. My new role as Director of Program Impact will bring more of those opportunities and that excites me. I feel ready, especially as Tu Nidito embarks on a new chapter of growing through grief. I am so happy to continue to grow alongside all of you.

Thank you for who you are and what you do.

Warmly,

Brigid Frasquillo

Director of Program Impact

A Message from Lynda:

It has been delightful to meet our Volunteers, though it is taking me longer than I had anticipated to get around to all of you!

I continue to be amazed by the dedication and compassion our volunteers display every time they show up to group. I am also inspired by the way so many volunteers go above and beyond, either participating in multiple groups or by agreeing to substitute in groups that are short-handed.

Our volunteer training in January introduced new and enthusiastic volunteers, who are now all placed in groups. You should be seeing them in your groups soon.

We are revving up for our Abba-themed Remarkable Celebration on May 13, fittingly titled “Mamma Mia.” This year we are excited to honor our volunteer Sylvia Quigley as a 2023 Remarkable Mom. Sylvia and her son Chris attended Tu Nidito after her husband’s death. She wanted to provide other families with the support she and Chris received. She began volunteering as an adult facilitator and has continued with us for over a decade.

We are looking for fun-loving volunteers for The Remarkable Celebration to help with the Silent Auction, greeting our celebrants, welcoming guests, and other important tasks to make this fundraiser a success. Please let me know if you would like to rock your Abba spirit and help us with this annual event!

Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to meeting you all!

Sincerely,

Lynda Stites

Coordinator of Volunteer Services

Shout Outs

For Adding an Extra Group Night

Maddi Smith

Ben Gerber

Rachel Davenport

For the Most Hours Given in 2022

117 Hours Each!

Lew Hamburger

Sophia Dunne

For Taking on the Task of Re-Organizing the Tu Nidito Lending Library

Maria Schuchardt

For Offering an Introductory Experience to Meditation

(this will happen next weekend)

Marianna Maddocks

The Spotlight

Mary Wallace "Arms Wide Open"

Have you ever felt someone’s energy through a phone call? It is rare for me, but when I spoke with our Tu Nidito volunteer, Mary Wallace, I felt her energy - and her warmth, compassion and sense of humor. Mary came to Tucson after having lived 30 years in Los Angeles as a television reporter, producer, director and writer.

Her work took her on travels around the country, meeting real life people and sharing their stories through segments and series on HBO, NBC and PBS. She loved her work and shared “I had fun almost every day.”

Mary came to grief work after having her best friend die from breast cancer. Although she had experienced grief before, the death of this friend moved her to explore grief support groups in her area. She landed at one in at Glendale Adventist hospital. During her 8 months with the group she grew into the role of facilitator. She found grief work extremely fulfilling and helped to start a group for adults grieving a death by suicide.

She had! This person was Tu Nidito’s Support Specialist (now Bereavement Programs Manager) Serena Sahajian. Mary was so happy to see Serena and shared that it gave her the strength to go forward through the world with her arms wide open.

Mary values Tu Nidito’s grief support programs because they are experiential and not just rhetoric. She found her heart with the Middles and shared, “I love the Middles because they are ages 8-12 and so am I. It is a high honor to walk with these kids and it means so much to be with them – to giggle with them and cry with them.” Completing her thought with, “we cry because there isn’t a definitive answer.” Mary ended the conversation with, “in many ways my heart would sometimes miss a beat without Tu Nidito.”

Mary is enjoying her retirement. She fills her time with art of all kinds. Once a year she finds herself in the small town of Dillion Montana fly fishing, which is her passion. She has only missed one season in the last 20 years. She describes her time there as spiritual “there is so much room for me there and we have a million laughs together as we fish the clear fresh waters.”

Mary is a Tu Nidito treasure. Her energy is effusive. Her passion and compassion are contagious. It was an honor to learn her story and to share it with all of you.

A Moving Experience: Volunteer Training

by Debbie Rich

Saturday, January 28 — I was greeted by Lynda Stites, our coordinator of Volunteer Services, I could feel her warmth and excitement for the upcoming day. The Tu Nidito living room was full, only one empty seat remained. I looked around at the 25 incoming volunteers and I could feel the same warmth I felt from Lynda. This was going to be an amazing day.

Serena Sahajian, Bereavement Programs Manager, and Amerika McDaniel, Bi-lingual Support Specialist, were set to lead the training. Together these 2 individuals embody all that Tu Nidito aspires to provide for clients and volunteers: warmth, empathy, calm, curiosity and that important spark of joy. I could tell they were totally prepared to hold this space and ensure that these volunteers had the tools and perspective they would need to be effective with our clients.

Jumping right into the day, they posed a check-in question evoking connection with the group. The simple act of moving from person to person to learn their names and what brought them to the training created community. Everyone was there for the same reason, to learn, listen and absorb the empathetic energy it takes to support those who grieve. I was taken aback by the attendees, the group was comprised of college students, retirees, working folks and a few past program clients. Each one had a deep connection to Tu Nidito’s mission of creating a community of acceptance and understanding for those grieving a serious medical condition or death. Not all had firsthand experience, yet all had the desire to be of service.

I was immersed in the learning and the tools and tactics Serena and Amerika shared to ready us all to support those grieving. When I think of what stood out most, these words come to mind, “trust the process; I will never know how you feel, and I am here for you; everyone has the tools to work through grief, our service is to walk alongside them; turn to a child and say… I am listening.” Such powerful tools!

I asked Lynda, Serena and Amerika to share their “AHA” moments…

Lynda responded, “I was really impressed by the trainers, Serena and Amerika, and their breadth of knowledge and insight, as well as their preparation and attention to detail. Our volunteer trainees were all engaged and asked good questions. I thought our group had some diversity that will benefit our families.”

Serena reflected, “What struck me the most, was how this group of volunteers already had a great foundation of knowledge around how to support and be empathetic. The way they were able to provide examples on why certain phrases or actions were helpful or unhelpful from their own personal grief experiences not only showed us, as staff, that they are going to make great facilitators, but also provided additional training material for their peers in the group. I was really blown away by that!”

Amerika shared “Something that stood out to me was before going on our tour of Tu Nidito, we went over reflective/active listening and how important it is to parrot back what the kids are saying so that they know we are listening. During our mocking talking circle all of the volunteers participated in the parroting process, which was really neat to see!”

Stay tuned for the next volunteer training dates and join us for the magic of Tu Nidito.

Top 7 Self-Care Activities

We know that as a volunteer you care very deeply about our children and their grief process. Because you give so much of yourself, it is essential to find space and practice self-care. Here are the top 7 Self-Care activities to consider:

Buy an adult coloring book. Try Johanna Basford’s collection!
Dance to your favorite music. Discover new music to dance to.
Go outside for a walk. Take a look at the best 10 trails in Tucson.
Do some gardening. Explore Tucson Community Gardens.
Try a creative DIY project or join a local creative workshop.
Listen to a motivational podcast. Here are some of the best.
Use aromatherapy. Here’s a list of essential oils for stress relief and sleep.

Introducing FreeWill

A new resource to care for all you love

Since our heartfelt beginnings in 1994, we’ve focused on producing high-quality programming that meets the needs of the grieving community. We're so grateful to have your support in lifting up children, young adults, and each other grieving death and walking with one another on the journey.

Today, we want to share a significant act of care you can complete for all you love—no matter where you are in your life’s journey. Around 67% of American adults do not have an up-to-date will, but it’s an essential document for protecting the special people in your life, identifying a guardian for your minor children or pets, and getting peace of mind.

We're excited to announce that we’ve partnered with FreeWill: an estate planning resource that helps you make a will in just 20 minutes for free.

Complete my FreeWill

Because of you, we ensure that those who grieve are not alone. So with gratitude, we wanted to provide you with a tool that makes will-writing simple. FreeWill is a team of 200+ engineers, lawyers, nonprofit professionals, and designers committed to making the estate planning process more accessible for all.

Creating a community of acceptance and understanding for those grieving a serious medical condition or death begins with keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe, so complete this act of care for yourself today!

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Mary Wallace “Arms Wide Open”

Volunteer Spotlight:
Mary Wallace “Arms Wide Open”

By Debbie Rich

Have you ever felt someone’s energy through a phone call? It is rare for me, but when I spoke with our Tu Nidito volunteer, Mary Wallace, I felt her energy – and her warmth, compassion and sense of humor. Mary came to Tucson after having lived 30 years in Los Angeles as a television reporter, producer, director and writer. Her work took her on travels around the country, meeting real life people and sharing their stories through segments and series on HBO, NBC and PBS. She loved her work and shared “I had fun almost every day.”

Mary came to grief work after having her best friend die from breast cancer. Although she had experienced grief before, the death of this friend moved her to explore grief support groups in her area. She landed at one in at Glendale Adventist Hospital. During her 8 months with the group she grew into the role of facilitator. She found grief work extremely fulfilling and helped to start a group for adults grieving a death by suicide.

Fast forward to Mary’s retirement to Tucson. She found Tu Nidito after exploring volunteer opportunities to work with those grieving. She shared, “while at Tu Nidito’s one night, I spotted someone who was so familiar to me and I asked if she had attended a grief support group at Adventist Hospital in Glendale?” She had! This person was Tu Nidito’s Support Specialist (now Bereavement Programs Manager) Serena Sahajian. Mary was so happy to see Serena and shared that it gave her the strength to go forward through the world with her arms wide open.

Mary is a Tu Nidito treasure. Her energy is effusive. Her passion and compassion are contagious. It was an honor to learn her story and to share it with all of you.

Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight Barnard Mthembu

The Remarkable Celebration 2023 Wrap Up

THANK YOU!

LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES

Laura Baker

Linda Hardy

Ann Lovell

Sylvia Quigley

Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider

Thank You Sponsors!

Mamma Mia! Presenting Sponsor

Dancing Queen Sponsor

Take A Chance on Me Sponsors

SOS Sponsors

Larry Wetterschneider

Super Trouper Sponsors

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Golf Tournament

Mary Wallace “Arms Wide Open”

Volunteer Spotlight:
Mary Wallace “Arms Wide Open”

OUR LINKS

contact us

Volunteer Spotlight Barnard Mthembu

THANK YOU!

LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES

Laura Baker

Linda Hardy

Ann Lovell

Sylvia Quigley

Laurie Nelson Wetterschneider

Thank You Sponsors!

Mamma Mia! Presenting Sponsor

Dancing Queen Sponsor

Take A Chance on Me Sponsors

SOS Sponsors

Larry Wetterschneider

Super Trouper Sponsors

Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Wallace “Arms Wide Open”

OUR LINKS

contact us

Volunteer Spotlight:
Mary Wallace “Arms Wide Open”