With Your Generous Support, We Are Making the World a More Livable Place for All Bereaved People
By Joyal Mulheron
Ten years ago, no one talked about bereavement‘s impact on our nation or our lives. Today, bereavement is highlighted in major media outlets, in the halls of Congress, and in our communities. Together, we are making lasting social change for all bereaved people.
Right now, there is no major philanthropist or foundation that funds bereavement policy and systems change. Evermore is only supported by ‘the people.’
It sounds cliché, I know. I, too, receive donation solicitations saying the same thing, but here, for us, for Evermore, it’s true. We are only supported by everyday Americans who believe in our work and the future we envision.
Our work and success would not be possible without your support.
We’ve been able to achieve substantial change on a shoestring budget, but it is just that…a shoestring. As large scale changes are underway, we are being pulled in more directions than ever to ensure that the foundations of bereavement care and support in America are of the highest quality and meet the needs of all people.
In 2024 alone, Evermore has facilitated America’s:
> First report to Congress on grief and bereavement,
> First federal healthcare report on grief and bereavement (it’s still in progress), and
> First federal meeting on the issue.
Evermore worked with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the nation’s chief mental health agency, to:
> Recognize National Grief Awareness Week for the first time.
> Release its first webpage on grief and bereavement,
> Host two webinars on the topic, where 2,000 people registered for one webinar!
We partnered with the Social Security Administration and The White House to advance systems that identify and engage orphaned children and their caregivers to confer up to $15 billion in Social Security benefits. Today, more than half of all orphans are not receiving the benefits their parents earned. This needs to change.
👉 If you know a child under the age of 18 who has experienced the death of a parent, they may be eligible for the Social Security benefits their parents earned. You can learn more about this little known economic benefit here, or you can share Evermore’s guidance on how to navigate the Social Security Administration for obtaining these benefits. Be forewarned, it is a process and we are working to change that.
We launched a bi-weekly scientific newsletter to complement our community newsletter (if you don’t receive our newsletters sign up here). You shared photos of your loved ones, sent us treasured family recipes. You introduced us to important community programming, where Evermore could lend support to programs such as a Hip Hop program in the South Bronx.
With Evermore’s Poet Laureate Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, we hosted poetry workshops that created community poetry and shared your moving personal stories and experiences (you can sign up for our next workshop in March 2025).
Evermore launched an initiative to secure bereavement leave for students in post-secondary educational institutions. You’ll hear some exciting updates about this work in 2025.
And, we partnered with Newsweek, spotlighting stories of bereaved parents and how they have coped in the aftermath of their child’s death (if you’re interested in submitting a story, learn more here).
We even hosted our first benefit rock concert with The Bright Light Social Hour, Parker Woodland, and others. I hope you can plan to join us next Fall in Austin, Texas!
Thought leaders and decision-makers are increasingly taking note of the significant transformations that are underway.
Over the last year, our work was featured on PBS NewsHour’s Brief But Spectacular and Harvard’s Public Health magazine, among others.
All of this has been possible because of you and your support.
Thousands of you have believed in our vision and the tomorrow we hold. It has been both humbling and inspiring.
Please consider making a donation today. So many people are relying on us to make the world a more livable place for all bereaved people. 2025 holds so much more, and I can’t wait to share what’s in the works!
Thank you for encouragement, support, and the opportunity to lead this change.
With love,
Joyal Mulheron
Founder & Executive Director, Evermore