Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
Legal Name (if Different): William Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
Also Known As: Wendt
Mailing Address: 4201 Connecticut Ave #300
City: Washington
State: DC
Postal Code: 20008
Main Phone: (202) 624 0010
Main Fax: (202) 624 0062
Organization Website: www.wendtcenter.org
Employer ID Number: 52-1095105
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 02/28/2023
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Camp Forget Me Not
Project Description:

Camp Forget-Me-Not is a free, therapeutic grief camp for children 7-17. Most campers reside in DC’s lowest-income neighborhoods. Wendt hosts three one-week versions of the camp, divided by age group. Participants are co-survivors of homicide, or other death tradegies. Camp incorporates play, movement, art, drama, and cooking. Groups are facilitated by therapists. Campers to adult ratio is 1:1—with trained volunteers and therpists. Activities are designed to address stages of grief and supplement the loss that campers feel with coping skills, good memories, and practices to process emotions.

To enhance and extend camp experience, Wendt hosts virtual workshops for families across the Fall and Winter. Workshops incorporate the same elements as camp to unite families in shared healing space. Workshops strengthen parenting skills, enhance the home as a protective and healing place. A video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap3nh8UnkvQ

40+ negative health outcomes and five of 10 leading causes of death are rooted in childhood trauma. In 2022 DC had 203 homicides, 19 of which were children—more than double the amount of previous two years. This proposal is written on 2/27/2023, in the two months of 2023 there have been 35 homicides—a 40% year over year increase. There has been a 125% increase in rapes. Crimes are concentrated in Wards7-8, intensifying trauma and grief there.

YOUTH: 1 in 11 DC youth experience the death of a parent or sibling before turning 18—this translates to an estimated 11,000 youth bereaved. Among youth deaths, homicide is the #1 cause (33%). Aside from birth-related deaths, suicide is the #3 cause of death among youth. (CDC Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, CDC).

Total Project Budget: 116,573

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Funders for 2023 camp and some are multi-year funders. George Preston Marshall Fund: $20,000 Eluna Founation: $5,000 Cafritiz Foundation: $20,000 Individual Donors: $40,000 New York Life/National Alliance for Children’s Grief $25.000 Tony Robbins (pending) $20,000

Project Duration: June 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Geographical Area Served: Washington DC Metro Area
Age Group To Be Served: 7-17

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Tess
Contact Last Name: Bolder
Contact Title: Development Associate and Therapist
Contact Phone: (401) 369-2803
Contact Email: tbolder@wendtcenter.org