A reflection on 2023 and the grief community as a whole

With 2023 officially behind us, it feels like the perfect time for some reflections. So we here at Gloves for Grief took a moment to do just that. 

Although we just received our 501(c)(3) status in March, 2023, we were still able to:

• host 5 boxing/wellness events
• offer a Grief Workshop using Art Therapy for healing
• serve 375 people at our wellness events
• provide 3 $100 Grocery/ Food delivery Gift Cards to families in acute grief
• hold 2 Grief Retreats for families over Mother’s Day weekend (with all-expense-paid getaways in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach)

All of that in just 8 months of operating as a nonprofit! 

But it’s the people that we’ve met and the families we’ve supported that have made our journey to this point so extraordinary. People like…

• Trina, who lost her son Ori at birth due to a life-threatening genetic condition.
• And Sandy, who lost her son Patrick in the line of duty in Porterville, CA (we shared her daughter Katie’s story this fall and how their family will be wearing their Gloves for Grief in February and Punching for Patrick).

Both Trina and Sandy (along with their families) were provided a safe space for healing and beautiful accommodations, as well as our continued support – because we know all too well that grief has no expiration date.

It’s truly remarkable to see how much we’ve grown and how far we’ve come in these 8 short months. We don’t for a second take for granted the incredible support we receive from our donors and sponsors. 

And because of you, it’s with great excitement and humility that we look forward to the impact we’ll make in 2024. 

A little sneak peek at some of the BIG events already inked in our plans: 

• 4 local community events
• 2 travel events in Northern California and Los Angeles
• 3 Art Therapy experiences
• 2 walk/run charity event partnerships
• 3 significant charitable contributions to other external grief support groups that align with our mission (because we believe in supporting others who support others)
• 12 – 2-night retreats for grieving families in need
• 240 1-on-1 mental health therapy sessions (free of charge), with a goal of providing 20 sessions a month

As you can see, we have no plans of slowing down!

Our very first travel event in 2024 will be our Fallen Fighter Memorial on February 17th in Porterville, CA. You can help to get us (and all our gear) there by donating directly to this first-of-its-kind event in honor of Captain Ray Figueroa and Firefighter Patrick Jones, both lost in the line of duty.

By supporting Gloves for Grief’s 2024 goals, you can be an essential part of some of the other amazing resources and events we’re bringing to our grief community as well. 

Here are some other ways you can make your support efforts really pack a punch and offer a priceless sense of peace to grieving families this year:

• sponsor a bag at one of our community events
• shop our catalog of gear and apparel or purchase a gift card for as little as $30
• choose an amount that fits your budget on our donations page
• contact us directly for sponsorship opportunities

And remember, your donations are tax-deductible!

In the kind and unforgettable words of Fallen Firefighter Patrick Jones…

Ask.

Receive.

Believe.