MEDIA FACT SHEET: Losing Our Parents

October 8, 2008

MEDIA FACT SHEET
Losing Our Parents

Background:

Losing Our Parents is a new Canadian registered charity, formed by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of business, health and social work professionals. Dedicated to Helping You and Honouring Them is the vision behind Losing Our Parents. Its mission is to offer support and education to people who are coping with the declining health or death of a parent.

Losing Our Parents will be launched on October 23rd in Aurora, Ontario. The Board has developed a strategic plan that will help people all over the world through its interactive website and organized group retreats. It will reach out to thousands by providing information, outreach and connection to everyone who shares this journey.

The Charity:

The Board of Directors, other organizers and volunteers of Losing Our Parents have experienced the stress, sorrow and pain of losing parents and are determined to help others. They will offer a forum for people to share their stories and celebrate the lives and gifts of their loved ones. This journey often begins with the decline in a parent’s physical and mental health, years before death actually occurs. Many people are grieving while still caring for their parents and feel isolated and vulnerable. Losing Our Parents plans to offer education and establish mutual support groups, including retreats.

Website:

www.losingourparents.com.

The website, which will be the “heart” of the charity, is scheduled to go live on November 10th. Users will be able to share their experiences, support each other and even volunteer online through an environmentally responsible network that connects them to countless others. The website will meet the needs of those who do not have the time, motivation or financial resources to join traditional sharing / grieving programs. Anyone can participate and receive peer support, whether at home, work or school, in a hospital or at an internet café. The website and education programs will link users, allowing them to learn from each other, honour their parents and feel better as they help each other.

As people go through this difficult chapter in their lives, each will have personal experiences they can share with others. This will be key to learning and helping each other. Various sections of the site will encourage input at all stages of coping with a parents’ declining health, death and the aftermath.

Fund Raising:

The website will also support the fund-raising activities of Losing Our Parents. Funds raised will be used to carry out the charitable activities and programs of the charity, as well as distributed as donations to other qualified charitable organizations that support the mission and vision of Losing our Parents, such as hospices that care for parents. Losing Our Parents also hopes to receive financial support through donations or grants from individuals, corporations and government agencies.