In the News · April 21, 2025
Helping Grieving Kids Find Comfort
WILX shares a look at Ele’s Place and its work supporting grieving children and families.
Stories. News.
People With Heart.
Family reflections. People who give their time. Moments of connection across Michigan. Meet the community around Ele’s Place.
Community Voices
In Our Families’ Words
A child’s artwork from the Ele’s Place collection.
Community Voices
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From the Story Archive
Friends Who Understand
For Kennedy, Ele’s Place meant finding friends who understood what it felt like to miss her dad.
Volunteer Highlight
Coming Full Circle
A childhood participant returned as an intern, then found his place supporting children in groups.
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Community News Archive
Browse the Archive by Source Date
2025–2026 (10)
- Be There November Brings Children’s Grief Awareness to Michigan · FOX 17 Community Partners · November 5, 2026 · Original feature
- Chelsea Kiwanis Hears How Ele’s Place Supports Grieving Children · The Chelsea Post · August 22, 2026 · Original feature
- The Hoeksema Family Shares Its Connection to Ele’s Place · FOX 17 Morning Mix · June 26, 2026 · Original feature
- Ann Arbor’s Ninth Derby Day Soirée · Ann Arbor Observer · May 2, 2026 (event date)
- How Adam Starr Helped Bring Ele’s Place to Grand Rapids · FOX 17 · April 24, 2026 · Original feature
- Olivia Wilder Talks With WEMU About Grief Support · WEMU · April 13, 2026 · Original feature
- Ann Arbor’s Fifth Healing Hearts Family Walk and Run · The Sun Times News · September 14, 2025 (event date) · Original event listing
- A Second Michigan Athletics Honor Recognizes Community Service · Michigan Athletics · July 31, 2025 · University announcement
- From a Family Group to Facilitating for Others · WILX News 10 · April 22, 2025 · Original feature
- Michigan Hockey’s Community Involvement Recognized in April Award · Michigan Athletics · April 11, 2025 · University announcement
2020–2024 (13)
- WEMU Talks With Kate Powers About Grief During the Holidays · WEMU · December 23, 2024 · Original feature
- Children’s Grief Awareness Day in Lansing · WILX · November 21, 2024 · Original feature
- Ann Arbor Families Make Remembrance Candles Together · Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · July–December 2023
- West Michigan Invites Volunteers to Become Group Facilitators · FOX 17 · July 11, 2023 · Original feature
- Art, Music and Play at Ann Arbor’s Home for Healing Hearts · Crazy Wisdom Community Journal · May 1, 2023 · Original feature
- Winter Group Nights in Ann Arbor in 2023 · Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · March 30, 2023
- Junior League of Flint Collects Supplies for Ele’s Place · Junior League of Flint · February 13, 2023 · Original event listing
- Ele’s Place Announces Jennifer Wolfe Howard’s Appointment in 2022 · WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · November 26, 2022 · Original feature
- Fifteen Years of Ele’s Place in Ann Arbor · Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · 2022
- Families Return to Ann Arbor Groups in Fall 2021 · Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · December 15, 2021
- What Happens When a Family Calls Ele’s Place? · WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · January 22, 2021 · Original feature
- An Ann Arbor Distiller Creates the Red Hearted Julep · WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · December 11, 2020 · Original feature
- How the Flint Branch Stayed in Touch With Families in 2020 · Ele’s Place · 2020
2010–2019 (19)
- Ann Arbor Families Welcome a Home for Healing Hearts · WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · September 30, 2019 · Original feature
- The Ellis Family Shares Its Story Before the Healing Hearts Breakfast · FOX 17 · May 28, 2019 · Original feature
- University of Michigan Greek Week Includes Ele’s Place · University of Michigan Fraternity & Sorority Life · 2019 · University announcement
- How a Breakfast Brought Jaime Counterman to Ele’s Place · Rapid Growth · October 4, 2018 · Original feature
- Breaking Ground on Ann Arbor’s Home for Healing Hearts · Ann Arbor Observer · August 10, 2018 · Original feature
- West Michigan Marks Five Years of Peer Grief Support · West Michigan Woman · April 11, 2018
- Planning a Permanent Home for Ann Arbor Families · Pittsfield Charter Township · 2017
- Kelly Koerner Talks With WKAR About Children’s Grief · WKAR · April 13, 2016 · Original feature
- Inside a Peer Support Group in Grand Rapids · Rapid Growth · March 24, 2016 · Original feature
- The Overweg Family Finds Support After a Father’s Death · A Healthier Michigan · August 17, 2015 · Original feature
- Oceana Bailey Remembers Her Father · Ann Arbor Observer · August 1, 2014 · Original feature
- Listening Alongside Children With Volunteer Mary Mueting · Ann Arbor Family · April 1, 2014 · Original feature
- A Family and a Branch Leader Talk With WKAR · WKAR Public Media · September 18, 2013 · Original feature
- A Community Opens Its Doors to Ele’s Place in Grand Rapids · Rapid Growth · June 27, 2013 · Original feature
- Toyota Technical Center Marks 35 Years With Community Grants · Concentrate · October 31, 2012 · Original feature
- A Washtenaw Giving Group Remembers Its First Gift · The Chelsea Standard · July 5, 2012
- A Fifth Third Employee Nomination Brings Support to Ele’s Place · AnnArbor.com · May 10, 2012 · Original feature
- Michigan Radio Asks How Families Find Grief Support · Michigan Radio, now Michigan Public · March 5, 2012 · Original feature
- Sue Snyder Joins a Campaign for Grieving Children · AnnArbor.com · May 20, 2011 · Original feature
2000–2009 (4)
- A $5,000 Grant to Expand Grief Support in Washtenaw County · The Chelsea Standard · December 17, 2009
- An Early Invitation to Ann Arbor Families · Ann Arbor Observer · November 2008
- Before Ann Arbor Had an Ele’s Place · The Chelsea Standard · October 12, 2006
- A Lansing Family Opens Its Corn Maze for EleFest · The State News · September 15, 2003
A Second Michigan Athletics Honor Recognizes Community Service
November 8, 2026
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Michigan Athletics · July 31, 2025 — A Big Ten sportsmanship honor highlighted Michigan hockey’s ties to Ele’s Place.
Children’s Grief Awareness Day in Lansing
November 8, 2026
No Comments
WILX · November 21, 2024 — Kristine Kuhnert talks about how holidays can feel different for children after someone dies.
Winter Group Nights in Ann Arbor in 2023
November 8, 2026
No Comments
Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · March 30, 2023 — Ann Arbor families spent winter evenings together in peer support groups.
Art, Music and Play at Ann Arbor’s Home for Healing Hearts
November 8, 2026
No Comments
Crazy Wisdom Community Journal · May 1, 2023 — Bree Arvai shares how children use art, music, and play to express grief.
West Michigan Invites Volunteers to Become Group Facilitators
November 8, 2026
No Comments
FOX 17 · July 11, 2023 — West Michigan volunteers trained to facilitate peer groups for children and teens.
Families Return to Ann Arbor Groups in Fall 2021
November 8, 2026
No Comments
Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · December 15, 2021 — Ann Arbor families came back together for in-person group nights.
Ann Arbor Families Make Remembrance Candles Together
November 8, 2026
No Comments
Ele’s Place Ann Arbor · July–December 2023 — Families made candles to remember someone who had died.
Ele’s Place Announces Jennifer Wolfe Howard’s Appointment in 2022
November 8, 2026
No Comments
WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · November 26, 2022 — Jennifer Wolfe Howard shared the personal connection behind her decision to lead Ele’s Place in 2022.
An Ann Arbor Distiller Creates the Red Hearted Julep
November 8, 2026
No Comments
WDIV / ClickOnDetroit · December 11, 2020 — Ann Arbor Distilling Company created a Red Hearted Julep for Ele’s Place.
More Ways to Hear From Our Community
One Story Can Meet Someone Where They Are.
Explore the full collection of family experiences.
Nanea Hoffman uses humor to describe the connection between grief and love. The families who share their stories here each have their own words for that connection.
