In the Loop

It’s official! As of September 7th, 2010, Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope is Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope Inc--a nonprofit corporation! So what exactly does this mean? Aside from giving us a really cool-sounding official business name, it also means we are able to start the process of gaining 501c3 tax-exempt status through the IRS. We are so excited to be moving forward, and doing it to so quickly!

 

As we move toward becoming a 501c3 charity, we thought it would be good to introduce you to a few key-players in Faces leadership:
 
Kristin Cook, Co-Director: 

That’s me! My daughter, Stevie, was stillborn on May 8th, 2010, when I was 26 weeks pregnant. Since her death, and the feelings of loneliness I experienced as a result of it, I have become super passionate about helping others who have experienced the death of a baby find connection with others who have been there, who ‘get it.’

I have a nonprofit background, having worked at a large nonprofit organization for the last three years, in the Resource Development department (grant writing, event planning, volunteer management, etc). I’ve known I belonged in the nonprofit world since doing an internship at Big Brothers Big Sisters in college (where I got my degree in English Literature and Writing).

I started Faces of Loss almost on a whim, with no idea that the concept would appeal to so many people, or that it would take off so quickly. I am so excited to see the organization grow, reach more hurting mothers, and bring the taboo subject of pregnancy/infant loss out of the shadows.

Andrea Morton, Co-Director:  

 Andrea lost her son, Oliver, at 19 weeks, days after I lost Stevie. Right after Faces of Loss was launched, Andrea contacted me wanting to help. Since then, she has been my ‘partner-in-crime,’ so to speak. While you may see my name and face a lot around here, Andrea is always behind the scenes making things happen. She’s an ‘idea girl,’ just like me, and when the two of us start chatting about Faces, there’s just no stopping us! The amount and time and work she puts into this organization, on top of chasing around her 15-month old daughter, Natalie, is crazy!

Andrea also has a nonprofit background. She has a music degree and started out in the arts nonprofit world outside of Boston.  She later worked for an environmental nonprofit in development and marketing. (think lots of fundraising and membership drives!).  Later she became a financial advisor, specializing in retirement portfolios. She has always been interested in making a difference and is so excited to be a part of Faces. As a babyloss mother, it is a perfect fit and something she is completely passionate about.

Sarah Kunz, Technical and Creative Guru:  

 Sarah, Andrea’s younger sister, originally came on board to help us with the design of our postcards, but she’s stuck around and has become an integral part of Faces. All the graphic design work, all the behind the scenes website stuff I know nothing about, has been Sarah’s doing. Sarah is the owner of a very successful graphic design company, yet she volunteers so much of her time to helping us make our Faces ideas into reality. Like the rest of us, she’s a bit (okay, a lot!) of an over-achiever, and is always going way above and beyond for this organization.

Sarah has a degree in motion media design from Savannah College of Art and Design.  She is the owner of Red Bumble Bee, a corporate and wedding graphic design company, that serves brides all over the world, which she started three years ago. Not only does Sarah's graphic design work help us get our message out, her unique perspective as the supporter of a "babyloss mom" is a great one to have.

Of course, we are supported greatly, and couldn’t do any of this without the rest of our team: Courtney, Dana, Amy, Stephanie, Cara, Angela, and Franchesca, who you can read about here.

So what’s next for Faces?

In addition to this site, with the stories and resources, we are hoping to add some other programs to Faces in the not-too-distant future, including:

• An online training program designed to prepare volunteers to go out and make presentations to hospital staff about how to best handle loss situations
• Resource kits for hospitals
• “Create Your Own Event” program, where women can start their own fundraising event (5K, Bicycle ride, etc), benefiting Faces, in their local community
• In-person support groups
• And more

Our biggest goal right now is to gain 501c3 status, so that we can begin seeking out grants and other funding to make the above programs possible.

Thank you all, so much, for your continued help, love, and support. If you have any questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you--just shoot me or Andrea an email: Kristin@facesofloss.com or Andrea@facesofloss.com.

Thanks again!

Kristin