A phrase you might not expect to hear when discussing an organization that provides hospice care is “Tidewell saved my life.”

Master’s level clinical counselors become a lifeline for participants. “I would not have made it through the loss of my husband and daughter without my grief counselor, Patricia,” said Sue, a beneficiary of bereavement services.

Peer groups become a support system for those grieving, even after the end of the group. “Magic happens when you can bring a group of people together who may not have otherwise met. Many of my groups have connected and remained friends, becoming a network of support for each other,” said Crystal, a Tidewell Grief Care Counselor.

The Blue Butterfly Family Grief Program is designed for children, ages 4 to 18, who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives. “With the valuable guidance from the Blue Butterfly program, my daughter is receiving the tools, support, and validation to grieve, process, heal, and live through her loss,” said a mother of a Blue Butterfly participant.

As the most significant provider of free grief care in our community, Tidewell provided support to nearly 2,000 adults and children in the past year. The grief care provided to adults and children, regardless of if they’ve had a hospice experience, is lifesaving.

Proceeds from the upcoming 16^th Annual Signature Luncheon will support services the Tidewell Foundation funds, such as free grief support. The luncheon will be held on March 7, 2025 at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.

Dr. BJ Miller will be featured as they keynote speaker. As a palliative care physician and triple amputee, Dr. Miller will share a powerful message to reconsider, embrace, and prioritize what truly matters in life. He is the author of The Beginner’s Guide to the End and was prominently featured in both the Oscar-nominated Netflix documentary End Gameand the Disney+ docuseries Limitless with Chris Hemsworth.

Sponsorships and tickets are available. Visit www.TidewellFoundation.org for more information.