Marisa Renee Lee Inspires Center for HOPE Luncheon Crowd

The 2024 Center for HOPE Luncheon speaker, award-winning author and former Obama Administration member Marisa Renee Lee offered strategies on finding joy amid grief and uncertainty at its event, which took place on Sept. 19 at the Wee Burn Beach Club in Rowayton.

In a conversation with grief content creator Rachel Rosenzweig, Lee discussed her book, “Grief is Love: Living with Loss,” which drew from the personal experiences of the loss of her mother, a deeply desired pregnancy, and the tragic deaths of two cousins. The advocate and entrepreneur also shared insights on navigating the complexities of grief, offering attendees wisdom and guidance on finding strength and healing through life’s hardest moments.

Also at the event long-time Family Centers Board Members Leigh Carpenter and Susan Yonce were presented with the Ray of HOPE Award – the center’s highest honor – for their time served as volunteer facilitators at The Den for Grieving Kids. As board members, Carpenter and Yonce provided important input that helped ensure that quality bereavement and critical illness support services are accessible to all in the community.

The 2024 Center for HOPE Luncheon was co-chaired by Tiernan Cavanna, Mary-Jane McCormack and Abby Ritman. Nearly $175,000 was raised to support residents of lower Fairfield County coping with a loss, a critical illness or life-altering circumstance.

Family Centers is a private, nonprofit organization offering health, education and human service programs to children, adults and families in Fairfield County. More than 300 professionals and 500 trained volunteers work together to provide more than 24,000 residents with a holistic, wrap-around approach to care. Family Centers is Joint Commission accredited in Ambulatory Health Care, Behavioral Health Care and Human Services.  Family Centers’ Early Care and Education programs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and the agency is licensed by the state of Connecticut Department of Public Health.