SPRING 2013
A Newsletter to the Community from The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
Cookie Monster and Soft Tummies
Curtis Ruder and his daughter Katie
About six months after I turned 30,
first started coming to the Children’s
Becky also turned 30. But she didn’t receive
Bereavement Center of South Texas’
a Cookie Monster for her birthday...she
(CBCST) grief support groups after his first
got lung cancer. As much as I would love
wife, Becky, died of lung cancer. Curtis and
to tell you that ours is a story of rising
Katie participated in the support group
above adversity to accomplish everything
designed for children and their caregivers
we wanted, that is not how the story goes.
who have experienced a death from a long-
We battled cancer with everything we had,
term illness. Their time here at the CBCST
and a year and a half later she died. Katie
has given Katie great strength, and a
and I were alone.
profound ability to empathize with others
For the first several months, I thought
around her and in her community. Katie
things were going okay. Sure, it was difficult,
understands how important community
as much as anything before or since has
is to one’s grief journey, and how being
ever challenged us. But after a while, Katie
able to share experiences with others who
started doing some things that made it clear
have had similar experiences helps to
that we needed help. Katie has always been
and children grieve differently. When
normalize feelings. As the years have gone
a very smart and perceptive child and she
adults are facing stressful events like grief,
by, Curtis and Katie have been able to keep
could tell that our family was different…
we have thousands of thoughts and words
(TOP) Curtis Ruder and his daughter, Katie.
(BOTTOM) Katie
their lines of communication open, and
In a word, the Bereavement Center
running through our heads, and that stress
have continued to talk about their grief.
normalized the experience for us. The
manifests itself as headaches. But children,
Since attending group, Curtis and Katie
Bereavement
an
though they have all the same feelings we
have continued their involvement at the
opportunity to be around other children
have, don’t have all of our words yet, and so
Center, and they continue to give back to
her age who knew words like “chemo-
what we might feel as headaches, they might
the community which gave them so much.
therapy,” words that we wish no children
feel as tummy aches. Katie said something
Curtis is an active Potluck Partner, and
would ever have to know. The Bereavement
that has stuck with me. “I like coming here,
is now a grief support group facilitator.
Center gave me the opportunity to sit in a
Daddy. I have a soft tummy here.” What
The following is a portion of the speech
room full of other parents and say, “You
Katie was telling me is that when she came
that Curtis delivered at the CBCST’s 12th
wouldn’t believe what my daughter did at
to the Bereavement Center, she was able to
Annual Hearts in Harmony Gala, entitled
HEB last weekend!” But they did believe,
let go of her stress. The Bereavement Center
“Cookie Monster and Soft Tummies”:
because their kids were doing the same
also helped us transition when I met and
Center
gave
Katie
I received a Cookie Monster toy for
things. Most of all, at a time in our lives
married my second once-in-a-lifetime
my 30th birthday…Katie and my first
when everything felt uncertain, unknown,
love, Kim. It truly was a place of grace and
wife Becky were at Target picking up a
and
healing for our family during our toughest
card, and she saw the Cookie Monster and
Center gave us a place where we felt safe.
thought of me. This is my favorite gift.
Our Mission
untrustworthy, the
Bereavement
days…Thank you.”
I’ve learned over the years how adults
To foster healing for grieving youth, their families and the community through
peer support programs, counseling, training, education and outreach.
The Children’s
Bereavement Center of South Texas
Linking hearts, mending spirits, transforming lives.
Heart Strings is the community newsletter for the friends and families of
The Children’s Bereavement
Center of South Texas
205 West Olmos Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78212
Phone: (210) 736-4847 Fax: (210) 832-8919
www.cbcst.org
Advisory Board
Janie & Jim Worth
Susan & Bill
Galbreath
Don Anderson
Kathleen &
Curtis Gunn
Chairmen
Patricia Shield
Ayres
Margaret Berton,
Ph.D.
Patricia Bose
Carolyn Brown
Sallie & Barry
Chasnoff
Weezie & Mac
Chesney
Almeda & Ed
Hodge III
Julianna Hawn Holt &
Peter M. Holt
Paula Loring
Ann & John E.
Newman, Jr.
Laura & Jack
Richmond
Anne & Paul H. Smith
Eliza Sonneland
Janet & Boxy
Hornberger
Jim Spickard, Ph.D.
Susan & John Kerr
Barbara Wood
Ed Kopplow
Mertie & Dale Wood
Kitty & Rich Lange
Amy & Hal Zesch
BoarD OF DIRECTORS
Laura Nell Burton
Jacqui Peace
Vanessa Casey
Angela Rabke
Vice Chairman
Bill Day
Mike Smith
Penny Viteo
Camille Mandigo
Chairman
Chris Rulon
Rose Mary Fry
Sally Sohn
Secretary
Linda Fugit
Pam Thomas
Ronald Weiss
Jennifer Kelley
Buzz Wagner
Treasurer
F. Michael Wood, Jr.
Past Chairman
Nancy Martin
Ty West
David Navarro
Frank Zoch
FRIENDS FORUM — 2013 GALA COMMITTEE
Message From CBCST
Chairman of the Board
The Bereavement Center is so much more than a place
where grieving children come to heal. This mission
changes lives. As the only provider in South Texas of
grief support programs for children and young adults,
we believe that each person’s journey through grief
is unique, and therefore deserves a unique approach to healing. Our goal
is to help children and their caregivers understand the depth of their grief,
stabilize and preserve family relationships, and develop healthy coping skills
that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
97% of our support comes from the private sector, and so it is with deep
gratitude that I say thank you to all our supporters. We appreciate each and
every one of you, from the bottom of our hearts.
We would also like to say a heartfelt thank you to someone very special,
Traci Burkhart Gomez. Traci has recently stepped down as the Chief
Executive Officer, in order to spend more time with her family. Traci came to
the Bereavement Center in 2005 at a time of transition, and dedicated eight
years of steadfast service. She has left us a great legacy. Under her tenure,
the Bereavement Center is financially secure, its million-dollar budget
supported with solid fundraising efforts, and healthy cash reserves. We have
a beautiful new facility in which to serve our clients, and in 2012 alone the
Bereavement Center served more than 2,300 individuals! That’s an increase
of more than 33% over 2011, and well beyond the humble beginnings when
the Bereavement Center was founded 16 years ago.
Today the Bereavement Center is in another time of transition. The
Governing Board is moving forward confidently with a search for the next
generation of Bereavement Center leadership. And as we look to the future,
we humbly ask for your continued support and encouragement for even
greater days ahead!
Day Smith — Hearts in Harmony Gala Chair
Laura Nell Burton — Hearts in Harmony Gala Underwriting Co-Chair
Patty Vela — Hearts in Harmony Gala Live Auction Chair
Ted Burkhart — Hearts in Harmony Gala Treasurer
Vanessa Casey — Underwriting Co-Chairman
Mallory Ahl — Silent Auction Co-Chairman
Sarah Anderson — Silent Auction Co-Chairman
Katy Corrigan — Silent Auction Co-Chairman
Stacy Smaistrla — Silent Auction Co-Chairman
The Children’s Bereavement Center Staff
BLAIR THOMPSON — Interim Chief Operations Office
Michelle Palmer, LPC-S — Director of Programs
Julia Anderson, M. Ed. — Director of Volunteer Services
Morgan Fenoglio, LPC Intern — Program & Education Coordinator
Franchesca Velten — Community Relations Coordinator
TAMMY COCHRAN, M. ED., LPC — Outreach Coordinator
Maria Rodriguez — Customer Service Specialist
The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas and its programs are
supported solely through the contributions of participating families, individuals,
corporations, foundations, religious institutions and the community.
We receive no state or federal funding. Donations are
tax-deductible to the limit established by the IRS.
We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
“Reflections on a Life Well Lived”
by Day Smith
Ilse Frost Garrett, my very dear friend, had a deep affection for family, friends
and nature. She lived to laugh and loved life to the fullest. She was willing to
do anything for those she loved, and helping others gave her great pleasure.
She was always rescuing animals, taking food to those who needed it, and was
there to listen when anyone had a problem. When her mother passed away, she
asked me what the Bereavement Center needed. She knew how important the
mission was to me, and of course, she wanted to help. She had such a generous
heart. At that time, we were collecting art supplies. Since her mother loved to
paint, it was so appropriate that she filled her Ford Expedition with all sorts of
art supplies and dropped them off at the Bereavement Center! Little did I know
at that time what an extraordinary gift would later come to us from Ilse.
I fondly remember after Fiesta 1974, when Ilse hung up her Fiesta gown,
put on her motorcycle boots, and found her true passion: a Harley Davidson
and the open road! Tragically, our beautiful and extraordinary Ilse was killed in
a motorcycle accident, although doing exactly what she loved. After her death,
we learned of her generous bequest to the Bereavement Center, a tremendous
gift that will make a tremendous impact on advancing our mission.
We remember Ilse with heartfelt gratitude and respect, and thank her
for her kind bequest to the CBCST. In her memory, the CBCST would like to
dedicate this newsletter to Ilse Frost Garrett.
The Twelfth Annual
Seven years ago, a very special group was
a
nonprofit
to give time, talent, or treasure, each
formed…the Founding Friends of the
organization that was not well known
member put their heart into the mission
CBCST Board. Usually the CBCST honors
in town, to a flourishing organization
– and for that we sincerely thank you!
a single volunteer at our annual Hearts in
supported by thousands of friends and
Each Founding Friend has stepped up
Harmony Gala, as the Barreras Volunteer
neighbors throughout the community.
and provided so much support toward
of the Year, but rather than choosing
During that time, the CBCST has more
the advancement of the CBCST; we
one individual this year, we honored the
than doubled the number of grieving
celebrate our accomplishments today
entire 2006 Founding Friends Board. It
children that we serve! The CBCST, and
with acknowledgment of the blood,
was like a family reunion for this group, as
all the families we serve, will never be able
sweat, and tears they gave throughout our
so many special friendships were formed
to thank this group enough for all their
journey. From the bottom of our hearts,
when the group first came together.
support. The Founding Friends Board
and on behalf of all the families in which
the
was our staff when we had no help, our
we serve, THANK YOU!!!
board, each person played a pivotal
advisors when we had no counsel…they
role in helping the CBCST grow from
were our advocates. Whether choosing
As
founding
members
of
financially
distressed
(AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE) Janie Worth (TOP ROW, left TO RIGHT) Maggie and Blair Thompson; Stacy Smaistrla and Rick Shaw; Mike and Susie
Bacon; Claire Duffin, Elizabeth Archer, Sally Hill and Trish Hennessey; Kimberly, Curtis and Katie Ruder (BOTTOM ROW, left TO RIGHT) Kitty
and Rich Lange ; Chris, Almeda and Sarah Hodge; Day and Paxton Smith; Trace and Laura Nell Burton; Katie and Curtis Ruder; Bonnie,
Mike and Kari Gilley
Special Thanks to Our Twelfth Annual
Gala Sponsors & Donors
Hearts in Harmony
PRESENTING
SPONSOR
Jenifer and Willis Brown /
Almeda and Ed Hodge
Valero
Laura Nell and Trace Burton
/ Jamie and Ty West /
Jenevieve and Frank Zoch
Supporting
Sponsors
Mike Smith and Marilyn
Harrington
Julianna Hawn Holt & Peter
M. Holt
Mrs. Barbara Wood / Mr.
and Mrs. F. Michael Wood, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael
Gentry / Mr. and Mrs. Paul
Peace
Contributing
Sponsors
Paula Loring
South Texas Blood and
Tissue Center
Spurs Sports and
Entertainment
Susan and James Glover
Frost Bank
Hornberger Sheehan Fuller
Beiter Wittenberg and
Garza Incorporated
Hurley Funeral Home
Janie and Jim Worth
Jefferson Bank
Kay and Tim Watt
Kitty and Rich Lange
Langley & Banack, Inc.
and John W. Petry
Moses Family
NuStar Energy L.P.
Papa John’s Pizza
South Texas Money
Management
Southwest Home
Health Care
The Porter Loring Family
Cappy’s / La Fonda on Main
Miranda Koerner
Saks Fifth Avenue
Joy S. Potts
Carol Hebdon /
“Adoorable Wreaths”
Kuy Creek Enterprises, LLC
San Antonio Children’s
Museum
Debbie L. Cathey
The Cottage
J. W. Ferguson
Pat and Ken Krueger
Anne McClanahan
Allan T. Meyne
Mrs. Reeves L. Smith
Jenny and Rick Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. William Weber
Ms. Ann Wells
A.P.E.
Carolyn and Charles Brown
Edie and William Cook
Cheesy Jane’s
Cooper’s Meat Market
Katy and Porter Corrigan
Cowgirl Enterprises
David Kauffman
Dennis Jewelry Company
Dominion Golf and
Country Club
Don Strange of Texas, Inc.
Dos Carolinas
Beth Ann Falcon
La Fonda Alamo Heights
Learning Express
Lee Ann Jones Collection
Lin Marché
Luther King Capital
Management / Marsha and
David Dowler
Mariquita Masterson
Nagle’s Gun Shop
Robert & Kathey
Anderson Foundation
Linda McDavitt
Five Broads Off Broadway
Mrs. Orvis Meador, Jr.
For the Love of Bertie
Natural Bridge Wildlife
Ranch
Betty Radwin
Dr. and Mrs. James Gilley
Louise Womack
Pruyn Hildebrand
Blair B. Perry
Ann Griffith Ash
The James L. Donnell
Family
Zachry Holdings, Inc.
Mark J. Spansel
Langley & Banack, Inc.
Uhl, Fitzsimons &
Jewett, PLLC
Alison and James Barrow
Lou and Lee Schaufele
Gold Tender
SILENT & LIVE
AUCTION DONORS
My Fit Foods
South Texas Saddlery
Erin Spalten
Erika and David Navarro
Neiman Marcus
Olympia Gymnastics and
Cheerleading
Grey Moss Inn
Order Up
Isabelle and Ed Badouh
Gruene Hall,
Texas’ Oldest Dancehall
Otra Vez
Bambino’s
Hanley-Wood
Americus Diamond
Basil Scaljon Rugs
Baxter Design Group
Belles & Beaux Children’s
Boutique
Betty Esquivel, L.M.T.
Biga on the Banks
GROUP SPONSORS
Dr. and Mrs. William P.
Fitch III
Bolner’s Fiesta Products, Inc.
Sallie and Barry Chasnoff
Douglas and Judith McNeel
Boudro’s Texas Bistro
Dr. and Mrs. James Gilley
Richard and Carol McPike
Briggs Ranch
Dr. and Mrs. Paxton Smith
Mary E. Reynolds
Cakes by Cathy Young
Pajarito Tree Farm
Micah Harper
Paloma Blanca
Hideout on the Horseshoe
Paloma Pachanga
Julianna Hawn Holt and
Peter M. Holt
Penny Lane
Hotel Valencia Riverwalk
Jennifer Jennings Images
Julian Gold
Kendra Scott Designs
Kiddie Park
Kiolbassa Provision
Company
Perry’s Restaurants
Pigtails & Crewcuts
Stacy and Clayton Smaistrla
Sugarplum Dreams
Grape Creek Vineyards
Academy Sports + Outdoors
St. Anthony Riverwalk
Wyndham Hotel
Stella and Dot
by Christina Welch
Noelle Palm
Tom Oliver
Gold’s Gym
Silver Eagle Distributors
Michael A. Smith
Fair Oaks Golf
and Country Club
Ginna Crocker / Good Gifts
Shetler-Wade
Smart Barre San Antonio
Medlar’s Jewelry
Karen and Brad Cox
Susan Keehn
Shafer Services
Skin Rejuvenation Clinique
MBS Fitness
Mrs. Harvey Smith
John Newman Family
Charitable Fund
San Antonio Plastic Surgery
Institute / Dr. Michael E.
Decherd
SeaWorld San Antonio
Susan M. Loyd
OUR GENEROUS
UNDERWRITERS
Gary Woods
San Antonio Museum of Art
Sunset Ridge
Home & Hardware
SWBC Mortgage
Carolyn Tolar
The Impeccable Pig
The Pool in Alamo Heights
The Wagmore Pet Resort
The Wash Tub
F. Michael Wood III
The Woodhouse Day Spa
Piranha Killer Sushi
Trinity Flowers by Danny
Cuellar
Polka Dot Parties
USAA Buying Services
Porter Corrigan
Meg and Justin Walker
Elizabeth Reblin
Witte Museum
Robert Shaw Portraits
YETI Coolers
Special Thanks to
Our In-Kind Sponsors
Thank You to Our 2006
Founding Friends Board
AV Source
Betsy Baker
Kristina Fentress
Paula Loring
Elegant Notions
Rita Brogdon
Mary Beth Fisk
Gabriel’s / Weston Stone
Camille Mandigo
Carolyn Brown
Linda Fugit
Jenifer Brown
Bonnie Gilley
Ted Burkhart
Almeda Hodge
Robert Shaw Portraits
Weetia Burkhart
Darwin Huartson
South Texas Jazz
Sallie Chasnoff
Kitty Lange
Joan Wolff
Texas Creative
Mac Chesney
Anne Ledet
Janie Worth
Lee Ann Hendry
Quadrangle Press
The Rose Shop
Angela Rabke
Barbara Sano
Diane Thrush
Kronkosky Match to Kick Off 2013 Friends of the CBCST Annual
Support Campaign
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our
Campaign
challenge
but also financially by medical, legal
CBCST staff, board members, clients,
match from the Kronkosky Charitable
and funeral costs. Gifts to the Friends of
parents and friends, we are thrilled to
Foundation. Every dollar donated from
the CBCST Annual Support Campaign
announce we exceeded our 2012 Friends
new and lapsed donors will be matched,
help ensure that every grieving child and
of the CBCST Annual Support Campaign
dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 – therefore
their caregiver(s) can participate in peer
goal! One-hundred percent of the funds
doubling the value of your gift! The match
support group programs at the CBCST
raised will go to provide FREE grief support
provided by Kronkosky is currently under
free of charge.
for the children we serve. Our campaign
way, and we will be accepting donations
success would not have been possible
for this match until November of 2013.
without the generous support of so many.
Thanks
community,
to
the
the
support
CBCST
is
of
The
with
impact
a
$50,000
of
the
To all of our generous contributors:
thank you for making it possible for us to
Kronkosky
mend young hearts, one child at a time.
the
Charitable Foundation’s dedication to
Contributions are always welcome. It
proudly
helping youth, and their generosity to
is never too late to make a difference in
celebrating 16 years of service to grieving
the community, has made a tremendous
a child’s life. Please visit our website at
children and families in San Antonio and
impact on our organization and to the
www.cbcst.org to make a donation. For
south Texas. To help commemorate this
San Antonio community as a whole.
more information, please call our devel-
notable milestone, we have launched the
Many of the families we serve have
2013 Friends of the CBCST Annual Support
been devastated, not only emotionally,
Holiday Shop
was a Success
Our Fifth Annual Holiday
Shop was held on Saturday,
December 8th at the CBCST,
and it was a great success.
Holiday
Shop
was
made
possible with a generous donation from Bartlett Cocke
General Contractors. We would also like to extend a special thanks
to Tammy Cochran and her dedicated committee, Katie Case,
opment department at (210) 736-4847.
Tours of the Heart
Please join us for a tour of the CBCST at 11:00 a.m. on the first
Friday of each month. Come on your own, or bring a friend,
or come with a group! Either way, embrace this opportunity
to experience our beautiful facility firsthand, and learn more
about the services offered and the ways in which you can help
support our mission. Please RSVP to Tammy Cochran, CBCST
Outreach Coordinator, at [email protected] or (210) 736-4847
ext. 247. The next dates for Tours of the Heart are scheduled for
April 5th, May 3rd, and June 7th.
Mary Herff and Mary Kessler Sauer, for planning this event, and
to Smokey Waters at Taco Cabana for his donation of breakfast
tacos, to Jenna-Beth Lyde for serving as our event photographer,
and to our dedicated volunteers from the Association of Pediatric
Hematology / Oncology Nurses, all of who made the day extra
special for all the families in attendance.
The Holiday Shop is designed to help children and teens
who have experienced the death of a parent prepare for
holiday gift-giving. When one parent dies, there’s often no one
around to help shop and find meaningful gifts for the surviving
parent. This event helps to keep the element of surprise, build
excitement, and bring renewed holiday spirit to the grieving
families. In addition to shopping, our children and their
families enjoyed gift-wrapping, pictures with Santa, cookie
decorating and much more holiday fun!
If you wish to volunteer at our next Holiday Shop, scheduled
for Saturday, December 7, 2013, or if you would like to donate gifts
for the event, please contact Julia Anderson at (210) 736-4847
ext. 224 or [email protected].
Mark Your Calendars! Please
join us for a very special
evening with Grief Specialist
Harold Ivan Smith, DMin, FT
Thursday, May 9, 2013 @ 6:30 p.m.
205 West Olmos Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78212
1.5 hours of CEU credit available ($10)
This event is sponsored by Porter Loring Mortuaries, in
appreciation for the services that the CBCST provides to
San Antonio and the extended community. For questions,
or to reserve a seat, please contact Julia Anderson by phone
(210) 736-4847 ext. 224 or email [email protected].
CBCST Professional Trainings:
Understanding Childhood Grief, Trauma & Crisis
Helping the Grieving Student
Friday, June 7, 2013, 9:30 – 12:00 p.m.
Friday, September 13, 2013, 9:30 – 12:00 p.m.
$35 per person
$35 per person
This is a two and a half (2.5) hour training designed to educate and prepare
This is a two and a half (2.5) hour activity-based training designed to educate
mental health professionals for work with children and adults experiencing
and prepare school personnel who work with grieving children. The training
trauma and grief. The training will include: (1) Understanding the impact
will include: (1) Understanding a child’s perception of death as it relates
of trauma and grief as it relates to the stages of human development;
to the stages of development; (2) Recognizing indicators of complicated or
(2) Recognizing indicators of trauma and traumatic grief in children
traumatic grief; (3) Understanding the physiological, emotional, behavioral
and adults; (3) Understanding the physiological and neurobiological
and spiritual manifestations of grief and their impact on the academic
manifestations of trauma; (4) Strategies for age appropriate intervention.
performance; (4) Communicating with children and their caregivers
CEU’s available for LPC & LMSW.
about death and dying; (5) Instituting age and classroom appropriate
interventions for children who are grieving and their classmates.
For more information or to be added to the contact list please contact: Morgan Fenoglio, (210) 736-4847
ext. 227, [email protected]; CEU’s available for LPC, LMSW & chaplains; (Please include attendee
name(s) in the PayPal description field when signing up.); More info at www.cbcst.org.
Thanks to All Who Support the CBCST!
 THANK YOU TO Christina
 THANK YOU TO our outstanding Potluck
Partners: Christ Lutheran Youth Group, Erica
Garcia & the Association of Pediatric Hematology
& Oncology Nurses, Carly Johnson and MADD,
The Junior League of San Antonio, LaPeteria
Jordan and St. John Baptist Church Women’s
Ministry, Camille Mandigo and Family, Trinity
University Alpha Phi Omega, The F. Michael Wood
Family, The San Antonio Junior Forum, Marilyn
Harrington and Mike Smith, Franchesca Velten
and Family, NIX Realty Company, Vanessa Casey
and Family, National Charity League Alamo
Chapter, Curtis Ruder and The Abiding Presence
Lutheran Church Choir, The Well Community
Church, Holly Clark and UMC Hope Circle,
Jenna-Beth Lyde and Rotary Club of San Antonio,
Amy Benedikt, Irene Black, Laura Broderick, Ann
Cangany, Amy Case, Josie Dorris, Rose Mary Fry,
Catherine Haffner, Carol Holmes, Brooke Leddy,
Marlise Kercheville, Jan Myrick, Jacqui Peace,
Monica Rubalcalba, Paul Shealy, Becca Smith,
Pam Thomas, Ronald Weiss, Samantha Wohler,
Julie Wolle and Amy Zunker.
Welch for hosting the 4th
Annual Stella & Dot Holiday
and Gift Boutique benefiting
the CBCST.
 THANK YOU TO National Charity League
 THANK YOU TO Julianna
 THANK YOU TO the South Texas Counseling
Hawn Holt and Peter M.
Holt for donating a magnificent Christmas tree,
enjoyed by our children and families attending
the 5th Annual Holiday Shop.
 THANK YOU TO John Matthews and Family
for generously donating tickets for the SA Stock
Show & Rodeo.
Alamo Chapter’s 7th & 8th Grader Tea Party
for donating art supplies to be used by our
children in grief support programs.
Association for hand addressing invitations for
our Twelfth Annual Hearts in Harmony Gala.
 THANK YOU TO Whole Earth Provision Co.
for donating toys and books for our children
during the holidays.
(Pictured clockwise from TOP left)
 THANK YOU TO The Mike Coolbaugh Memorial
 THANK YOU TO Zeta Beta for providing
Foundation for generously donating HEB gift
cards to our children and families.
children’s books for our narrative therapy room.
for providing tickets to our children and families.
 THANK YOU TO Catherine Haffner and the
Dominion Book Club Babes for stocking our grief
library with books from The Twig Book Shop.
 THANK YOU TO National Charity League
 THANK YOU TO our 5th Annual Holiday
mothers and daughters for disinfecting our
play and sand therapy toys during the dreaded
cold and flu season.
Shop Chairmen. (Pictured left to right: Tammy
Cochran, Mary Herff, Katie Case and Mary
Kessler Sauer.)
 THANK YOU TO Jazzercise-Churchill West,
 THANK YOU TO Susan Crockett and Phil
Brenda Melton, Mr. and Mrs. Austin Helmle,
as well as Mr. and Mrs. Avery for generously
replenishing our teddy bear supply.
Marshall for collaborating together for the
Vergeance Project Concert event, a portion of
the proceeds benefited the CBCST.
 THANK YOU TO U.S. Army All-American Bowl
CONGRATULATIONS!
We would like to congratulate our wonderful CBCST students on their respective
graduations! Each of these students completed their internship with the CBCST
this past fall — their commitment to our mission is reflected in their work.
Thank you and we wish you the best in all that you do!
Shannon Pugh
Stephanie Salinas
Gurpreet Singh
Nevine Sultan
PROGRAM
SPOTLIGHT:
Drama Suite
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
Expression through dramatic
invite you to join our Friends Forum and make a difference
play enables children to gain
in any of the following ways:
The CBCST is truly a volunteer-driven organization.
Wherever your time and talents may be, there is a match for
you to help link hearts, mend spirits and transform lives. We
perspective on real-life roles
and patterns, and to experiment actively with alternative responses
to loss. Through drama, children utilize their most precious resource –
their imagination. On stage, they have the power to reenact or recreate
events, concerns, dreams, and fears associated with their loss. Drama
is a valuable medium for the exploration of emotions because it
encourages children to try on different roles within their own grief story.
The ability to rewind, fast forward, pause, and cut enables children to
feel a sense of control in an otherwise out-of-control storyline. Drama
therapy enhances insight and perception from multiple perspectives
Become a trained support group facilitator (Next
training is July 26th & 27th).
Sponsor and serve dinner to a support group.
Assist with our special events, including the Third
Annual Rockin’ Hearts Round-Up and Thirteenth
Annual Hearts in Harmony Gala.
For more information on how to get involved, please
contact Julia Anderson, Director of Volunteer Services, at
(210) 736-4847 ext. 224 or [email protected].
as children work through their loss in a safe environment. We are very
appreciative to SRO Associates, Inc., who have done a wonderful job
transforming our drama suite into a magical place for the children at
the CBCST. SRO has completed projects in the past for Six Flags Fiesta
Texas, as well as SeaWorld San Antonio.
Dear CBCST Diary
Dear CBCST Diary,
My husband just died of a heart attack. I am not sure if I
should take my kids to his funeral. I don’t want them to
remember him like that. I would rather keep them at home. I
have three kids (ages 4, 8, and 10). What do you recommend?
There has been much debate about this question and the
best way to know is to talk with your children. After you
have explained what has happened to their father, you
should share with them what a funeral will be like. Let
them know specific details so they can make an informed
 THANK YOU TO AVNET
for coming by for a tour
and presenting us with a donation.
 THANK YOU TO the Rose Heart Angels
for kindly presenting us with a check to
purchase items off our Wish List.
 THANK YOU TO the Isle Garrett
estate for coming by the Center for a
tour and presenting us with a check
on behalf of Isle Garrett. (Pictured Left
to Right: Frost Bank Executives Pictured
Left to Right: Tom Frost III, Senior
Executive Vice President/Public
Funds; Jon Daubert, Senior Vice
President, Trust Administration;
and Pat Frost, President. Also
Pictured: Traci Gomez, Chris
Rulon, Camille Mandigo, Pam
Thomas, and Ronald Weiss.)
decision and will be prepared to attend if they choose to do
so. Tell them about how many people will be there, how they
will see their father in the coffin, that people will be telling
stories about his life, and that many of the people will be
crying. Once you feel they have a good understanding of
what the funeral will be like, ask your children if they would
like to go. Each child may have a different answer and it is
important to give them the opportunity to choose. Funerals
are rituals to say goodbye to loved ones and depriving them
of this opportunity may prove to be a regret later. Children
need closure as much as adults. If your children choose to
attend the funeral, it is very important to have a friend that
can walk out with them if they become overwhelmed or are
unable to sit through the entire funeral. It is a good idea to
have a bag of books, crayons or puzzles for them to use in
case they need to go to a different room before the funeral
finishes. Children do not inherently know how to grieve, so
they look to the adults in their life to model healthy grief
and coping skills. Funerals are one way for children to learn
about the grief process.
If you’re looking for answers to your questions, please
call the CBCST at (210) 736-4847 to speak with one of our
counselors.
SPRING 2013
A Newsletter to the Community from The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
In This Issue:
Twelfth Annual Hearts In Harmony Gala
Tours of the Heart
Program Spotlight: Drama Suite
Save The Date!
Understanding Childhood Grief, Trauma & Crisis
Friday, June 7, 2013
Grief Support Group Facilitator Training
Friday & Saturday, July 26 – 27, 2013
www.cbcst.org
Helping the Grieving Student
Friday, September 13, 2013
Find us on Facebook & Twitter:
The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
@CBCST
Linking hearts, mending spirits,
transforming lives.
Linking
hearts,
mending
transforming
205 West
Olmos
Drive, spirits,
San Antonio,
Texaslives.
78212
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
The Children’s
Bereavement Center of South Texas
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SAN ANTONIO, TX
PERMIT NO. 2888