Friends of Aine Community Shows Support at 7th Annual SEA of Hope Gala

​Friends of Aine, a nonprofit organization providing peer-to-peer support services to grieving children, teens, and families, hosted its 7th annual Gala on March 11 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown.

The presenting sponsor was Robert and Ann Marie Reardon, followed by The Elliot, Metro Walls, Rath Young Pignatelli, Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare, and CGI Business Solutions. Additional sponsors were St. Mary’s Bank, Harbor Group, Home Health & Hospice Care, Delta Dental, Caroline Verow KW Metropolitan, Pelle Medical Spa, and Brophy Wealth Management.

The evening began with cocktail hour and featured artwork created by children for Friends of Aine’s “Talk About Grief” Art Campaign, followed by dinner, entertainment, and live auction. Proceeds from sponsorships, auction, and donations generated over $110,000, directly benefiting grief support services, programs, and initiatives offered by the organization. 

The core mission at Friends of Aine is to help children and families grieving a death navigate their path to a hopeful future. Their vision is to create a world where no child grieves alone. Friends of Aine is the only nonprofit organization in New Hampshire whose sole mission is to support grieving children, teens, and families. Through a network of trained volunteer facilitators, their peer-to-peer support programs assist children and teens to share their experiences, explore topics related to grief, and learn coping strategies. These programs are provided at no cost to families. 
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The organization is inspired by Aine Phillips, who died suddenly at the age of 8, and the lack of existing child bereavement support for her surviving sister, Bella. Friends of Aine resides on Manchester’s West side, with their main 3-story home serving children and teens, in addition to their adjacent house, which serves the caregivers. 

Those interested in donating, or serving as a volunteer facilitator can visit the Friends of Aine website. Families in need of services can also register online for the next available group Series.