New York Life Foundation Grants $1.65 Million to Eluna, Leading Nonprofit Supporting Children and Families Impacted by Grief or Addiction
Funds will continue to support Eluna’s Camp Erin®, and fuel the next 25 years of compassionate support for grieving children, teens and families
PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 12, 2025 — Eluna, a national nonprofit with a mission to support children, teens and families impacted by grief or addiction, has been awarded a $1.65 million grant from New York Life Foundation — one of the nation’s leading funders of childhood bereavement support. The grant will sustain and grow Eluna’s transformative Camp Erin® programming, strengthening Eluna’s mission as the organization celebrates 25 years of impact through grief programs across North America.
Founded in 2002, Camp Erin has become the largest national bereavement program of its kind, offering in-person grief camps and online workshops — free of charge — for children, teens, and families who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives.
New York Life Foundation has been a long-standing supporter of Eluna since 2008. In addition to critical funding, New York Life employees and agents have volunteered thousands of hours, strengthening Camp Erin’s community, expanding operational capacity, and boosting fundraising, mentorship, and in-kind contributions for camp partners nationwide.
“This investment ensures that thousands more grieving children, teens and families will have access to camps, community, and connections in the years to come, so they receive the trusted guidance and support of grief-informed adults and can meet peers who know what they are going through,” said Mary FitzGerald, CEO of Eluna. “The New York Life Foundation and all New York Life employees and agents who support Camp Erin have been instrumental in our growth and impact for the last 16 years. This extraordinary commitment is a testament to the power of partnership in transforming lives.”
“Eluna’s powerful vision that no child should grieve alone deeply aligns with our mission at New York Life Foundation to provide meaningful support to grieving children and their families,” said Heather Nesle, President of New York Life Foundation. “We are proud to have partnered with Eluna for over 15 years to expand access, raise awareness, and build stronger communities for those navigating loss.”
As part of its continued partnership, New York Life Foundation will also co-sponsor Eluna’s upcoming Community Conversation: Supporting Grieving Employees and their Families on June 17. This virtual public event will focus on how compassionate policies, empathetic leadership, and practical resources can help create a workplace culture where those experiencing loss feel acknowledged and supported. Heather Nesle will join a panel alongside grief experts and community leaders for this important dialogue.
New York Life Foundation’s continued commitment was announced at Eluna’s Annual Champions for Children gala in April. There, Maria Collins, Vice President of New York Life Foundation and a longtime advocate for grief-related causes, was honored as an Eluminary Honoree. The gala marked Eluna’s 25th anniversary kickoff, celebrating its mission to help children and families impacted by grief or addiction.
To learn more about Eluna, Camp Erin, and Community Conversations, visit www.elunanetwork.org.
About Eluna
Eluna’s mission is to support children, teens, and families impacted by grief or addiction. Founded in 2000, we offer community-building camps, interpersonal connections and a continuum of support for youth and families. Eluna’s three signature programs are provided at no cost: Camp Erin, the largest grief camp network for youth ages 6-17; Camp Mariposa, an addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth ages 9-17; and the Eluna Resource Center, which provides research-based education and personalized support. Eluna has supported over 50,000 youth campers and their families through our network of partnerships with over 50 non-profit community organizations across the US and Canada. Together we provide in-depth programming and data-driven evaluation to ensure high standards of care and positive outcomes.
Follow Eluna on social media at @elunanetwork, or for more information visit ElunaNetwork.org.