Dedicated to helping families move forward after the loss of a child by supporting activities that will enrich lives through grants, scholarships, and events.
What do you say to a bereaved mother on Mother’s Day? How do you help her? Do you ignore it and not say anything? Do you wish her a beautiful day? I had a fellow employee ask me this today when we were discussing our schedules for the weekend. I thought back to my [...]
The Tony Brown foundation is proud to be participating in the MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) walk which this year is held in memory of my dear friend’s son Derick who was killed by a drunk driver on May 10, 2008. Derick James Springer Home City: Fairfield, CT Age: 23 Crash Anniversary: May 10, 2008 I have joined the [...]
Please join us for a Wine Tasting Evening at Jones Winery. Come enjoy the beauty of Jones Family Farms and the Jones Winery Tasting Room. Let the Jones Winery team guide you through a fun-filled, unique, educational experience on sampling, serving and pairing their wines for optimum enjoyment. These locally grown, handcrafted wines pair beautifully [...]
Two years ago I started a huge project. One that was bigger and more costly than I could have imagined. It had to be put on hold until I had both the energy and the funds to put into this beautiful book. The time has come. I do believe that things happen for a [...]
This month, Tuesday April 30th, we will meet at 6:45 pm and have a showing of a short (60 min) DVD “The 5 H’s-Hurt, Hope, Help, Honor and Healing by the Grief Toolbox at 7:30. This video will inform, inspire and offer tools to help you as you navigate your grief journey. The founders of The Grief Toolbox-Glen and Tanya [...]
We are not professionals, just a group of parents and siblings who know what ist is like to have lost a child, grandchild, or sibling. These meetings are non denominational and there is no fee to join We just ask that our group does not judge and allows everyone to grieve at their own pace, [...]
Twenty eight years ago on a beautiful Saturday morning much like today I left my home on King Street in Stratford, CT with two boys (ages 3 and 5) in hand and headed to my moms. I had been in labor for almost three weeks and I was done. The stress tests every other day [...]
Anxiety was at it’s max the weeks leading up to our Grief Awareness Open House. My heart knew this was a much needed event. My heart knew we would reach those who were searching. My heart knew this day would turn into exactly what it should be. My mind, that was a different story. I [...]
On February 18th from 2-8 pm at St. Peter’s Church in Monroe CT, The Tony Brown Foundation will be holding a Hope, Healing and Friendship open house to provide a place where our community can come to share, explore and help or be helped while dealing with grief issues. While this is not an event [...]
On March 2, 2013, just 7 days before Tony’s 28th birthday we are hosting our second annual memorial blood drive through the Red Cross. The drive will be held at Good Shepard Lutheran Church at 466 Elm Street, Monroe, CT between the hours of 8Am and 1PM. Appointments are strongly recommended and we are now accepting them [...]
The Tony Brown Foundation LLC is pleased to announce that it will be sending ONE grieving parent to The Compassionate Friends/USA 36th National Conference. The conference will be held July 4-7, 2013 in historic Boston, Ma. To learn more about this years conference visit The Compassionate Friends website. A message from Tony’s Mom: After my first conference in July [...]
Well, it is the end of 2012 and I have survived the many challenges I was faced with. 2012 also brought many opportunities to learn, grow, love and appreciate. I chose to focus on the positive events and people that are in my life. Looking back on the year it would be easy to [...]
Since the tragic events that took place Friday in Sandy Hook, we have all been struggling with a sense and urgency of needing to help. I know all too well the heartache the families are feeling. Their lives are forever changed and for that, my heart breaks al over again. There are no words, only [...]
The Tony Brown Foundation offers heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families, and to the students, faculty, administration, staff and their families who have been deeply affected by the tragic events that took place today at The Sandy Hook Elementary School. My heart breaks knowing the pain that is being experienced by the [...]
Last week I attended a Greif Service Provider class in Omaha Nebraska with Darcie Sims. It was an amazing class filled with so much valuable information concerning the grief journey. It was presented in a way which lent itself to not only be learned, but to be understood and breathed in so that it was absorbed by [...]
Planning has begun for our fourth annual candle lighting. Since the first on just shortly after Tony’s death with about 20 family and friends attending, we have grown to having a beautiful event with a dinner, slideshow, musical performances, readings of poetry and donations to our local food bank. If you would like to participate with a readin be [...]
After I attended my first Compassionate Friends Conference last year in Minnesota I vowed that the foundation would raise money every year to send a first time conference attendee on a scholarship so they could also experience the love, hope, and healing that I had. I asked that they share their observations with others! Below is our [...]
Here is a slideshow of the compassionate friends conference! I hope you enjoy it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AE1hMqlHro&list=LLoTSFign-zgoRxj5KyaXTlQ&feature=mh_lolz
We are pleased to announce that the Angels will once again be bringing their message of hope to Monroe, CT. On September 13 Alan Pedersen will bring his gentle mix of humor and heart felt talk with some very inspirational songs about, love and loss to The Edith Wheeler Library. The purpose is to [...]
I just came back from attending my second Compassionate Friends National Conference and Walk to Remember. As I was trying to come up with a way to describe the experience, I found this post on my facebook wall from my dear friend and brilliant author Mitch Carmody! It sums up what all who attend feel [...]
I am not sure how to start this post. I have sat down many times in the last few weeks, wanting to share something helpful, profound, insightful. But each time the fear of reality stopped me dead in my tracks. Some might think what a crazy notion. Do not misunderstand, I live my reality every [...]
The Shelton Butterfly Project was founded in 2010 by Dee Cavalli Tutka in memory of her daughter Viviana Rose Cavalli who was killed by a drunk driver in 2009.The Shelton Butterfly Project will have its 3rd annual butterfly release in memory of any loved one and dedicated to Viviana Rose Cavalli. It will be held [...]
The Tony Brown Foundation is proud to announce our support group. It has started out as an additional time for some members of The Compassionate Friends of Bridgeport to gather and create a banner to be carried at the National Walk To Remember! What was quickly discovered is we enjoyed creating while sharing and supporting. [...]
Here it comes again! The overwhelming sense of anxiety, physical aches and pains, sleeplessness! These are the first signs that even in our busy lives, no matter what else is going on, no matter how well we seem to be coping, our brain and bodies sense our grief. Our internal heart knows and tries to protect [...]
What a wonderful, beautiful, hopeful and healing day it was! With a crowd close to 50 bereaved participants, the energy and love that filled the room was palpable. All were there to see A Day with Mitch and Alan and gain knowledge and tools that would help them through the most difficult journey they are on; [...]
Most people walk gently among the grieving during the “holidays”-Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays and aniversaries. However, our grief does not distinguish between holidays. Memorial day may be harder than Christmas depending on your traditions and memories surrounding them. For those grieving the loss of their child EVERY holiday is a reminder. Time does not matter, grief knows no time. This article found in the [...]
Last night a few bereaved parents and I met to honor our children by creating a banner to be carried at The Compassionate Friends National Conference Walk To Remember! It was a small group by we were very effective and hopeful. We discussed design, photos of our children were a must. We came up with a plan. [...]
The Tony Brown Foundation is very pleased to announce the recipient of the scholarship to The Compassionate Friends National Conference in Costa Mesa California this July. We would like to thank all the participants who took the time to share their story with us. It was not an easy decision, each story touched me very deeply [...]
On March 3rd, we hosted our first Memorial Blood Drive! It was a huge success thanks to all who came out and gave the gift of life! Over 90 people showed up. Many were repeat donors. I actually witnessed a gentleman receive a pin for donating 50 gallons! Some were unable to donate due to their history but vowed [...]
A DAY WITH MITCH CARMODY AND ALAN PEDERSEN Mitch Carmody and Alan Pedersen are pleased to announce they will be presenting a limited number of one-day workshops in 2012 in many U.S. cities. The two have been collaborating for more than 5 years on a program aimed at sharing hope and healing with the bereavement community. [...]
Give The gift of Blood, it may save someone’s life! It saved Tony’s in January 2009! The Tony Brown Foundation is pleased to announce it will be holding our first Memorial Blood Drive. On March 3, 2012, just 6 days before Tony’s 27th birthday we are hosting a blood drive through the Red Cross. [...]
The Tony Brown Foundation LLC is pleased to announce that it will be sending ONE grieving parent to The Compassionate Friends/USA 35th National Conference, and 5th International Gathering. The combined conference will be held July 20-22, 2012 in beautiful Costa Mesa, California. To learn more about this years conference visit The Compassionate Friends website. A message [...]
It has been a very long year. Many will contradict this with the fact that every year holds the same amount of minutes, hours, days and weeks (except for of course, this year-a leap year!). I have come to believe that the more “things” that take up these hours and days- the longer they feel. These last few months [...]
The Holidays are upon us and it is the most difficult time of the year for many. Thanksgiving is just a few short days away. You may ask, is it possible to feel grateful for anything after a hole has been ripped out of your heart? I believe so. Although it is not an easy task, I [...]
It has been a very busy and productive month here at The Tony Brown Foundation. We are very close to obtaining our 503c number and can not wait to be “Officially” Non-Profit! There is a lot of paper work involved, crossing your T’s, dotting your I’s and projecting the future. No matter, it is a [...]
The Tony Brown foundation is very excited to announce The Angels Across America Tour with gifted songwriter Alan Pedersen and his compassionate grief specialist wife Denise Howard Pedersen will be sharing their gifts with all who join us on October 11, 2011 at The Edith Wheeler Library in Monroe, CT. Alan and Denise hit the road [...]
Sunday December 11, 2011 – Sunday December 11, 2011 5600 Quality Street Map and Directions | Register Description: The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting unites family and friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause. As candles are lit [...]
written by: Anne Castaldo Bridgeport, CT Chapter of The Compassionate Friends How is it possible to describe The Compassionate Friends National Conference to my friends and family? The days leading up to the conference, those “civilians” kept asking me why I would want to submerse myself in grief. Isn’t it time I left that pain [...]
July 11th marked the two year anniversary since my youngest son has become my angel. In honor and memory of him, I donated blood at a Red Cross Blood Drive. Tony developed a rare blood disease called TTP in January of 2009. It was believed that this was a one time issue and he should [...]
We are declaring July 11th “Sport your Beard Day” in honor of Tony! Tony loved his beard which he started to grow while attending Full Sail University! He had a plan not to shave until he graduated in August of 2009. For some reason, Tony decided to shave in May 2009. He was still know [...]
Join us June 5th from 5-8pm at Roberto’s Restaurant on Main Street in Monroe, CT for our first scholarship fundraiser! Tickets are $45 pp and include Italian style Hors Devours, a musical presentation by Frank Mastrone, inspirational and healing conversation with Anna Raimondi, a cash bar, silent auction, raffle prizes a balloon release, and a rare [...]
Mother’s Day is an especially difficult day for those who have children that are now angels. The constant reminder can sometimes be very painful. I am trying very hard to remember, it is just another day. Today does not define me as a mother. All the years of raising my sons, all the joy, heartache [...]
Happiness after the death of a child, for most is something of an anomaly. Although appearances may be deceiving to friends and family, the heart of a bereaved parent must continually adjust to a new happy. I struggle with this often. Although devastated by my sons death and heartbroken beyond comprehension, I want to laugh, smile, play and [...]
As I sit next to my husband in his hospital room, listening to the fragile sounds of life all around me, I am struck by the enormous sense of gratitude I feel, in spite of or perhaps because of the path my life has taken. The loss of my youngest son has had a tremendous [...]
This past week I was fortunate to have met Bill from The Monroe Patch. We spent a few hours talking about life after the death of a child, my son Tony and the plans for the foundation. I must admit, I was a bit nervous at first, an official interview, how would I keep myself [...]
It was Thanksgiving time. My second one without Tony sitting around the table, joking, laughing engaging in conversation. Oddly, this year seemed much harder than the first year. I heard that shock and denial help get you through the first year. Panic began to set in the closer we got to the holiday. I wanted [...]
Throughout this journey, when someone will ask me how I am doing, after the obligatory “Fine, thanks”, I usually follow it up with “Just taking it one day at a time.” Realistically, it is more like one second at a time. At the end of the day I try very hard to remember the good [...]
HURRY, DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE INCLUDED IN “RECIPES FROM HEAVEN” A beautiful book inspired by our loved ones that have passed before us in in the creative stages. The book will included recipes that we enjoyed with our loved ones. We could have made them a special desert every year [...]
I have always tried to live positively. The attached article is what I do believe to be true. However, since the death of my son, it is a hard road to travel. What are your thoughts about it? Read article here: Attitude is vastly important because it presents your image to the world and is the [...]
Bob Puglia! Bob and his wife were eligible to win the BEARD T-shirt through their purchase of tickets to the June 5th Cocktail Reception-Fundraiser. The winner was drawn randomly honor of Tony’s birthday which happened to fall on the same day-March 9th. Congratulations to Bob, wear the shirt well!
Grief Support is offered through our Moving Through Grief Support Group Meets the LAST Tuesday of the Month Our meeting place is: The Helen Plumb Memorial Building, 571 White Plains Road, … [Read More...]