Ele's Race is July 22, 2012!

What is Ele's Place?

Ele's Place is a healing center for grieving children, supporting families in the Lansing and Ann Arbor regions and beyond. Each week, peer support group programs help hundreds of children and teens to cope with the death or life-threatening illness of a parent, sibling or other close family member or friend.

Before coming to Ele’s Place, many grieving children and teens feel alone and keep their feelings inside, not wanting to burden their parents or other family members. Often, friends don’t seem to understand if they haven’t had a similar experience. But each week at Ele’s Place, hundreds of grieving children find a warm and welcoming place to meet new friends who really understand how they feel. Some children learn how to cope with a family member’s illness, while others begin to heal after the death of a loved one.

“When my dad died, I was angry and confused and empty – all at the same time. Ele’s Place is helping me to open up.” -Joe, 16

"I liked Ele's Place because I met new friends like me. I liked being able to talk about my sister when I wanted to. And when I didn't want to talk I could just listen." - Shaunna, 4

“My children are very open now to discussing their father’s death and their feelings. It was also comforting for me to have time with adults around my age who lost a spouse and have small children.” -Sheila, parent