OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today the WellSky Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life for vulnerable populations, announced it has gifted $50,000 to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the leading national organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for people and families grieving the death of military loved ones.
During the 2020 holiday season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people are experiencing new levels of isolation, and grief support is increasingly important for people facing loss. With support from the WellSky Foundation, TAPS will enhance its ability to provide military families access to its 24/7 national peer support network and connections to grief resources, at no cost to surviving families. Founded in 1994, TAPS is a veterans service organization delivering a range of national and global support initiatives — including youth programs, survivor seminars for adults, peer mentorship, casework and benefits assistance, and counseling resources.
“Every initiative within TAPS is intended to strengthen the survivor community and bring restorative healing and improved wellness for individuals and families,” said Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of TAPS. “The holidays can be a particularly isolating time for people who have lost loved ones. For families with an empty chair at the table, a loved one’s absence can become all the more apparent. This season, COVID-19 is magnifying that loneliness. That’s why we’re especially grateful to partner with the WellSky Foundation as we provide care and compassion to the people we serve.”
Isolation is one of the four key social determinants of health (SDoH) that the WellSky Foundation is dedicated to addressing. According to research published by the National Institutes of Health, social isolation and loneliness are linked to a heightened risk for other serious health conditions, including heart disease, depression, and anxiety. Together, the WellSky Foundation and TAPS are working to alleviate isolation among military families.
“Because of TAPS, so many people who have lost a loved one know that they don’t have to face grief alone,” said Andrea Morgan, executive director of the WellSky Foundation. “I’m honored to support TAPS and all that they do to care for military families. Their work is life-changing, and the WellSky Foundation is proud to help TAPS expand their reach and connect even more people with the support and resources they need.”
In addition to its many programs, TAPS also offers helpful tools for people and families outside of the military and veteran community who are facing loss amid the holiday season. Notably, the nonprofit has published a range of informative articles addressing grief — including a step-by-step guide on making a coping plan for the holidays, written by Carroll. This is one of many ways TAPS is addressing loneliness for its community. Additional support resources related to grief and COVID-19 are available at TAPS.org/covid/together.
“It’s truly heartening to see the WellSky Foundation partner with TAPS to support military families,” said Bill Miller, CEO of WellSky, the global health and community care technology company that established the WellSky Foundation. “TAPS offers hope and encouragement to people when they need it most, and I’m honored we can further amplify their positive impact, especially during this season of giving.”
About TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the leading national organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to more than 90,000 survivors of fallen military in the form of peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, casework assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been profoundly affected by a death of a military loved one. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).
About the WellSky Foundation
The WellSky Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life for vulnerable populations by removing social barriers to health, recovery, and lasting wellness. The WellSky Foundation is an engine for change, financially supporting organizations that enable care and healing for people, regardless of their socioeconomic status. With a deep understanding of the social determinants of health, the WellSky Foundation partners with community organizations that are boldly addressing the top four socioeconomic factors affecting long-term wellness — housing, food insecurity, transportation, and isolation. The WellSky Foundation is committed to funding and supporting organizations that protect the people and communities they serve and create better outcomes for people in need. Together with our community partners, the WellSky Foundation is breaking down social barriers to health and wellness to build thriving communities. To learn more about the WellSky Foundation, visit WellSkyFoundation.org.
