News from Dougy Center, May 2024

Upcoming Events

27th Annual Porsche Boxster Raffle

Drawing is May 10, 2024

Reflection Benefit & Auction

May 10, 2024

Find out more

Dougy Center Grief Education Webinars:

Grief as an Addiction? The Dangers of Pathologizing Grief

June 13, 2024

Find out more


Becoming Grief-Informed: Foundations of Grief Education

September 5, 2024

Find out more


Navigating Grief During the Holidays

October 3, 2024

Find out more

Support Dougy Center through Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program

Dougy Center peer grief support program comes to Dougy's hometown

From Portland, Oregon to Aiken, South Carolina, Dougy Center's program comes full circle.


Dougy Center's L.Y.G.H.T. program (Listening and Led by Youth in Foster Care: Grief, Hope, and Transitions) provides peer grief support for youth in foster care. Currently, L.Y.G.H.T. is offered in several locations throughout South Carolina, and we're thrilled to announce a new community site will begin offering the L.Y.G.H.T. program this month in Aiken, SC, the hometown of our namesake, Dougy Turno.


The new L.Y.G.H.T. partnership is with Helping Hands, Inc., an emergency home for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, abandonment and/or neglect.


In 1981, at the age of 13, Dougy Turno traveled from Aiken to Portland to receive experimental treatment for an inoperable brain tumor. Dougy's experiences and his desire to talk about his impending death inspired our founder, Beverly Chappell, to start the first-ever peer grief support program for children.


“We are deeply honored to expand the L.Y.G.H.T. program to Aiken, South Carolina, especially considering the connection between Dougy Turno and how he inspired the founding of Dougy Center,” said Monique Mitchell, PhD, FT, National Director of L.Y.G.H.T. at Dougy Center. “Through this partnership with Helping Hands, Inc. we can provide much-needed grief support to youth in the foster care system, helping them explore a healthy outlet to express their unique experiences of loss and grief and to support one another along the way.”


Dougy Center is working to bring L.Y.G.H.T. to youth in foster care throughout the country, including Oregon. Find more about L.Y.G.H.T. here.

Dr. Donna Schuurman, Dougy Center's Senior Director of Advocacy & Education, recently traveled to Dougy's hometown in Aiken, South Carolina, and met with two of Dougy's brothers, David and Daniel (right). Also pictured is Dougy Turno (top left) and Dougy Center Founder Beverly Chappell (bottom left).

Get ready for the Reflection Benefit next week!

Join us and celebrate the hope, connection, and transformation found at Dougy Center through the 2024 Reflection Benefit & Auction. The online auction starts Monday, May 6.


Bid on amazing auction packages, including original works of art made by Dougy Center participants. We look forward to sharing the inspiration found through Dougy Center’s work in providing hope and healing to children and families who are grieving.


The in-person event is at the Portland Art Museum on Friday, May 10. The evening culminates with the drawing for the winning ticket in the 27th Annual Porsche Boxster Raffle. If you have purchased a Porsche Boxster Raffle ticket, tune in to Dougy Center's Facebook page as we livestream the drawing around 9 p.m. (exact timing may vary depending on the Benefit program).


Funds raised through Reflection and the Porsche Boxster Raffle ensure that Dougy Center's grief support programs and resources are provided at no cost to families.


Find out more about the Reflection Benefit & Auction here. Special thank you to our amazing sponsors for their generous support!

Congratulations to the 2024 International Summer Institute scholarship recipients

In partnership with the New York Life Foundation, Dougy Center awards four scholarships for full tuition to the International Summer Institute each year. A huge congratulations to the 2024 International Summer Institute Scholarship recipients: Jessica Rousselle of Salem, MA; Elisa Stone of Davis, CA; Amy Wyman of East Falmouth, MA; and Brittney Kennedy of Penfield, NY.


The 2024 International Summer Institute is July 22 - 26, and the training is currently at capacity. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please email trianing@dougy.org. The application for the 2025 International Summer Institute scholarships will be available in January.

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dougy.org · help@dougy.org · 503.775.5683