Buddy’s Place offers a range of programs tailored to youth ages 4–18, their families and caregivers, including:
- Eight-week sessions (held each spring and fall)
- Monthly gatherings (year-round)
- Special events for children and families
In 2024, Buddy’s Place supported 31 families, reflecting a growing need for accessible grief services in the Chicagoland area, particularly across Southwest Suburban Cook County. Since its founding, Buddy’s Place has supported more than 1,500 participants through groups and events, and has reached thousands of students with school-based presentations and workshops following deaths in their school communities.
“Our participants remind us every day that grief is not something children ‘grow out of,’” said Charlotte Shuber, Program Director of Buddy’s Place. “What makes Buddy’s Place unique is the community that forms here. Children and teens quickly realize they are not alone in their grief, and that shared experience becomes a powerful step toward healing.”
Volunteer June S., who has been with Buddy’s Place since its very first session, reflected on the program’s impact:
“I’m still in touch with families who started when their children were very, very young. To see those young people grow into strong teenagers and adults after their time at Buddy’s Place is such a beautiful story.”
To honor this milestone, Pillars Community Health has launched a fundraising and awareness campaign to support the future of Buddy’s Place. All services are offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of donors, foundations, and community partners.
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Learn More & Support Buddy’s Place
Visit PillarsCommunityHealth.org/Services/Behavioral-Health-and-Support-Services/Buddys-Place-Grief-Support/ to learn more or make a gift to help grieving children and families.
Buddy’s Place at a Glance
- Established: 2000
- Annual Reach (2024): 31 families served
- Population Served: Children and teens ages 4–18 and their caregivers
- Core Programs:
- Eight-week sessions – structured support groups for children and families, held each spring and fall
- Monthly gatherings – opportunities for remembrance through engaging activities offered year-round
- Special events – community-building activities for children and families navigating grief
- Program Cost: Free of charge, supported by community generosity
- The Need: In the United States, 1 in 11 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before age 18—that’s nearly two children in every classroom. At Buddy’s Place, we know grief extends beyond those losses. We welcome youth grieving the death of anyone significant in their lives—whether a grandparent, relative, friend, caregiver, neighbor, or classmate. The true need is even greater than 1 in 11, and Buddy’s Place is here to meet it.
- Impact to Date: Thousands of families supported across Chicagoland over 25 years
About Pillars Community Health
Pillars Community Health is a nonprofit provider of health, social, and educational services. For more than 100 years, PCH has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals and families across the region through comprehensive, whole-person care. PCH offers integrated medical and dental services, behavioral health care, crisis support, domestic and sexual violence support, and community education and outreach. Learn more at PillarsCommunityHealth.org.
Media Contact:
Stefin Steberl
Vice President of Marketing and Communications