The Grovers Grow Through Grief by Giving Back to Grieving Kids

Six years ago, Ted Grover joined Good Grief’s Board of Directors. Soon after, his wife Jan, a retired teacher, completed Good Grief’s training and became a support group facilitator. The Grovers were both drawn to Good Grief’s mission to provide unlimited and free support to children, teens, young adults, and families after the death of a mother, father, sister, or brother through peer support programs, education, and advocacy.

In their efforts to help Good Grief reach more grieving children in our community, Ted and Jan have been enthusiastically involved in the organization’s annual Golf Fore the Kids outing at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton since its inception in 2014.

Good Grief’s Golf Fore the Kids outing begins with registration at 10:00 a.m. Shotgun start is at 12:00 p.m. with an on-course box lunch. Following the 18 holes of golf, there are cocktails and dinner in the picturesque circular-shaped Travertine Room, which overlooks the 18th fairway and offers panoramic views of the estate. Raffle tickets are available for purchase throughout the day, and there are on-course contests including “Closest to the Pin” and “Longest Drive.”  Mulligans are sold prior to the shotgun start. During dinner there is a short program emceed by Good Grief participants, as well as a wine pull and a silent auction. 

Ted and Jan volunteer their time and talent for Good Grief because they know how important it is for children and families to be supported through loss. The sibling loss experience is one that Ted is all too familiar with. Ted and his brother, Tom, were both drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, but Ted was exempted from deployment after Tom died overseas. “The survivor’s guilt I felt was unimaginable. All these years later, becoming involved with Good Grief has a made a huge difference in my life,” Ted reflected. “Through Jan’s involvement as a facilitator, I’ve learned how important it is to be able to talk about my experience. It has helped me process my grief, and now I am doing what I can to help others get through it,” he added.

As one of nearly 200 trained volunteer facilitators, Jan is instrumental in helping to create a safe and caring environment where children, teens, and families can express themselves, care for each other, and rebuild their lives together. This takes place during Nights of Support at Good Grief’s centers in Princeton and Morristown, and at its new satellite In Community™ locations. Enrollment has grown for 11 consecutive years, to reach over 900 participants a year. 

Ted and Jan feel grateful to be part of an organization that helps kids and families find hope, strength, and courage after the death of a family member. Jan reflected, “There is such positivity in the support that Good Grief participants give to each other. It’s so powerful for kids to share their experiences with each other. It helps the other kids in the room know that they are going to be okay. Every time I walk through the doors, I see how our community is putting the good in grief.”

All proceeds from Golf Fore the Kids go towards providing grieving families with free support, and for education and advocacy programs throughout New Jersey. To R.S.V.P., become a sponsor, or volunteer for Good Grief’s Golf Fore the Kids you can register online tinyurl.com/GgGolf19, or by calling 609.498.6674 x 8014.  *Please note, your spot in the outing will be confirmed once payment is secured.

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Good Grief is respected as a national leader in delivering grief services to children and their families.  It is the leading provider of these services in New Jersey serving over 1,000 children since its founding in 2004.  Good Grief is a registered 501(c) (3) tax-exempt non-profit organization whose mission is to provide unlimited free support to children, teens and families after the death of a parent or sibling.  Servicing more than 150 communities, we operate programs in Morristown, Princeton, Jersey City, and Newark. For more information about Good Grief, please visit our web site www.good-grief.org.