Thank you to all who joined Uplift Center for Grieving Children in celebrating our 25th anniversary at Hope In Bloom on Thursday, May 8 at Uptown Beer Garden. Every donation counts, and because of the generosity of all sponsors, donors, and attendees, Uplift surpassed our initial fundraising goal of $20,000 and raised $21,300! These funds enable up to 20 youth to participate in six weeks of grief groups held in their schools and communities. With support from Uplift's team of Masters-level clinicians, these young participants will learn how to heal and grow through their grief in community with each other. (fb)

The Uplift Center for Grieving Children is pleased to announce the appointment of Crystal M. Wortham as our new Executive Director. Crystal is a licensed clinical social worker who has provided trauma-informed grief and mental health services to the youth, caregivers and families of Uplift for over 10 years. When she was promoted to Director of Clinical and Education Services in November 2022, Crystal exercised leadership by providing clinical supervision and guidance to staff, and ensuring adherence to best practices and professional standards. Raised and educated in Philadelphia, Crystal received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological and Social Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice. Crystal received Post-Masters certificates in Trauma and in Perinatal Grief through the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research at Bryn Mawr College, and has received additional certifications through the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in emergency behavioral health management and acute trauma response. She also works with Dr. Irwin Sandler, Dr. Liza Hita, and members of the REACH Insititute at Arizona State University to redefine and implement the Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Families program, where she is a certified leader and supervisor. Crystal's leadership as Executive Director positions Uplift as a clinician-led nonprofit. The Board of Directors recognizes that for Uplift to effectively work with grieving youth, caregivers, and families, all programs and services must be informed by their needs and experiences. Uplift's Masters-level clinical team is our most valuable asset as advocates for all grief services participants and as the drivers of program innovation based on real-world experience. The Board of Directors of Uplift is grateful to have Crystal in this executive leadership role. We hope you'll join us in congratulating her on this achievement, and we thank you for your continued support of our mission. (fb)