Welcome!

Founded in July of 2000 by Nina Sagall Gorbach, a licensed marriage and family therapist, WillMar Center for Bereaved Children is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to serve children and teenagers who have experienced the death of a loved one from illness, accident, suicide or homicide. WillMar was created to meet the growing needs of unserved bereaved children.

Our mission is to:

Provide a safe, healing environment and compassionate support to children and teenagers grieving the death of loved one. Support services extend to the family, care-givers, schools, the community, and to children living with a family member who has a life-changing illness.

To achieve our goals, WillMar Center:

- Facilitates professional and meaningful support groups for children and their parents, grandparents, guardians, and care-givers.

- Conducts expressive arts programs to encourage healthy self-expression and to strengthen the bereaved child.

- Focuses on community education addressing the needs of grieving children through WillMar Center's Lending Library, school outreach programs, and presentations for adults in the community.

WillMar Center Welcomes Interim Executive Director, Annie Bauer

WillMar Center for Bereaved Children has hired Annie Bauer to act as Interim Executive Director. Annie comes to WillMar with a strong non profit and consulting background, specializing in academic medicine, international public health and education-related programs. She served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Global Health Council where she was responsible for business operations and strategic planning for growth. Prior to that she served as Director of Planning and Administration for the Dartmouth Medical School.

Annie found a good match in WillMar Center, having a personal understanding of loss and bereavement and a strong desire to be associated with an organization whose mission resonates with her. Over the next several months, she will focus on organizational assessment, strategic planning, Board development, advancing community outreach, and working with staff, volunteers and WillMar Guardians to continue in its mission to bring joy to grieving children.

Watch our new videos! (Flash Format)