Friends of Aine

Every Donor Counts

This year during NH Gives, our goal is to rally 200 supporters across New Hampshire to help ensure that grieving children and families can access support, connection, and hope at no cost when they need it most.

Whether you give $5, $50, $500, or $5,000, your participation matters. Every donor helps us build a stronger community of support for grieving children and families. And when we reach our goal, we will unlock a $2,500 challenge gift from an anonymous donor.

Childhood Bereavement Is More Common Than Many Realize

1 in 12 New Hampshire children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before age 18.

That number does not include grandparents, alternative caregivers, or other significant people in a child's life. In New Hampshire alone, more than 25,000 children will experience the death of a significant person in their life before reaching adulthood. By age 25, that number more than doubles.

Research shows that bereaved youth face significantly higher risks for negative outcomes later in life.

1 in 4 youth suicides involves a bereaved child.

Bereaved youth are 175% more likely to develop a substance misuse disorder.

Poor Outcomes Are Not Inevitable

When children have access to support, connection, and understanding after a loss, they are better equipped to develop resilience, healthy coping skills, and hope for the future.

That is why Friends of Aine exists.

How Friends of Aine Helps

Friends of Aine is the only organization in New Hampshire solely focused on childhood bereavement.

At our Center for Grieving Children and Families in Manchester, we provide peer support groups for children, teens, and caregivers navigating the death of a loved one. Families find a safe and compassionate environment where they can share their stories, connect with others who understand, and discover that they are not alone.

We also support schools and communities throughout New Hampshire through school-based grief groups, educator trainings, Help Us Grieve (HUG) workshops, and our Grief Backpack Initiative. To date, these resources have reached more than 280 schools across all 10 counties of New Hampshire.

All services are provided at no cost to families.

A Legacy of Hope

Friends of Aine was founded in 2013 by Christine and David Phillips after the sudden death of their daughter, Aine, and the realization that bereavement resources for children were scarce and difficult to access.

Created in Aine's honor, Friends of Aine helps children who have experienced the death of a loved one navigate a path to a hopeful future.

Thank you for supporting Friends of Aine and helping create a world where no child grieves alone.