THE HAVEN NETWORK FOR PERINATAL DEATH AND BEREAVEMENT

It’s International Women’s Day and we couldn’t think of a more perfect time to reintroduce our two co-executive directors of The Haven Network. Together Stephanie Grimm and Kathy Pittman have been the face of The Haven Network for the past 10 years. We asked each other some questions so you could get to know us better. Polar opposites or are they one in the same? You decide. How long have you worked for The Haven? Kathy:17 years Stephanie: 9 Favorite color Kathy:Blue Stephanie: Green….and blue One word to describe your personal style Kathy: Contemporary Stephanie: Casual Sweet or salty? Kathy: Sweet Stephanie: Sweet Ice cream or cake? Kathy: Cake Stephanie: Ice Cream Favorite place you’ve visited: Kathy: Estes Park, Colorado Stephanie: St. Kitts and Estes Park Winter or summer? Kathy: Summer Stephanie: Winter Favorite movie: Kathy:National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Stephanie: Pride and prejudice Cats or dogs? Kathy: Dogs Stephanie: cats….and dogs What do you like to do in your down time? Kathy: Garden Stephanie: Read What is your strength that you bring to the team? Kathy: Creativity Stephanie: Heart What is something you admire about your co-worker? Kathy about Stephanie: She is so dedicated and is constantly thinking of what we can do next. Her heart for our families is unwavering and she will do anything and everything she can for them. She is always happy and such a joy to work with. Plus, she likes to read and I don’t so I can always count on her to break down what I need to know on the latest books or articles that she has read🤣 Stephanie about Kathy: She manages me constantly and gives me random jobs and gets me to agree to them before I even realize what happened!!! This is said with great humor…even though it’s true. Kathy has an amazing and enviable ability to have deep and meaningful conversations with everyone and it is such a benefit to the families we care for. She has the ability to capture gorgeous images of each baby and her eye for detail is critical in the successful running of the business side of The Haven. She is witty and funny and speaks from the heart. She has been the heart of The Haven for almost the entire time we’ve been in operation and she’s always helping make my/our ideas happen. It is truly a gift to call her one of my best friends. We may disagree about room temperature, radio stations and who is employee of the month, but we genuinely love working together. We both love our Haven community of volunteers, donors, supporters and work colleagues. We love the mission of The Haven Network and are proud to serve our families and honor the life of each baby we serve. We look forward to several more years of being office besties.

The Haven was at St. Marks Church in #rockfordillinois today with their Ruth Circle group. We talked about what #thehavennetwork does to care for bereaved families in our community, how to support a friend or family member through loss and how they could volunteer their time and skills with The Haven. To have The Haven at your next community group, church group, business, moms group, etc please contact us at info@thehavennetwork.org #thehavennetwork #communityoutreach #rockford #rockfordil #guestspeaker

Tonight community speaking engagement was at the Boone County Grange. We shared with everyone what The Haven Network does for families in our community enduring the death of their baby and how volunteers are at the core of our mission. Haven mom, Family Service Volunteer and Grange member Marisa O’Dell not only made this possible but brought her memory box and photos of her son Ben. She said if anyone wanted to see his pictures she would love to share them. The two women pictured immediately asked to see them and just loved seeing her son Ben. That moment absolutely choked me up. To witness such loving interest and to hear them gush over him was an absolute beautiful moment to witness. #thehavennetwork #rockfordillinois #guestspeaker #babylossawareness #belvidereillinois #belvidereil

#rockfordil #rockford #rockfordnonprofit #sponsorship #sponsorshipopportunity

What’s happening here? An amazing group of middle school students are helping assemble over 200 bath kits! These kits are provided to each family we care for at the hospital to make bath time for their baby a little more comfortable. Bonding time with their baby is important.

#rockfordil based #supportgroup for parents enduring the death of their baby via #pregnancyloss

20 years!!!! 2004-2024 We are celebrating 20 years of The Haven Network this year! For 20 years we have been supporting families throughout Northern Illinois enduring the death of their baby. We are continually growing, improving and providing the best possible grief support and care to all the families we are privileged to care for. Here’s to the first 20 years!! 💜 #rockfordil #rockfordnonprofit #20yearsofexcellence #20yearsstrong #griefsupport #pregnancyandinfantloss

Surrounded by amazing talent, one of our volunteers crafted these incredible plaques for the moms we support in the hospital. The open space is where baby’s foot prints are placed. Thank you Albert House for crafting these #woodworking #keepsake #thehavennetwork #rockfordil #rockford #woodworkingcommunity

#rockfordil #rockford #thehavennetwork #babyloss #miscarriage #stillbirth #sids

#rockfordil #rockford #nonprofitsupport