Rainbows (charity)

Rainbows is the world’s largest grief support organization dedicated solely to helping children and teens cope with the emotional pain of life-altering loss and crises. Most Rainbows participants are struggling either with disruptive family events like death or divorce or with the aftermath of large-scale crises and disasters, including school violence, war and natural disaster. Since 1983, Rainbows has served nearly two million youth, at no cost to their families. Adult programs also are available.

Rainbows was established by Suzy Yehl Marta, after she was unable to find any resources to help her three young sons cope with her divorce. The organization began with three pilot sites in the Chicago area. Today, Rainbows has a global network of 6,500 community-based program sites and 40,000 trained volunteer facilitators who work directly with grieving children throughout the United States and in 17 other countries.

The Rainbows mission is based on the premise that while the pain of loss cannot be avoided, it doesn’t need to hurt forever.

An independent study details how Rainbows helps its youth participants:
80% discovered more effective ways to solve problems
83% discovered better ways to communicate their feelings
55% learned new methods of anger management
56% performed better academically.

Rainbows has received numerous honors, including awards from the Children’s Rights Council and the Points of Light Foundation. Supporters include The Alliance Group, Ronald McDonald House, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

Programs

Grief Support: addresses the emotional pain of families in transition
Sunbeams – for children, ages 3 and 4
Rainbows – for children, from K to eighth grade
Spectrum – for adolescents, from 9 to 12th grade
Alumni – for children who wish to re-enroll in Rainbows
Kaleidoscope – for adults, college age and up
Prism – for single parents and stepparents

Crisis Response:addresses issues arising from large scale disasters and crises
Silver Linings –a community crisis response program with editions for children, K through High School, and for adults.

"Pilot Programs:"
Child-to-Child – helps children living with a mentally ill parent
Luminaries – aids developmentally disabled adults with loss/transitions
MVP (Message on Violence Prevention) – developed for the DeAngelo Hall Foundation and used at workshops for at-risk adolescents

Spokespersons

Roma Downey, ActressNational Honorary Chairperson

Jade Kenny, Miss Teen International 2006. Rainbows Teen Spokesperson

Charity Rating

Rated “Best in America Charity” by Independent Charities of America

= Resources =

HEALING THE HURT, RESTORING THE HOPE: How to Guide Children and Teens through Troubling Times of Divorce, Death and Crisis (Rodale Books 2003; re-issued SawRobin Press 2006) by Suzy Yehl Marta. Available from Rainbows.
E newsletter: The HuesPublished quarterly; available electronically

External links

* [http://www.rainbows.org/ Official website]

Contact

Rainbows2100 W. Golf Road, Suite 370Rolling Meadows IL 60008
800-266-3206