13th annual Legacy of Hope Breakfast held in honor of Children’s Grief Awareness Month
Brooke’s Place will hold its 13th annual Legacy of Hope Breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, with a goal to raise $250,000 to support grief programs for children, teens, young adults, and their caregivers.
The breakfast, the organization’s largest fundraiser and friend-raiser of the year, will take place at the Ritz Charles in Carmel and is presented by Valeo and The Willard and Anne Levin Foundation.
Guests will enjoy a complimentary breakfast, hear from speakers and Brooke’s Place representatives, and directly support therapeutic programs that serve some of central Indiana’s most vulnerable youth. November is recognized as Children’s Grief Awareness Month, a time that spotlights children’s grief and honors families navigating the holiday season, often the most difficult time for those processing the death of a loved one.
“The Legacy of Hope Breakfast is an opportunity for individuals who want to learn more about who we are and what we do to hear really inspirational stories from the children and families that we have served,” Brooke’s Place Executive Director Theresa Brun said. “This year’s $250,000 goal will directly fund our support groups, therapy services, camp experiences, and community education programs that have served more than 34,000 individuals since our founding in 1999.”
For more information, to register, or to donate, visit BrookesPlace.org/events/loh25.
Honoring community leadership
Kort Builders will receive the 2025 Legacy of Hope Award in recognition of their sustained commitment to the organization. Over the years, Kort Builders has constructed volcano rooms, therapeutic spaces where young people can express their big emotions, and wind phones, where bereaved families dial their loved one’s phone number into an old-style rotary phone and talk in a secluded area. The company has also provided in-kind support for volunteer appreciation and corporate networking events, impacting thousands of young people and their caregivers in the midst of grief.
Powerful stories take center stage
Mary Susan Buhner, a FOX 59 Parenting & Family Lifestyle Contributor with over 30 years of experience in nonprofit work and education, will serve as emcee. Buhner has championed student mental health initiatives at Indiana University, Butler University, and Cathedral High School, and is the author of three books, including Life’s Little Guidebook and Mommy Magic.
The breakfast will feature three Brooke’s Place teen panelists sharing their grief journeys:
Brea Knapp felt completely isolated after her mother died from cancer in 2022. Through therapy at Brooke’s Place, she learned about emotional intelligence and discovered how her pain could become a bridge to understanding others.
Brooks Riley was just 10 years old when his father, David, died by suicide. Finding Brooke’s Place gave him a safe space to share his feelings and connect with other children who understood his pain. Through their support, he has learned healthy coping strategies and now hopes his story reminds others that they are never alone and that a parent’s suicide is never a child’s fault.
Makenzie Yates has attended Brooke’s Place for four years, grieving the deaths of her father and sister, Cheyenne. A Center for Leadership Development alumna, Yates dreams of becoming a business owner.
Dan Antle, a long-time Brooke’s Place volunteer and Board Chair, will also share his story. Since 2002, Antle has provided invaluable time, talents, and financial support to ensure Brooke’s Place meets the needs of central Indiana’s grieving children. He first learned about the organization as a master’s level student at Butler University and has been volunteering ever since. Antle often says, “Brooke’s Place is the best thing I do.”
About Brooke’s Place
Since 1999, Brooke’s Place has provided grief support services to empower children, teens, young adults, and their families to thrive in the midst of loss. The organization offers support groups, therapy services, camp experiences, and community education to more than 34,000 individuals across Central Indiana. Funds raised at the Legacy of Hope Breakfast support these life-changing programs.
