Friends of the Angel Loses Longtime Sponsor
A local nonprofit says their long-time mission of helping grieving families may be in jeopardy. Friends of the Angel is eagerly seeking a new signature sponsor after losing theirs.
Friends of the Angel is a remembrance group that supports community members after losing a loved one. These support systems and events usually takes place around the Angel of Hope statue in Maple Grove.
Maple Grove Hospital has sponsored and donated thousands of dollars to Friends of the Angel throughout the years. The hospital notified the group in March 2019 that their sponsorship guidelines would be changing for 2020. The hospital continues to provide resources for families who have lost a loved one through the hospital and other programs.
In a statement Maple Grove Hospital said,
We have been honored to partner with (Friends of the Angel) and provide meaningful support for many years. Our sponsorship priorities going forward are based on the needs identified by the community during our federally-mandated Community Health Needs Assessment which occurs every three years. The three priorities identified during this months-long process with community members and organizations are mental health, substance use and healthy aging. We work with community partners to provide additional resources and support in these areas.”
Now that the hospital is no longer sponsoring Friends of the Angel, they will have to scale back on some of their events like vigils and brick dedication ceremonies. That has members worried some people might not get the support they need.
“One of our missions is to foster that connection with the angel and let you know that you’re not alone,” explained Kristine Miller, Friends of the Angel secretary. “Seeing all the bricks around and having activities where brick owners come together to connect, share and learn from each other and support each other. Without that, without our group, it might be more difficult to do that. People might not get the hope and the healing that this angel can really provide.”
Every year, the nonprofit hosts a large event called Walk to Remember. That event will still happen in May, however the organization will make some changes this year due to monetary constraints.
