One in seven children experiences the loss of a parent, sibling, or caregiver by the age of ten, but few resources are available to help them deal with their loss.

The New York Life Foundation began working in 2008 to fill that gap, with a $3 million grant to Comfort Zone Camp (CZC), the nation’s largest bereavement camp for children. CZC’s weekend camps, for children ages 7 to 17, use a combination of grief therapy and fun to help them deal with their loss.

According to CZC founder Lynne Hughes, herself orphaned at age 12, children often fall through the cracks because people usually focus on the surviving spouse or parents of the deceased. Ms. Hughes adds that “children are often referred to as our ‘forgotten mourners’ because of the country’s lack of resources to help them deal with death.”

 “Most campers are unable to express their grief or even speak about the person they lost,” she says. “A camp gives kids the opportunity to deal with grief in a structured way and to also have fun. For many campers it is the first time they’re meeting somebody their own age going through the same thing they are. It is healing for kids to realize they aren’t alone."

Children are matched with adult volunteer Big Buddies, including New York Life agents and employees, who are specially screened and trained in grief counseling. Like traditional camps, CZC volunteers lead campers in games, songs, and arts and crafts. But unlike most camps, activities are structured to foster trust building and to teach kids how to cope with their grief.

“We regularly hear from parents and teachers that, after attending a camp, our kids are much happier, their performance in school improves and they are better adjusted overall,” adds Hughes.

 “Comfort Zone’s mission is a great fit for our company,” says New York Life CEO Ted Mathas. “One of our core missions is to provide financial security to help families get through a loss. We are now in a position to also help children emotionally get through the loss of a loved one.”