About

Our Mission:

We are a nonprofit founded in honor of Jenna Betti, funding programs to empower and inspire people to thrive despite adversity.

THE #hersmile STORY

#hersmile, a nonprofit founded in honor of Jenna Betti, funds programs to empower and inspire people to thrive despite adversity. #hersmile’s original mission was to support those who have experienced the loss of a dependent child or the loss of a parent with dependent children and to promote healing and resiliency during these tragic and difficult times.

Since its inception, #hersmile has broadened its services to support social and emotional learning curriculum (SEL). The goal of supporting SEL services is to provide children, teens, parents and the community with the knowledge, attitude, and skills they need to respond responsibly to life’s great challenges, losses and setbacks.

Since the founders of #hersmile personally understand the devastating effects tragedy can have on one’s life, they are committed to helping people get beyond their battles.

#hersmile provides disaster relief for the mind

How do we do this?…

…Through Each Other

Through each other. The #hersmile peer-to-peer charitable-giving platform connects those struggling with their own personal trauma with the resources and people to help them heal, as well as supporting educational platforms that help individuals prepare to cope with life’s challenges.

BeUnderstanding.com

Be Understanding is a new movement of promoting compassionate conversations between friends, family and strangers alike.  They represent something bigger than ourselves.  They are hoping to help people grow into more sympathetic humans.  You don’t have to understand, you just have to be understandingTM.

The organization wants to make a small positive ripple in the chaotic waters that surround us. Their hope is that people can put aside their differences and find a commonality between each other. How can we make someone be understanding even if they cannot understand? The more we break down the walls of contrasting ideas the closer we can become to understanding and being sensitive and accepting to each other’s diversities.

Their motto “You don’t have to understand, you just have to be understanding” is designed to help everyone become a bit more compassionate to others who have been through situations that you have not.

 

RESOURCES

Hospice of the East Bay LogoHOSPICE OF THE EAST BAY

Hospice of the East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family.
http://www.hospiceeastbay.org/services/grief-support/groups-classes

Compassionate Friends LogoCOMPASSIONATE FRIENDS

The Compassionate Friends/ Contra Costa County Chapter: Supporting Families after a Child Dies
www.compassionatefriends.org

Contra Costa Crisis Center LogoCONTRA COSTA CRISIS CENTER

Contra Costa Crisis Center provides individual, group, couples, family, and individual counseling. Their confidential and free services are provided at various locations throughout the county.
http://www.crisis-center.org/programs/grief-counseling

Camp Hope LogoCAMP HOPE

Camp Hope is a free weekend camp for children, ages 6 to 17, who have experienced the loss of a significant loved one.
www.camphopeca.com

 

 

Suicide Prevention Lifeline LogoLOSS SURVIVORS

If you have lost a loved one to suicide, you are not alone. There are resources available to help survivors of suicide loss cope.
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/loss-survivors

SAMHSA logoSAMHSA’S DISASTER DISTRESS & LOSS

SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to    natural or human-caused disasters.
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline

Additional Resources

In addition, many churches, if not all, have Grief Ministries that help facilitate one-on-one grief counseling, grief groups for adults, as well as, grief groups for children and teens. When you are ready, many of these options can help you begin to put back together many of the pieces of your grieving heart.

One of the greatest gifts Jenna gave me was the realization that strength and resiliency is a choice. It's knowing that the one thing that can never be taken from you is your personal power.

— Dena Betti, Executive Director, #hersmile nonprofit