Olivia Chan Foundation Offers Grief Support in Sacramento
The local organization provides specialized resources for grieving siblings through peer-based support nights.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Philanthropy
The Olivia Chan Foundation offers peer support services for grieving siblings in the Greenhaven neighborhood of Sacramento. The organization provides dinner, care packages, and activity-based programs to facilitate difficult conversations about grief.
Why it matters
The foundation addresses a specific gap in bereavement resources for children, which the founders found lacking after their own experience. By modeling their approach after the Dougy Center, the group creates a community space tailored to siblings processing loss.
The Olivia Chan Foundation has operated for more than three years in Sacramento. The organization hosts support sessions twice a month to assist families coping with the loss of a child.
The players
Reina Chan
Reina Chan is a co-founder of the foundation established to provide grief resources for siblings.
Mel Chan
Mel Chan works alongside his wife to operate the foundation and host bi-monthly support nights.
Olivia Chan Foundation
The foundation is a nonprofit organization in Sacramento that hosts peer support services for bereaved siblings.
Dougy Center
Located in Oregon, this organization serves as the established model for the support techniques used by the foundation.
The details
Founded following the death of 9-year-old Olivia Chan, the organization utilizes baking activities and games to help children navigate their emotions. The program focuses on sibling-centered care to provide support in an environment modeled after the Dougy Center in Oregon.
Timeline
Support nights occur on Monday nights in Greenhaven.
The Boots and Bourbon benefit takes place on September 23, 2026.
Market Landscape
The foundation adapts the methodology of the Dougy Center to serve the specific needs of grieving siblings in the local area. This approach positions the organization as a specialized alternative to traditional clinical grief counseling.
Families in the Sacramento area can access free peer support nights to help children navigate the grieving process. Residents interested in supporting the foundation's care packages and dinner programs can attend the upcoming benefit event.
The takeaway
Peer-based support models for children offer an accessible alternative to individual clinical therapy for families dealing with loss. Implementing activity-based programs like baking and games can help children process complex emotions in a comfortable social setting.
What happens next
The foundation will host the Boots and Bourbon benefit at the Sutter Club on September 23, 2026, from 5-8 pm, with proceeds funding foundation programs including food and supplies.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts by visiting the Sacramento Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
