Highmark Caring Place Launches 2026 Champions of Hope
The campaign honors community members who support grieving children ahead of Children's Grief Awareness Day on Nov. 19.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Highmark Caring Place has launched the 2026 Champions of Hope campaign for Children's Grief Awareness Day. Community members can nominate everyday heroes who support grieving children, and nominees are recognized weekly on social media until Nov. 19.
Why it matters
The observance aims to raise awareness that support from everyday people can make a major difference in the life of a grieving child. Pennsylvania residents are invited to take part by nominating someone who offers comfort and encouragement.
The observance was founded in 2008 in Western Pennsylvania and is held on the third Thursday of November, with the 2026 date set for Nov. 19. Nominations are recognized weekly on social media, and how many nominations will be received has not been announced.
The players
Highmark Caring Place
Highmark Caring Place is a grief support organization in Western Pennsylvania that co-founded Children's Grief Awareness Day in 2008 and runs the Champions of Hope campaign.
The details
Community members nominate everyday heroes such as friends, teachers, neighbors, coaches or family members who provide comfort to grieving children. Nominated heroes are celebrated on Caring Place and Children's Grief Awareness Day social media platforms, which also share free resources and practical ways to help grieving children.
Timeline
2008: Children's Grief Awareness Day is founded in Western Pennsylvania by Highmark Caring Place and area schools.
Weekly, leading up to Nov. 19, 2026: Nominated heroes are recognized on social media.
Nov. 19, 2026: Children's Grief Awareness Day is observed.
Philanthropy Lens
The 2026 campaign extends the annual observance launched in Western Pennsylvania in 2008 by Highmark Caring Place and area schools, shifting its focus from awareness alone to recognizing individual community supporters. The Champions of Hope nomination model applies that founding goal of building public support for grieving children.
Pennsylvania residents can nominate a friend, teacher, neighbor or coach who supports a grieving child and see that person recognized on social media. Free resources and practical ways to help grieving children are also shared on the campaign's platforms.
The takeaway
Anyone can make a difference for a grieving child through small acts of comfort and encouragement. Nominating someone who already does this is a simple way to recognize their support before the November observance.
What happens next
Nominated heroes will be recognized weekly on Caring Place and Children's Grief Awareness Day social media platforms leading up to Children's Grief Awareness Day on Nov. 19, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage to see how community giving and volunteer support are shaping causes across the state.
More information
Learn more and find Children's Grief Awareness Day information and how to get involved on the observance's official website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TribLIVE.
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