First Hour Grief Response, Inc.

What We Do

We meet people in their most painful hour—and walk beside them through the months ahead. We become a lifeline for them.

Our Services Include:

• 1:1 Peer Grief Mentoring – Personalized, trauma-informed care by someone who has experienced a similar loss.

• Grief Support Groups – Specialized by relationship and cause of death, offered across both of our Louisville locations.

• Monthly Youth Workshops – Free sessions including grief mentoring, trauma-informed activities, and art therapy.

• In-School Grief Program: HopeWave – On-site grief support in 15 Jefferson County schools.

• Adult Grief Workshops or "THRIVE" – Affordable monthly gatherings with expert guidance and peer connection.

• First Responder Grief Training – Teaching front-line professionals how to compassionately handle families in crisis.

2025 Give for Good Priorities

This year, your gift will help us meet two important and growing needs:

HopeWave In-School Program

We currently support 15 local schools with grief mentoring and workshops for students navigating loss. Your donation helps fund:

• Grief mentors for school campuses

• Materials for healing activities

• Training for school staff

 Funding Need: $5,000 to support continued mentoring in 15 schools.

Holiday Grief Workshop

Holidays are especially hard for those grieving. Our annual Holiday Workshop offers:

• Guest speakers & guided meditation

• A healing activity to honor loved ones

• Lunch and safe, shared space for 40-50 people

Funding Need: $1,000 to make this event free and accessible.

Why It Matters

Leah lost her daughter, Danielle, over 4 years ago. She was killed in a boating incident on July 4th. The first days to weeks were filled with denial and unbearable grief. We met Leah every week for about 8 months before we went to every other week mentoring meetings. And eventually she started attending our monthly THRIVE workshops where we create "community" for clients through art projects. Today, Leah leads our THRIVE workshops and helps others on this unpredictable journey called, "grief." Leah recently said, "Using my pain for purpose has given my life meaning again. I never thought I would survive losing Danielle. First Hour has helped me in so many ways and now I get to help others." 

Without grief support, many turn inward—isolated, anxious, or unable to move forward. Our clients find comfort, understanding, and hope in our spaces.

Since 2018, we’ve helped over 1,200 clients from 64 zip codes across our city. Each session lasts 60–90 minutes, and most clients return for 6-18 months times before transitioning to a group. It all depends upon the loss and their relationship with the person who passed away.

A Few Realities Louisville Faces:

• Over 30,000 widowed adults live in Jefferson County

• Each year, at least 235 children die, leaving families behind

• Drug and alcohol-related deaths average 271 per year

• Suicides are rising, up 30% in just 2 years

These numbers are not just statistics—they represent shattered families who often don’t know where to turn.

How You Can Help

• $75 covers one grief mentoring session
• $100 helps support one youth workshop
• $250 helps sponsor a HopeWave school
• $1,000 underwrites our Holiday Grief Workshop

Every dollar helps someone feel less alone in the darkest moment of their life.

Who We Are

Two Louisville Locations:8307 St. Andrews Church Road & 409 Marquette Drive

Our Mission:To provide compassionate guidance for people who have suffered the sudden loss of a loved one.

Our Vision:That grief is understood by everyone and grievers learn coping skills for life moving forward.

Please consider donating during Give for Good to help someone find light in their darkest hour.

Your support turns heartbreak into hope.