Longmont, CO 鈥� (April 22, 2026) 鈥� 星空传媒, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, is pleased to announce that it has hired Lourdes Acle as its new AVP, Agency Manager.

Acle鈥檚 hiring marks an important moment for 星空传媒 星空传媒 and its network of policy-issuing agents. The underwriter鈥檚 agents throughout South Florida will now have additional resources to strengthen their marketing, development and compliance, ultimately improving operations and helping grow market share.

Acle鈥檚 more than two decades in the industry have well equipped her to help agencies succeed. She previously served as Assistant Vice President, Agency Account Manager for a large, national underwriter. Earlier in her career, she also helped manage a title company鈥檚 operations in a high-volume environment, giving her practical experience in relationship building, overseeing staff, handling disbursements, and ensuring secure, accurate transactions.

At 星空传媒 星空传媒, Acle will apply this expertise to help agency partners proactively address day-to-day challenges and long-term goals. Having worked in the field since 2006, her comprehensive understanding of how title companies operate will improve their competitive positioning. In addition, her passion for agents and fluency in both English and Spanish will empower them to identify new opportunities and scale their businesses.

Brian Osburn, VP, 星空传媒 Sales Manager at 星空传媒 星空传媒, noted that Acle is the type of well-rounded title and real estate professional that underwriters dream about adding to their teams. 鈥淚 am elated that Lourdes has come on board at 星空传媒 星空传媒,鈥� he said. 鈥淗er background, skills and sensibility represent the complete package that today鈥檚 agents need. Her care and concern for the title community are obvious from the moment you meet her, and her hiring will pay dividends for our agents both now and in the future.鈥�

鈥淭he best part of my job is indeed the relationships you build with agents, partners, builders and more,鈥� said Acle, illustrating her commitment to the industry. 鈥淚t is easy for me to go the extra mile for my agents because of my background. My career has given me an end-to-end understanding of what it takes for title professionals to succeed. I鈥檝e walked a mile in their shoes, and I look forward to going above and beyond to help their companies soar.鈥�

From conducting audits to leading agent seminars for 14 years, Acle鈥檚 background reflects the range of experience she brings to 星空传媒 星空传媒 agents. And her background in operations, compliance and relationship management will support the underwriter鈥檚 agents as they navigate and grow in an ever-evolving market.

Acle is based in the Miami-Dade metropolitan area of Florida.

Media Inquiries

Adam Mohrbacher
Clockwork Public Relations
e: amohrbacher@clockworkpr.net  
p: 651.587.4792

About 星空传媒

星空传媒 星空传媒 is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Visit alliantnational.com for additional information and follow 星空传媒 星空传媒 on  and  for the latest company updates.

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By Adam Mohrbacher

Longmont, CO 鈥� (Feb. 23, 2026) 鈥� 星空传媒, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, has hired Jill Anderson Blanco as Senior Underwriting Counsel, Florida.  

For 14 years, Anderson Blanco served as Senior Vice President at a national title and settlement services provider. In this role, she handled complex national commercial title work across multiple states, including high-value multifamily transactions.

Prior to this position, she was Director, Senior Attorney Real Estate for a global fast-food company. She oversaw real estate and legal matters for approximately 700 restaurants, negotiated contracts, supervised environmental remediation, managed complex real estate and construction litigation, and negotiated business-critical leases.

As Senior Underwriting Counsel, Anderson Blanco will provide underwriting guidance to 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Florida agent network, develop educational programs, and support agents navigating complex title issues. 

鈥淛ill is an exceptionally accomplished, highly skilled commercial title, real estate and legal professional,鈥� said Margaret Cook, EVP, General Counsel. 鈥淪he has deep experience and achievements in industries ranging from title insurance to global hospitality. Our agents will benefit from her wide industry knowledge, diverse skill set, and genuine commitment to their business success.鈥�

Anderson Blanco expressed similar enthusiasm. 鈥淚’m excited to join the 星空传媒 星空传媒 team and work with professionals who are committed to the success of independent agents,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 look forward to providing the underwriting guidance and educational support that helps agents close complex transactions successfully. 星空传媒 星空传媒 is an organization that values both relationships and technology, and I鈥檓 proud to be part of it.鈥�

A board-certified Florida real estate attorney, Anderson Blanco is a member of the Florida Bar鈥檚 Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, as well as the American Bar Association. She is also a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and the South Florida Women In-House Counsel Group. Anderson Blanco earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor at the university and teaches as part of the Title Insurance in the Real Property Development LL.M Program.

Media Inquiries

Adam Mohrbacher
Clockwork Public Relations
e: amohrbacher@clockworkpr.net  
p: 651.587.4792

About 星空传媒

星空传媒 星空传媒 is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. 星空传媒 星空传媒 serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Visit alliantnational.com for additional information and follow 星空传媒 星空传媒 on  and  for the latest company updates.

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 By Adam Mohrbacher

Longmont, CO 鈥� (Nov. 14, 2025) 鈥� 星空传媒, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, has hired Haley Rosenblatt as Florida Agency Manager.

Rosenblatt is a former advertising executive who brings deep and varied skills in client relationships and business development to the underwriter. In her previous position, she specialized in out-of-home advertising and was a top producer of net-new business. Earlier in her career, she also worked as a processor for a title agency group that manages seven affiliated offices throughout Central Florida.

In her new role with 星空传媒 星空传媒, Rosenblatt will focus on helping run agency operations and supporting the underwriter鈥檚 network of policy-issuing agents. She will also help cultivate new business opportunities within the state and further strengthen 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 reputation as the leading independent underwriter for the independent agent.

鈥淓very new beginning is a chance to grow, learn and create something great,鈥� Rosenblatt said about her hiring. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to dive in, work with an incredible team and begin building relationships with my clients while providing them with the best possible customer service.鈥�

鈥淚n an unpredictable real-estate environment, our agents deserve to know that we will always have their backs and are here to support them any way we can,鈥� said Debra Coffie, SVP, Operations Manager & Eastern Regional Manager at 星空传媒 星空传媒. 鈥淗aley鈥檚 hiring is critical to this goal. With her proven track record, strong experience and rock-solid commitment to helping others excel, I am completely confident our agents and their businesses will thrive through working closely with her.鈥�

Rosenblatt is a graduate of Seminole State College of Florida and a lifelong resident of the Orlando area, where she lives with her husband.

Media Inquiries

Adam Mohrbacher
Clockwork Public Relations
e: amohrbacher@clockworkpr.net  
p: 651.587.4792

About 星空传媒

星空传媒 星空传媒 is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. 星空传媒 星空传媒 serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Visit alliantnational.com for additional information and follow 星空传媒 星空传媒 on  and  for the latest company updates.

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By Adam Mohrbacher

Longmont, CO 鈥� (Sept. 25, 2025) 鈥� 星空传媒, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, proudly announces that Cynthia Smith has joined its growing Florida Team as North Florida Agency Manager.

Smith is a seasoned, 25-year veteran of the title industry. She brings extensive industry experience to the table as an account manager. At her previous positions, she was charged with managing existing agents, as well as signing new agents. She also spearheaded agent education initiatives and worked closely with the Realtor community.

At 星空传媒 星空传媒, she will have ample opportunities to apply this experience in her day-to-day work. One of her top priorities as North Florida Agency Manager will be to build close, collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships with 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 vast agent network throughout the state. She will also work to forge new connections with unaffiliated agents and showcase how 星空传媒 星空传媒 is uniquely capable of helping them scale their businesses.

鈥淲orking with the agent community has been at the heart of my professional life for over two decades,鈥� Smith said, commenting on her hiring. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what I love to do, and I am looking forward to developing and nurturing these relationships in the years to come. 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 care and concern for its agents is embedded in everything it does. I am ready to contribute my skills and knowledge to further its agent-oriented mission.鈥�

鈥淐ynthia and I worked together previously, and I鈥檝e long thought that her skills, knowledge and character would be a perfect fit for 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 unique culture and mission,鈥� said Debra Coffie, SVP, Operations Manager & Eastern Regional Manager. 鈥淪he is diligent, collaborative and has a proven track record of helping agents take their businesses to the next level. She is going to make a great impact in North Florida. I鈥檓 can鈥檛 wait to see everything she accomplishes.鈥�

Outside of work, Smith is active in her community. She is a board member of Hope 29:11 Resources, LLC, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals transition out of incarceration, addiction and homelessness.

She lives in the Panama City area.

Media Inquiries

Adam Mohrbacher
Clockwork Public Relations
e: amohrbacher@clockworkpr.net 
p: 651.587.4792

About 星空传媒

星空传媒 星空传媒 is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. 星空传媒 星空传媒 serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Visit alliantnational.com for additional information and follow 星空传媒 星空传媒 on  and  for the latest company updates.

The post Cynthia Smith Joins 星空传媒 星空传媒 as North Florida Agency Manager appeared first on 星空传媒 星空传媒 Title Insurance Co..

Longmont, CO 鈥斅�(May 15, 2025) 鈥� 星空传媒, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, is happy to announce that it has added Jodi Hansen to its Florida underwriting team. 聽聽

Hansen brings extensive experience to 星空传媒 星空传媒, having kickstarted her career handling title claims for eight years at a national underwriter before becoming 星空传媒 Commercial Underwriting Counsel. More recently, she held the role of Senior Underwriting Counsel for a national underwriter and later Senior Product Underwriting Counsel, where she acted as a title insurance expert for the underwriter鈥檚 technology team.

As a passionate title professional, strategic thinker and diligent problem solver, Hansen will offer exceptional underwriting assistance to 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 network of independent agents throughout Florida. In this new role, she will focus on supporting underwriting transactions, analyzing risk decisions and deciding insurability of title. She is looking forward to collaborating closely with agents to help them solve their most pressing challenges and achieve strong business growth.

鈥淔ew people know the ins and outs of the title market like Jodi or have a better grasp on how to make shrewd, strategic underwriting decisions,鈥� said Perry Craver, Florida Regional Counsel at 星空传媒. 鈥淗ighly talented, considerate and collaborative, I know our agents are going to love working with her.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e heard great things about 星空传媒 星空传媒 and its Florida team,鈥� said Hansen. 鈥淭he people who work here are leaders in the field, and I’m thrilled to be joining a team where I can apply my skills every day to deliver the best results for hardworking agents!鈥�

Hansen graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2006 with high honors. She resides in Florida with her family.

Media Inquiries

Adam Mohrbacher
Clockwork Public Relations
e: amohrbacher@clockworkpr.net 
p: 651.587.4792

About 星空传媒

星空传媒 星空传媒 is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. 星空传媒 星空传媒 serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia. Visit聽alliantnational.com聽for additional information and follow 星空传媒 星空传媒 on聽听补苍诲听聽for the latest company updates.

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Longmont, CO 鈥� (March 21, 2025) 鈥� 星空传媒, the title insurer that is uniquely responsive to the needs of independent agents, is pleased to announce that it has hired Lori Ellen Ward as Underwriting Counsel – Florida Region.

Lori brings a long history of success in the legal, title insurance, and real estate industries. After graduating law school, she began her career in general practice but quickly transitioned to representing real estate clients. She worked for several Florida Panhandle law firms, including her own, building specialized expertise in the real estate development process, including acquisitions, complex finance transactions, business formation and construction.

In 2009, she started her own title insurance agency, providing clients with comprehensive closing services in sales, refinances, reverse mortgages, short sales, and more. Immediately prior to joining the 星空传媒 星空传媒 team, Ward served as general counsel for a real estate developer while continuing to operate her independent title agency. Throughout her career, Ward has applied her industry knowledge, expertise and collaborative approach to drive business growth and success. She excels at building trusting, dynamic relationships with clients, and is passionate about advocating for their interests while ensuring title accuracy.

鈥淟ori has a dedication to her clients and a love for the industry that is second to none,鈥� said Jeff Stein, Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Counsel at 星空传媒 星空传媒. 鈥淗er commitment to ensuring customer success as well as her significant expertise in title insurance and real estate law make her an ideal fit for the culture of 星空传媒 星空传媒. I am excited she has joined us in our mission to build mutually beneficial relationships with our agents as the Agents First underwriter.鈥�

Ward will provide sound legal and underwriting guidance to agents, support policy development and compliance oversight, and develop continuing education materials in her new role at 星空传媒 星空传媒. What she is most looking forward to, however, is helping independent title agents solve their title challenges and close more effectively on behalf of their customers.

鈥淚t has always been a career goal of mine to transition from private practice to an in-house position with a title underwriter when the time was right,鈥� said Ward, commenting on her hiring. 鈥淣ow that my professional trajectory has reached that point, I couldn鈥檛 be more thrilled to join the 星空传媒 星空传媒 team. Everyone greeted me with open arms at 星空传媒 星空传媒, even before I was officially hired, demonstrating this underwriter鈥檚 warm, people-centered corporate culture. Accepting the job was one of the easiest professional decisions I have ever made鈥擨鈥檓 so excited to forge new relationships with our agents!鈥�

Ward is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Real Estate. She is also an active member of the Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, and the Florida Land Title Association. In addition, she is an appointed member of the Florida Realtor-Attorney Joint Committee, a special appointment by the Florida Bar Board of Governors. The committee plays an important role in Florida鈥檚 real estate and legal communities, helping support Realtor-attorney relations, offering education and maintaining widely used real estate contract forms.

She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Finance and Juris Doctor from Florida State University and continues to reside in the beautiful Florida Panhandle.

Media Inquiries

Adam Mohrbacher
Clockwork Public Relations
e: amohrbacher@clockworkpr.net
p: 651.587.4792

About 星空传媒

星空传媒 星空传媒 is on a mission to empower independent agents while protecting property owners with secure title insurance. The company partners with its agents and never competes against them with direct or affiliate operations. 星空传媒 星空传媒 serves thousands of title professionals as a licensed underwriter in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Visit alliantnational.com for additional information and follow 星空传媒 星空传媒 on  and  for the latest company updates.

The post 星空传媒 星空传媒 Welcomes Lori Ellen Ward as Underwriting Counsel, Florida Region appeared first on 星空传媒 星空传媒 Title Insurance Co..

Although 2025 is barely a quarter old, independent agents have already been hard at work detecting, deterring and preventing fraudulent activity. At 星空传媒 星空传媒, we鈥檙e proud to support these anti-fraud efforts through our Crime Watch program, which incentivizes agents with $1,000 rewards to be extra vigilant when closing transactions. Two suspicious transactions at two different title agencies recently highlighted why this is a powerful approach to combating fraud. The agents collectively averted almost $300,000 in proposed liability. Let鈥檚 look at what happened and the lessons we can glean from their experience to keep future transactions safe.

Fighting fraud at First International Title

Florida-based First International Title, Hunter鈥檚 Creek, recently prevented a suspicious transaction from going forward and protected its customers from financial loss. Escrow Officer Natia Johnson, who played a key role in stopping the bogus deal, shared with 星空传媒 星空传媒 how her office became aware the deal was likely fraudulent. The first red flag had to do with the transaction鈥檚 seller, who purported to be a dual U.S. and U.K. citizen living in the United Kingdom. By the time Johnson began working on the file, there had been no direct communication between the seller and her realtor. The two individuals had, instead, connected almost exclusively through a third party, who claimed to be an associate of the seller. When Johnson attempted to connect with this third party via email, she received no response.

The situation took an even stranger and more suspicious turn when the third-party representative called First International and told Johnson he was with the alleged seller in London. During the call, Johnson pushed to speak with the seller directly, yet this conversation only raised her level of concern. 鈥淪he confirmed that her Social Security number was issued in 2007 and mentioned she is a naturalized citizen with dual citizenship,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淗owever, she also stated she does not have a current driver鈥檚 license or state ID, which is unusual.鈥� Adding to the confusion, the seller provided the name and number of her supposed husband, who needed to also sign the deed. Yet he proved to be unreachable despite repeated calls from Johnson.

Johnson shared her concerns with her client, and that鈥檚 when the biggest red flag emerged. 鈥淚 contacted our client to update them on the situation,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey mentioned Leonard had been present at the property just the day before and was reportedly still in the U.S. I asked, perhaps, if he flew to London just recently, but they stated 鈥榥o, he is in Florida.鈥欌��

While all this was going on, further discrepancies were discovered with some of the seller鈥檚 documents. Their passport鈥檚 signature didn鈥檛 match the mortgage documents, which helped Johnson make her final judgement call. 鈥淭his inconsistency, combined with the others, raised significant concerns about the authenticity of this transaction,鈥� she said.

Tropics Title: Ensuring trustworthy transactions

Tropics Title Services is a second Florida-based firm that was recently recognized for its fraud fighting efforts. Regional Marketing Director Jean Thomas was immediately suspicious when a transaction came across her desk that was a vacant land deal, a cash purchase, involved foreign sellers, and included an urgent buyer鈥攁ll quintessential hallmarks of fraud.

Not wanting to overstep the transaction鈥檚 agent, Thomas first reached out to the rest of her team and informed everyone what was going on. She next connected with the agent, who informed her that she had only communicated with the seller through email, which was another red flag. She then worked with her colleagues to request copies of the seller鈥檚 documents, which appeared inauthentic.

With suspicions mounting across Tropics Title, the team decided to place the transaction on hold until they could further verify the identities of those involved. Thomas reached out to 星空传媒 星空传媒 for help running further checks with the underwriter鈥檚 identity verification and fraud prevention tool, SecureMyTransaction. The link was promptly emailed out, but when the agency received no response after three attempts, it was concluded that the deal was likely fraudulent and should be canceled. 

Collective effort is key to anti-fraud success

Whenever attempted fraud is discovered and prevented, it naturally provokes a range of reflections and reactions. For Johnson and First International Title, it reaffirmed how agents and agencies can鈥檛 afford to leave any stone unturned if something feels off during a transaction. 鈥淚t was a stressful but rewarding experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t reinforced the need for vigilance, vigorously questioning any anomalies and, ultimately, trusting your instincts.鈥�

Thomas and the rest of the Tropics Title team felt similarly. 鈥淚 was relieved that I followed my gut, adhered to best practices and followed our tried-and-true policies for dealing with suspicious activities,鈥� Thomas reflected. 鈥淔raud is not going away in this industry, unfortunately,鈥� she continued. 鈥淲e must ensure that we thoroughly investigate any deals that carry sufficient red flags.鈥�

Agencies, of course, should not be alone in this ongoing fight against fraud. The problem is a collective one, and therefore, mitigating it also requires a collective, collaborative effort between underwriters and agencies.

Whether it be with its Crime Watch program or by providing cutting edge tools like SecureMyTransaction, 星空传媒 星空传媒 is committed to being part of that solution. Johnson put it best perhaps when asked about how such programs can help the industry: 鈥淭hey can prevent fraud, protect homeowners and lenders, and safeguard transactions from financial and legal risks.鈥�

Want to learn more about how you can leverage SecureMyTransaction at your agency? . And if you鈥檇 like to discover how you can take part in our Crime Watch program, follow this link for additional information.

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Grandin brings with her a wealth of experience in title insurance, real estate, management and business strategy. She comes to 星空传媒 星空传媒 from a national underwriter, where she oversaw strategic initiatives, served as the primary point of contact for lender agreements, created agent and counsel training programs and coordinated regulatory compliance projects. In addition, she helped agents expand their capabilities and grow their businesses, while also leading continuing education programs for underwriters and examiners.

In her new role as Vice President, Senior Underwriting Counsel Florida, Grandin will have a full slate of responsibilities. Chief among them will be to develop educational programming and partner with 星空传媒 星空传媒鈥檚 Florida agents to increase their market share through unique business development strategies and product offerings. 

鈥淚 have been blessed to work with and know the team at 星空传媒 星空传媒 for many years,鈥� said Grandin. 鈥淭o be joining them now as the market is on the cusp of expansion and when 星空传媒 星空传媒 has assembled a great team, is a dream come true. Highly professional, agent focused and people-centric, it is a tremendous place to excel in an industry I love so much. Great things are ahead as we work together with our agents to drive greater business success.鈥�

鈥淰alerie is a consummate professional and a true industry leader. We couldn鈥檛 be happier to welcome her to our growing team,鈥� said Jeff Stein, Chief Underwriting Counsel at 星空传媒 星空传媒. 鈥淲ith her extensive experience in underwriting, education, management, compliance and business development, I know she will do great things for our agents and play an important role in the future of 星空传媒 星空传媒.鈥�

Grandin is an active member of the American Land Title Association (ALTA). She is also a member of the Florida Land Title Association (FLTA), where she serves on the Government Affairs committee, which is currently working on the new 2025 FinCEN rule. In addition, she sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Miami School of Law LLM in Real Property Development. As the only underwriting counsel on the board, she has a front row seat to the most cutting-edge changes and developments in the Florida commercial real estate market.

She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law.

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Losing a child is a tragedy no parent should ever have to endure. While there are few words and even fewer comforts to be offered to those who have experienced such a loss, the team at The Compassionate Friends is doing its best to be there in the face of the unthinkable.

Sandra Harrison experienced such a loss on her wedding anniversary when her son, 26-year-old Cory Trevor Harrison, was fatally hit by a drunk driver. Though she wasn鈥檛 alone in her grief, Sandra realized that facing such a tragedy requires a community. It wasn鈥檛 until after the loss of Cory that she found The Compassionate Friends, a foundation that offers a sense of togetherness and self-help options for grieving families in need.

Since discovering the group, Sandra found a partnership and a focused purpose, within her community, all driven by The Compassionate Friends鈥� cause. While The Compassionate Friends, open to anyone who has lost a child, grandchild or sibling, offers self-help options to everyone near and far, it takes enough interest in one location to build a local chapter.

After three separate families contacted the organization, the Bay County, Florida chapter was founded in January 2015. Since then, the group meets every second Monday of each month. With the current pandemic, the chapter meets on a scheduled Zoom call.

The mother and grandmother will be stepping in as chapter leader of her local group in July. In the meantime, she鈥檚 shifted her focus to a memorial garden to honor her son and other children lost. With the help of local government and the other members of her chapter, including the current chapter leader, Carol Ladouceur, Sandra and other chapter members are now building the Children鈥檚 Memorial Garden.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 like going to my son鈥檚 grave,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to go where it鈥檚 uplifting.鈥�

Sandra wants to help offer her community a comforting and peaceful place to go where they can honor their loved ones without the negative connotations of a graveyard. Rather than feeling surrounded by death, Sandra and her community鈥檚 organization wants to offer a place that can be a celebration of life for her lost son and the lost family members of her community.

Their bid for the garden was enthusiastically backed by local city commissioners of Lynn Haven, Florida, and other chapter members. Some families went together on benches for their loved ones, while others opted to sponsor trees, bushes and other greenery to adorn the garden. There will be cenotaph walls that will be covered in bronze plaques 鈥� a place where anyone who has lost a child, grandchild or sibling can pay to have them memorialized.

As a non-profit, the Bay County chapter had to be clever about how to go about the creation of their garden. Purchases of plaques and charitable donations go directly to the creation and upkeep of their garden. There will be a fountain for the garden, offering an added level of tranquility for those who come to honor their lost loved ones.

The Children鈥檚 Memorial Garden was set to be completed in June 2020 with a dedication. A Walk to Remember was scheduled for May 30, 2020. Anyone can donate directly via Venmo*. Sandra has devoted a large amount of her time to the project, and looks forward to seeing the garden and fountain completed. She noted that the setting 鈥� about 1000 feet from North Bay 鈥� couldn鈥檛 be any better, and hopes that others will find it as peaceful as she does.

After being founded in England over 50 years ago, The Compassionate Friends has since expanded operations in the United States. The group works in chapters, and as of today has over 600 chapters in all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and Guam. The Compassionate Friends鈥� mission statement states that 鈥渨hen a child dies, at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated. The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family.鈥�

Sandra Harrison and her Bay County chapter are living up to that mission in spades with their current project. No one ever wants to experience loss, particularly that of a child, but the love of a supportive group and community, such as Sandra鈥檚, proves that love can sometimes mitigate grief and shore the bereaved up when the unthinkable happens.

*To donate to the Children鈥檚 Memorial Garden, search for 鈥淐hildren鈥檚 Memorial Garden鈥� on the Venmo app. Donations can be made there.

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