Madison “MJ” Helmick, a Ringling College of Art & Design student and volunteer at Tidewell Hospice, recently won the Young Leader Service Award from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Helmick, a Lazarus Scholar at Ringling College, was honored at the NHPCO Annual Leadership Conference in Denver for her work with the Blue Butterfly Grief Care Program. As part of the Lazarus Experiential Learning Assistantship, she has committed to volunteering for a local nonprofit that focuses on poverty.
“I haven’t had a substantial death impact me, but I have experienced grief before,” Helmick said. “The support kids receive through this program is something I wish I had when I was younger. Now, through my volunteering, I have the opportunity to positively impact their lives and support them through their grieving process.”
The Blue Butterfly Program offers specialized grief services for children, teens, and their families after the loss of a loved one. Helmick has been a Tidewell Hospice volunteer since June 2023. She assists counselors during group sessions and activities several times a month at a space in Newtown.