Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
In December 2020, the WellSky Foundation announced its $50,000 gift to Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a leading national organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for people and families grieving the death of military loved ones.
Founded in 1994, TAPS is a veterans service organization delivering a range of national and global support initiatives — including youth programs, survivor seminars for adults, peer mentorship, casework and benefits assistance, and counseling resources.
The 2020 holiday season amid the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that many people are experiencing new levels of isolation, and grief support is increasingly important for people facing loss. With support from the WellSky Foundation, TAPS will enhance its ability to provide military families access to its 24/7 national peer support network and connections to grief resources, at no cost to surviving families.
In addition to its many programs, TAPS also offers helpful tools for people and families outside of the military and veteran community who are facing loss amid the holiday season. Notably, the nonprofit has published a range of informative articles addressing grief — including a step-by-step guide on making a coping plan for the holidays, written by Carroll. This is one of many ways TAPS is addressing loneliness for its community. Additional support resources related to grief and COVID-19 are available at TAPS.org/covid/together.
““For families with an empty chair at the table, a loved one’s absence can become all the more apparent. This season, COVID-19 is magnifying that loneliness. That’s why we’re especially grateful to partner with the WellSky Foundation as we provide care and compassion to the people we serve.”
— Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of TAPS
