$3,964 raised by 28 donors
79% complete
$5,000 Goal
Our grief care services offered at the Richard Lambert Foundation provide children and adults who have experienced the death of a loved one or other life changing loss with resources and healthy coping skills to rebuild their lives, achieve their full potential, and to live purposefully.
"I felt very welcomed, not judged, listened to, and understood. I cried a lot today and talked about things I had stored away and not dealt with. Rita was so helpful in allowing this to happen very naturally. Thank you SO much. I look forward to continuing my therapy with Richard Lambert Foundation and I'm hopeful for the future :)" ~RLF Client
"Thank you so much for everything you do! I love Rita and you both! This was a great seminar and I was able to take away some great ideas to help my daughter. I just wanted you to know how much it means to me that you created this foundation and what you do is important to me and appreciated!" ~RLF Client
"This is my safe place. It feels good to be in a place where others understand and I don't have to cry alone in the shower" ~RLF Client
"I am happy I attended the workshop and feel it provides a service to the community. It was especially helpful to hear the stories of others who's losses were some years ago but have learned to cope. It gives me hope that I too will reach that place." ~ RLF Client
"Thank you for providing this day. I feel it was a blessing and reminded me that we are making progress. Thank you for Karl and the opportunity to share with everyone who was here today. Hearing everything was powerful, helpful and one more step in the process to heal." ~ RLF Client
"The group was truly invaluable for me! It is very early in my journey but, it gave me a vision of stability and hope! Thank you, xoxo." ~ RLF Client
To inspire hope, facilitate healing, and guide bereaved children and adults in rebuilding a meaningful life intertwined with their grief.
The Richard Lambert Foundation (RLF) was founded on the personal tragedy experienced by Susan and Jaime Chavez, whose 26-year-old son, Richard, died unexpectedly on September 4, 2012, from pneumonia and an accidental overdose. Amid the all-encompassing grief, they found themselves facing a striking absence of accessible grief counseling and support services in their longtime community and the surrounding area.
Struggling to find the care they needed during their darkest hours, the Chavez family recognized a critical gap in services and healthcare access for the bereaved. Fueled by empathy and a deep commitment to providing for others enduring similar losses and healthcare access challenges, they established the Richard Lambert Foundation Family Grief & Healing Center. This mission-driven organization was built to support grieving families and those facing barriers to care, laying a stable foundation that fosters healing, strengthens healthy homes, and promotes a resilient community.
In 2013, RLF became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in Adams County, beginning as a grassroots initiative dedicated to ensuring grief support is both affordable and accessible. In March 2014, RLF launched its first free eight-week grief workshop for families, laying the foundation for broader services. In response to the increasing demand for care, individual counseling sessions began in August 2014 and were offered on a sliding fee scale with rates as low as $10. RLF introduced “Healing Through Grief,” a free monthly support group that same month. This program has since expanded to include various loss-specific groups, offering individuals the peer connection and therapeutic support necessary to navigate diverse grief experiences.
As the community’s needs continue evolving, so has RLF’s commitment to meet them. The foundation has been recognized as Brighton Chamber of Commerce’s Community Organization of the Year (2015, 2020), Colorado Community Media’s Best Local Nonprofit – Brighton (2023, 2024) and Best Mental Health – Brighton (2024). Today, RLF is a trusted and vital lifeline for Colorado residents learning to live with loss.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story.
Susan and Jaime Chavez
Organization name
Richard Lambert Foundation Family Grief & Healing Center
other names
Richard Lambert Foundation Family Grief & Healing Center
2013
Tax id (EIN)
46-3655727
Category
Human Services
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
457 S. 4th Ave.Adams County, CO, US
Weld County, CO, US
Jefferson County, CO, US
Denver, CO, US
Arapahoe County, CO, US