Running head: THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

The Sunflower Project Proposal

Lauren Katz
Loma Linda University
March 7, 2016

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

Introduction, Purpose, and Problem

The grieving process is very subjective for people who experience it. There are many
methods to help with this difficult process including support groups, individual therapy,
therapeutic arts and some online forums. While these methods exist, many people do not take
advantage of them for fear of stigmatization and judgment from others. Speaking about lost
loved ones in public settings is sometimes very awkward and difficult for people who are
grieving, especially children. Death is a very taboo subject in society and many times, survivors
feel self-conscious and as if they are not normal so they do not speak about their lost loved
ones or how the death has affected them. Many times people are told to get over their loss and
move on. For people who have lost a significant person in their life they know that they will be
grieving for the rest of their life, that there is not end date. If these struggles pertaining to grief
are not addressed, emotions and depression will build up inside of survivors and could lead to
physical and mental problems. There is a great need for an online forum where survivors of loss
can feel safe and comfortable to share their stories and receive support from others. The
Sunflower Project can help connect families from all walks of life who have experienced loss
and provide the space for them to support and encourage one another through as well as
remember lost loved ones through the dispersion of memorial cards and an interactive support
website.
Project Description
The Sunflower Project is an innovative and new way to help families who are dealing
with the loss of a loved one. Tu Nidito is a grief organization located in Tucson, Arizona that
provides bi-monthly grief support groups for children and their caretakers. At the group
meetings, the caretakers will be in a separate session from their children so they can connect with

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

adults experiencing a similar situation. The children will be divided up by age and will have a
grief related discussion that usually is related to a theme such as holidays or vacations and how
those events are different now that their loved one has died. After the grief discussion, there will
be a related art activity that helps the children to express some of their feelings of grief. For
many of these families, Tu Nidito is the only place that they feel safe enough to talk about their
lost loved ones and their struggles relating to the death. The Sunflower Project will bridge the
gap between these families and the outside world, giving them a special way to remember their
loved ones everyday.
The project entails making small index sized cards with a lost loved ones photo, date of
birth and death and a special quote that the family feels represents that loved one. These cards
will be provided to families so that they can leave these cards in special places when they are
missing their loved one or wishing that they were with them. This could include leaving the card
in a tree on a hike, on a vacation, in a store or even on a city bus. The card will be left for a
stranger to find and they can meet this person who has died. On the back of the card will
describe that the card represents someone that has died and if they would like to learn more
about this person, they can go to www.TheSunflowerProject.org. They can either keep the card
or pass it on to another new place. Each participating family will provide a short description of
their loved one so that visitors of the website can get to know the person who died. Visitors will
be able to comment on the loved ones description and let the family know where they found the
card. If appropriate, they may provide words of encouragement and support to the family. In
turn, the family can visit the website at any time to see when where their loved one has been
and see that they can still incorporate their loved one into their everyday life even though they

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

are not physically present. It is also important to note that the cards will be at no cost to the
family and all of the supplies will be provided from financial donations.
For the first year, The Sunflower Project plans to reach 25 families that currently attend
Tu Nidito support groups. A representative from The Sunflower Project will explain the goals
and ideas of the project to Tu Nidito staff and groups facilitators. Then they will relay the
information to the families during their groups and interested families can sign up. After the
families have been selected, they will give card information and a description of their lost loved
one as well as sign a photo release form so The Sunflower Project can use their loved ones
photo on their website. They will also have to sign a liability form which will explain that The
Sunflower Project will not be held liable for what happens to the cards once they are dispersed
by the family.
Once the information is collected, volunteers will create the cards and deliver them to Tu
Nidito for each family to pick up. Each family will receive 8 cards every other month for a year.
Included with the cards will be a small packet of sunflower seeds for the family to plant in honor
of their loved one. After 6 months, a survey will be provided to families that have been using the
cards to evaluate their experience. This will allow the project to improve the services provided
and see what can be changed. At this time, another reminder will be given to other Tu Nidito
families to see if they would like to be involved with the project. There will be monthly expense
reports made so that the progress of the project can be evaluated and project how many more
families could be financially supported to receive cards.
In order to keep the website running, the project will employee a paid Web Manager who
will approve all comments before they are posted and will update descriptions of loved ones on
the website. Requirements for the Web Manager position will include an Arizona state

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

background check, a bachelors degree and computer skills including Microsoft Office. The Web
Manager will keep record of finances in an excel file on a company computer. The Project
Sunflower website will be created by a company entitled Anchor Wave and will be in a format
that is easy for the Web Manager to update and add to.
Volunteers will come in for 10 hours a month to help cut, laminate and package the cards
for the families. The volunteers must be 18 years old or older and will not have any contact with
the families so a background check will not be necessary. An office space will be rented in
Tucson, Arizona where the Web Manager and volunteers will meet to work on the project.
Starters of the project will interview potential volunteers and try to utilize volunteers at Tu
Nidito as well as trusted acquaintances.
Mission, Vision, and Values
The mission of The Sunflower Project is to create a community of acceptance, support
and empathy regarding children and families that are experiencing grief by remembering loved
ones that have died and keeping their memory alive. This project will give children and families
an outlet to share the life of their lost loved one and keep their spirit active in their everyday life.
The project will support healthy grieving processes that give people the opportunity they need to
carry on their loved ones story. This leads to the vision of The Sunflower Project, which is to
normalize and bring attention to the bereavement of children and families by reaching local
communities.
The Sunflower Project will operate on a system of values including hope, understanding,
community, growth and love. The projects slogan BLOOM (Building Loving Ongoing
Opportunities in Memory) will be able to encompass these values to accomplish its mission. The
project will provide hope by allowing participants to share their story and be given valuable

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

support. Rather than receiving advice from card finders, participants will find encouragement
from their words and inclusion of their lost loved one. Understanding will be promoted by giving
the participants an open forum to speak about their feelings and make people aware that grief is a
never-ending experience. From this a community of love will be made because children and
families will be able to communicate with others about their emotions and experiences post
death. Together, society can grow and learn more about loss and how it affects its survivors.
Statement of Need
A program like The Sunflower Project is greatly needed because many families do not
have the resources they need to process their grief. There are support groups and individual
therapy but not all children and families feel comfortable with that. There is a lack of safe places
for people to speak about openly about their loss to people that are understanding. Also many
families desire to remember their loved one on a daily basis and society does not really allot for
that. Many times a grieving individual will internalize their emotions and it can build up inside,
resulting in physical and mental consequences including anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation,
and post traumatic stress disorder (Bugge, Darbyshire, Rokholt, Haugstvdt, & Helseth, 2014). It
will become difficult for an individual to continue on with their life after a death and they will
not be able to have an enjoyable life post death. This can lead to difficulties in coping and many
people will suffer.
There are two types of adaptive grieving styles that include the internal experience of a
loss and outward expression relating to the loss (Doughty Horn, Crews, & Harrawood, 2013). If
they participate in The Sunflower Project, they will be given a way to outwardly cope with their
grief so they do not keep it bottled up inside. Every individuals grief journey is unique and
should be individualized for their own personal success (Doughty Horn, Crews, & Harrawood,

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

2013). In order to work through a feeling, an individual must heal, which can sometimes be a
difficult task since healing requires expression (Baugher et al., 2012). For many years, children
were not given the space to be able to express their grief, which resulted in many emotional
struggles. It has been found that children best process their grief through play, not through being
pressured to talk in a therapy or group setting (Baugher et al., 2012). The Sunflower Project
provides a sense of play with allowing the children to place their memorial cards wherever they
please and it can turn into a fun game for them. They can find joy and pleasure in picking special
places to leave their cards. Parents have reported that their child enjoyed seeing pictures and
videos of their lost loved one and that their children were very enthusiastic about remembering
the good times they shared together (Bugge, Darbyshire, Rokholt, Haugstvdt, & Helseth, 2014).
There is not always an outlet for families to achieve this so by leaving the cards in special places,
they can remember the love that they have for their lost loved one.
Benefits to Families
Many people do not realize that grief is a universal emotion and every human will suffer
the loss of someone in their lifetime. Families can feel isolated and misunderstood as they try to
work through their grief process (Harris, 2015). The Sunflower Project will promote mastery of
grief and loss, meaning that an individual can be changed by this experience in a way that
strengthens them and leave them scarred but still whole (Harris, 2015). The long-term effects of
grief are very difficult for people who have not experienced a loss to understand. Holidays,
birthdays, death anniversaries and family events can be very difficult for children and family
who have lost a loved one. Many times they can feel as though their loved one has been
forgotten and they yearn to maintain a connection with their lost loved one (Mullen, Reynolds, &
Larson, 2015). The creation of Sunflower cards can help to ease these feelings of disconnect and

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

can help relatives and friends to understand that the loss is still a struggle. Families usually want
a tangible item that helps them to remember their loved one because it provides comfort and
evidence that the loved ones presence is still important (Mullen, Reynolds, & Larson, 2015).
The Sunflower cards can serve as this tangible item for families and can be easily transported to
any location or event. The cards will serve as a peaceful reminder that their memory is never
forgotten.
The project will also have psychological and emotional benefits because people will be
able to get support but in a way that they will not feel stigmatized or judged (Varga & Paulus,
2014). Since the support is provided mostly online, anyone who has a computer can access it and
receive support. Instead of being given advice, participants can gain encouragement from others
and realize that they are not alone in their grief. From the project, they can receive empathy and
validation regarding their emotions.
Potential Misunderstandings of Online Support
The use of technology in the grief process is a relatively new support system. While an
online forum offers many benefits, there are still some problems that may arise. Some of the
disadvantages could include deceptive participants, delayed responses and off-topic responses
(Varga & Paulus, 2014). This will hopefully be avoided by having the Web Manager view and
approve all comments before they are posted to The Sunflower Project website. Some
commenters may try to give advice rather than support and sometimes this advice could be
misleading or not apply to the user. The site will have to be closely monitored to address these
problems if they arise.

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

Budget
The projected budget for the first year of The Sunflower Project will be $30,942. The
initial creation of the website by the company, Anchor Wave, will cost $5,500 and in addition a
website warranty will be purchased for $1,000 so that if there are any problems with the website,
an IT employee will be able to come and fix it. A Web Manager will be hired to maintain the
website and keep track of the finances. They will work part-time and be paid a salary of $10,000.
In addition they will have to have a background check done, which will be $60. An office space
will be rented out and will come to $9,000 a year plus utilities that will cost $720. To fill the
office space, there will need to be a desk ($100), office chair ($80) and office supplies such as
scissors, pens and pencils ($20). A computer will need to be purchased for $1,000 so that the
Web Manager can run the website and make a template for the cards to be printed out on. A
printer for $150 and printer ink for the year will cost $960, which will be used to create the
cards. A small laminator will need to be purchased for $50 and laminating film for the machine
for the year which will be $240 so that the cards can be durable. Stock paper will be purchased in
6 packages of 50 sheets of paper, which will come to $72 for the year. A small paper cutter will
be used to cut the laminated cards apart and that will cost $10. A box of envelopes will be
purchased for $8 and this can be utilized to organize the cards when they are made in the office.
In order to package up the cards for the families, plastic bags ($20) and ribbon ($2) for the entire
year. As a special touch, an individual package of sunflower seeds will be included in each
package of cards for the family. The seeds will come to an annual cost of $150. $300 will be
allotted for transportation costs for volunteers to deliver card packages every other month to Tu
Nidito. Lastly, $1,500 will be set aside as collateral in case extra expenses arise.

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT PROPOSAL

10
Total Project

Request for

Budget

Grant

Personnel
PT Office Manager (Yearly)

$10,000
Total: $10,000

Non-Personnel
Background Checker/yr.

$60

Website Design by Anchor Wave

$5,500

Stock paper (6 packages of 50 sheet paper)

$72

Printer Ink

$960

Computer

$1,000

Printer

$150

Laminator

$50

Laminator Film (0.80/ft.)

$240

Office Desk

$100

Office Chair

$80

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Office Supplies (ex. Scissors, Pens, Tape,

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$20

Stapler)
Paper Cutter

$10

Website Warranty

$1,000

Utilities (for 12 month period)

$720

Rent (for 12 month period)

$9,000

Transportation

$300

Envelopes

$8

Collateral

$1,500

Sunflower Seed Packets/mon.

$150

Ribbon

$2

Plastic Bags

$20
Total: $20,942

Total: $30,942

To obtain this budget, there are multiple sources that have been looked into. Since the
project will be collaborating with Tu Nidito, the program will be advertised on their website and
donations will be able to come through the website. Mailing campaigns can be done by sending

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12

out to Tu Niditos current donators as well as family and friends of volunteers (L. Robinson,
personal communication, February 12, 2016). Arizona Tax Credit is another way that will get
people to donate. Donations can be also be written off on Arizona tax forms and donators will
get the amount back in full as long as they do not owe anything on their taxes (L. Robinson,
personal communication, February 12, 2016). Another source is The Moyer Foundation that
provides grants worth up to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations that are directed towards helping
grieving children and teens (Grants, 2016). They strongly support community initiatives that
focus on bereavement. In addition, The National Alliance for Grieving Children provides grants
ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 for qualifying programs that seek to expand grief support
programs for children (Grief Reach, 2015).
History and Structure of Organization
The use of the internet and social media has been on the rise for many years. Previously,
people who experienced loss would find support from religious organizations, professional
counseling, friends and family and Emergency Department bereavement services in a hospital
(Parris, 2012). While these support systems are beneficial, many people find that they are still
yearning for their loved one and are encouraged by society to move on and forget the person they
lost (Parris, 2012). There has not been a universal way for survivors to remember their loved
ones and incorporate them into their eveyday life. Traditionally, people will experience the five
stages of successful grief which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance
(Moayedoddin & Markowitz, 2015). Most times these stages happen in any order and people
who experience them are usually unsure of how to address them and work through those feelings
(Moayedoddin & Markowitz, 2015). Most people will avoid family events or holiday
celebrations because they struggle to connect with others after the loss. Instead of going to these

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13

events, they will stay home and continue to internalize their grief because they do not feel like
others will understand. Many families have a desire to have a memorial token or object that
represents their loved one and that could be brought to social settings to remind their social circle
that they are still miss their loved one (Moayedoddin & Markowitz, 2015). In the past, there has
not been an organization that helps family with this issue.
A project like The Sunflower Project has not really been done yet but it is a known trend
that people are frequently looking to the internet for support, information and guidance regarding
various subjects. In 2007 alone, MySpace users grew 72% and Facebook users grew 299%
(Swartwood, Veach, Kuhne, Hyun Kyung, & Kangting, 2011). It is estimated that about 55
independent grief internet supports groups are active and have focus on users who needs place to
share their feelings of grief with people that are understanding and compassionate (Swartwood,
Veach, Kuhne, Hyun Kyung, & Kangting, 2011). Many people have found that they are unable
to find social support in their current social systems and they find it easier to do it through an
online forum where it is somewhat anonymous. This allows grievers to avoid any stigma or
judgment surrounding their loss and they can simply just be open and share their story. Grievers
struggle to adapt to a new routine of life and they need support that is available at any time of
day, not just at scheduled times. Their grief is not always a linear process so having support that
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is a relatively new concept that has been made
possible by the internet (Swartwood, Veach, Kuhne, Hyun Kyung, & Kangting, 2011).
Conclusion
The Sunflower Project is an innovative and new idea to help individuals process grief. By
bringing together families to remember their loved ones, they can demonstrate their ongoing love
for their lost loved ones by utilizing memorial cards. In this new era of the Digital Age, The

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Sunflower Project will be a driving force in connecting grievers from all over the world through
technology. The utilization of memorial cards is a universal process that can be translated into
usage in hospital settings, hospice, schools and non-profit locations. The project provides a new
alternative to providing coping skills during the grief process. It will promote unity and growth
among families and connect grievers who may tend to internalize their feelings instead of sharing
them with people who understand.

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References
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Bugge, K. E., Darbyshire, P., Rkholt, E. G., Haugstvedt, K. T. S., & Helseth, S. (2014). Young
Children's Grief: Parents' Understanding and Coping. Death Studies, 38(1), 36-43.
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Doughty Horn, E. A., Crews, J. A., & Harrawood, L. K. (2013). Grief and Loss Education:
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Grants (2016). Retrieved from http://www.themoyerfoundation.org/grants/
Grief Reach - Community Expansion Grants (2015). Retrieved from
htttp://www.childrengrieve.org
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139-155. doi:10.1177/1460408611420352
Robinson, L, personal communication, February 12, 2016

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Swartwood, R. M., Veach, P. M., Kuhne, J., Hyun Kyung, L., & Kangting, J. (2011). Surviving
Grief: An Analysis of the Exchange of Hope in Online Grief Communities. Omega:
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Varga, M. A., & Paulus, T. M. (2014). Grieving Online: Newcomers Constructions of Grief in
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