Sharon Stenger, Our Hope Place1


Co-Founder
Wilton - CT United States


The big idea: In 25 words or less, please tell us how this Fast 50 Nominee is helping to address the planet's problems.


Sharon Stenger and Laura Racanelli have created www.OurHopePlace.com to provide confidence and resources for friends to help their friends cope, hope and heal after miscarriage.


Please describe how this nominee is using business as a force of positive change. What technology, idea, or strategy is the nominee using -- and what problem, such as global warming, poverty, or pollution, does it address? (suggested length: 100 words)


www.OurHopePlace.com: friends and a special bracelet help demystify miscarriage. There are over 1MM miscarriages in the US each year. Yet most people don't know how to help. This leaves women and their families suffering in silence. Long time friends and sorority sisters Sharon Stenger and Laura Racanelli have created Our Hope Place as a way to provide confidence and resources for friends to help their friends cope, hope and heal. On the website you will find:
- Journal entries that show what a woman might be feeling after a miscarriage - 6 tips on how to help
- Bracelet story (and the opportunity to send one)
-Specially selected gifts (all with specific meaning/insight) Miscarriage is a loss like no other.
There are no memories, no photos, only the loss of a dream, of potential, of hope. Miscarriage is a loss that needs to be grieved for.
Please visit www.OurHopePlace.com to help women and their families.


What are the results, both financial and social? How has the nominee's business performed, and what impact has it had on the problem it addresses? (suggested length: 100 words)


Our Hope Place launched in November of 2006. We measure our success in ways we help women and their families. Some statistics include: - The first person to receive a bracelet had a baby in Sept 2007. - A woman who received a bracelet from her parents, purchased a bracelet for her friend stating, "I hope this bracelet helps you as much as it did me". - One woman who received a bracelet and is now focusing on adoption told us, "while I don't wear my bracelet
everyday, I wear it on my worst days, it really helps". - One blogger who writes about "the diary of a miscarriage" lists Our Hope Place as a helpful resource - Site visitors spend on average 5-15 minutes reading, learning how miscarriage suffers might feel and how to help We look forward to helping more women and their families. Perhaps you will help us spread the word. Thank you!


Rate This Entry
slow - 1 < ---------------- > 10 - fast
Your rating: None Average: 9.9 (88 votes)
View ALL Fast 50 entries >>>
Skip to next Fast 50 entry >>>

Comments that readers have made about this submission:

Our Hope Place is addressing an unmet need in the broader world community by essentially providing an online group for people, men & women, who have experienced the loss of a miscarriage and are struggling with the subsequent pain. Group therapy and a sense of community help with any loss or major life change – Our Hope Place provides that outlet.
Marc Bowers
-
St Louis, Missouri, USA
I suffered alone in silence for 6 years while miscarrying 3 times before I had my 2 wonderful boys. The need for an organization such as Our Hope Place gives you the strenght and support your looking for when you don't know where to turn. It also helps those who love you deal with your sadness when they are not sure how to help you. I only wish I had them to turn to back when I needed them.
Barbara Garelick-Casa-
-
Norwalk, CT USA
this is a great site filling a deeply held need for so many caring people.
carla graubard
-
nyc ny
Great goals, brilliantly delivered to people at a time of great need. Awesome site. Deserves all the praise and thanks it gets!
c graubard
-
new york, NY us
We have suffered a miscarriage and it was devastating. We have also met several other couples who have struggled with miscarriage. This is a great site!
Lee Whitmire
-
Leander, TX, USA
I have had 6 miscarriages and know the heartache all too well. I have had one still birth, and miraculously, 3 live births. To know there is somewhere I can get support and information and just good old love and care is comforting. What an asset this site is to those who have lost so much.
Kathy Smallwood
-
Sprague, Wa, USA
A great resource! I wish I had this when I was going through it!
Sarah Thomas
-
Darien, CT USA
I sincerely hope more/everyone learns about Our Hope Place. Miscarriage is so common, yet most women/men end up suffering alone. As a society we need to help. Our Hope Place helps us do just that!
Sharon
-
Wilton, CT, USA
This website serves a great need. The sadness is a great chasm that you think you will never be able to crawl out of. Having someone else to listen is so helpful.
Carolyn Predmore
-
Port Washington, Ny USA
This is a great resource to help people going through a very difficult time.
Chris
-
Westport, CT
Miscarriage is one of those things you think would never happen to you..until it does and then you have no idea what to do. It is a loss and you need to grieve like any other loss. It is comforting to know that it is actually quite commmon and there is somewhere to turn. Great site serving a real need.
Jennifer
-
Norwalk, CT USA
Sharon and Laura have developed a much needed website that is tremendously helpful to all women who have had a miscarriage or are in danger of having one. The idea of having something tangible (bracelt) to hold onto is extremely comforting. These women are brilliant.
Joy Frances
-
Jupiter, Florida
Ourhopeplace gives people a place to go when they do not know where else to turn!
Paula
-
NJ
We also suffered through three miscarriages before having two daughters. I am so glad someone is building a resource like this. The only people who really understand are people who have been through it.
Michelle
-
Fl, USA
An origianl idea that is long overdue.
Susan
-
NY, USA
What a great need this site serves! I'm sure many people will find its message comforting and its resources valuable.
Lorien
-
Wilton, CT, USA
I know this web site has helped women to try to cope after a miscarriage. The bracelet was worn by my daughter in law before her son was born.
Anne Stenger
-
Sea Cliff, New York USA
This entry really touched my heart! Great idea!!

We have three boys now but when we had a miscarriage after our 1st child we were devastated!! Most people didn't really understand how heartbroken we were because we already had a beautiful healthy child and could "try again."

I really appreciate what you are doing! Thank you for creating something that will support other families through this heartache! The viral component of this idea will allow it to help so many people very quickly! And I love that it is something tangible people can do to help in a meaningful way during a time when it is so difficult to even know what to say.
Cindy
-
Portland, OR
Having experienced multiple miscarriages I searched for comfort in websites such as Our Hope Place! These women have taken their own personal loss and created a home and hope for people like myself!
Dina Segerson
-
United States
Our Hope Place feeds a niche - women who have experienced miscarriages need a place to turn, and so do their friends and family. Our Hope Provides this!
Rebecca Hendrix
-
Fairfield, CT, USA
Our Hope Place is a wonderful resource for women in need. It is also a wonderful resource for family and friends that have questions of how they can help, listen and care for the love one that is experiencing a loss.
Annie Padron
-
Bronx, NY USA
This is, I'm sure, a HUGE unserved group. Those of us who have experienced miscarriage really suffer alone and in silence. We're neither "fish nor fowl"; nobody knows what to say or do. Our bodies are hormones run amok from being pregnant one moment to not pregnant the next. I wish I had had this resource/community.
C. Vasquez
-
NY, NY
a terrific resource of encouragement - I highly recommend the website and the bracelet as a gift.
cindy brown
-
8 devon road
Your encouragement is wonderful. Keep up the hard work, your support is needed and helpful for many.
Beth DeWitte
-
Oak Ridge, NJ, USA
Great resource with caring information
Irene McGeachy
-
Darien, CT
Our Hope Place is a wonderful resource for the women who have had miscarriages as well as their families. Thank you for helping so many!
Gail Tedesco
-
Croton-on-Hudson, NY
LOVE YOUR COMPANY
SUSAN HAAS
-
TOMS RIVER, NJ
GOOD LUCK LADIES
PAUL HAAS
-
TOMS RIVER, NJ
GOOD LUCK LADIES
PAUL HAAS
-
TOMS RIVER, NJ
GOOD LUCK LADIES
PAUL HAAS
-
TOMS RIVER, NJ
Good Site for the pain of misscarriage....Had several many many years ago....
Barbara Wightman
-
Island Heights,NJ USA
Good Site for the pain of misscarriage....Had several many many years ago....
Barbara Wightman
-
Island Heights,NJ USA
Miscarriage is a subject that is still talked about in whispers. This web site offers much needed assistance for people trying to cope, accept and communicate.
Rosemarie Camia
-
White Plains, NY USA
I think that this is a wonderful and necessary service that is being provided to women who have had a miscarriage.
Joan McCoy
-
Westwood, NJ, USA
I give it a 10. Needed support for a significant population of women is provided through the Our Hope Place web site.
Vencine Kelly
-
East Setauket, NY USA
I have experienced the pain of miscarriage twice and this website offers support and hope to all women and men who are going through the loss of pregnancy.
Lisa C.
-
Darien, CT
Our Hope Place has given those who have suffered the trauma of a miscarriage a wonderful support system! In many cases of miscarriage, I have seen women withdraw but Our Hope Place offers them an opportunity to discuss openly their feelings and assist them through the grieving process which will help them heal sooner.
Maria Carlino Novielli
-
Ardsley on Hudson, New York, United States
This is a valuable resource for couples who have experienced a miscarriage. Keep up the good work.
Bill Hass
-
Naugatuck, CT, USA
Great site to help those in need. I wish it the most success.
Chris
-
NY
I think this a great site. I am a person who has had a miscarriage and gave birth to a still born child at 8 months. I think it's wonderful for women to have a place to turn when they may think they are the only ones going through such a tragedy. I never had something like this to go to when I went through mine. I commend OurHopePlace!!!
Robin
-
Manahawkin, NJ USA
What you are doing is so important for so many women. Much success to your company as you continue to provide a much needed resource for women across the country.
Karen
-
Huntington, CT
Our Hopes Place is an amazing site to help women understand their feelings of loss and to move to the healing process..it not only gives grieving mother's an opportunity to understand how to start the healing process, but also helps loved ones to support moms in their healing process. I send my patients to this site all the time!
Mary Robbins, LCSW
-
Orange, CT USA
outstanding idea and great leadership
John Stuart
-
Needham, MA, USA
A much needed organization - doing a world of good.
Peter
-
Pleasantville, NY
By creating this site, Sharon and Laura have made valuable resources available, at the click of a button, to the world. I'm sure those suffering through such a difficult period in their lives greatly appreciate the comfort and understanding they receive through it.
Jerry
-
Rochester, Michigan U.S.
Our Hope PLace is a wonderful organizations doing something that few think about - helping women who suffer a miscarriage. It is to be commended.
Monica Dennis
-
Stratford, CT USA
A key resource for friends and family.
Margarita Blessing
-
Wilton, CT, USA
This is a great site which gives people the tools they need to heal after a family has the misfortune of experiencing a miscarriage
Bill
-
Wilton,CT,USA
This is a great site which gives people the tools they need to heal after a family has the misfortune of experiencing a miscarriage.
Bill
-
Wilton,CT,USA
A great site run by even better people
Mitch
-
Wilton,CT,USA
Very informitive....
Thor
-
Redding,CT,USA
This site provides great insight about a unspoken situation in our society. It was quite informative and helpful.
Meg
-
Glen Head, NY,USA
I've been waiting for a site for this for a long time.
Sha
-
Port Washington, NY,USA
A much needed site.
SEL
-
CT, USA
A much needed site.
SEL
-
CT, USA
I hope with www.OurHopePlace.com that we can reach out to others who have also suffered a miscarriage and help them on their healing journey.
Laura
-
Darien,
Wow - what a great story and a unique way to help other women and their families get through a touch time.
Laura
-
Darien,CT
Thanks for sharing your story!
LSR
-
Darien,CT
Thanks!!!!!!!!
Brielle
-
Darien,CT
Spread the word about www.OurHopePlace.com
Maximus
-
Darien,CT
Good Luck!
Michael
-
Pelham Manor, NY