New board chair, board members announced for Valerie’s House

A new chair of the Board of Directors and two new Board members have been announced by Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida helping children grieve the loss of a loved one.

Fort Myers Attorney Kristalyn Loson Atwood will lead the Valerie’s House Board of Directors as its new chair, succeeding local Realtor Mike McMurray, who will now serve as past chair and board member.

Atwood, a founding board member, has been actively involved with Valerie’s House since its inception nine years ago.

“Kristalyn has been a long-time volunteer for Valerie’s House beginning with our very first group night in 2016. She and her family have remained dedicated supporters ever since,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin Churchill. “Her passion for our mission combined with her knowledge as a non-profit attorney are an asset to Valerie’s House.”

Two new members of the Board of Directors have also been elected:

• Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson – Anderson played a pivotal role in helping Valerie’s House secure the land where the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home now stands. The mission of serving grieving children is also deeply personal to him since his mother died when he was just four years old.

• Fort Myers Attorney Ty Roland, senior partner and co-founder of Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan, said the firm carefully selects the charities it supports, and Valerie’s House stands out as the only organization in the area providing these essential services.

Valerie’s House opened its doors in Fort Myers in 2016 with 20 children and has now served more than 6,000 children and their families in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Sarasota and Escambia counties. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three Southwest Florida locations: 3551 Valerie’s House Way in Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples, and 233 East McKenzie Street in Punta Gorda. Valerie’s House also expanded into Northwest Florida in 2021 with a house in downtown Pensacola. For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org