2005 NEWS RELEASE

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The Missing GRACE Organization * P.O. Box 1625 Maple Grove, MN 55311

For Immediate Release

April 1, 2005

Contact: Candy McVicar 763-497-0709

The 2005 GRACE Conference and Retreat: For Families and Healthcare Professionals Minneapolis, MN. The Missing GRACE Organization, an international parent bereavement support organization, is proud to announce the 3rd annual GRACE Conference and Retreat. This weekend of Healing and Education will focus on Pregnancy, Infant Loss, Infertility & Adoption. The conference is to be held on Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday, April 24th at the Double Tree Park Place Hotel in St. Louis Park, MN. The GRACE conferences are unique in that they offer training and support for professionals and bereaved parents, as well as offering a sibling-loss support program.

This year's conference and retreat: for families and healthcare professionals, will offer 25 sessions within 5 tracks: Bereavement/loss, Infertility, Adoption, Wellness and Professional. There will be over 40 speakers such as nationally known and respected Physicians Jason Collins, M.D., OB/GYN and Kenneth Bakken, M.D., D.O., P.H., Douglas Huesby, owner and CEO of Becker Furniture World and Sherokee Ilse, a bereaved parent, international speaker and author. Throughout the weekend attendees will find many beneficial activities including, private consults with specialists (OB/GYN, Reproductive Endocrinologist, N.D., etc), memory album scrap-booking, Spa services, a silent auction and more than 30 resource tables from where to gather support information such as; adoption agencies, specialty and holistic health providers, book stores, bereavement support organizations, infertility support groups and many more. Saturday will conclude with the evening dinner banquet, keynote speaker Amy Kuebelbeck-author of “Waiting with Gabriel” will share the message “From Grief to Grace: A journey of a Lifetime.” There will be incredible music, dance and drama and the evening will close with a memorial ceremony. Doctors, nurses, midwives, social workers and psychologists are invited to participate in our Professional medical track with CEU designed courses. There are a total of 5 Professional track sessions earning CEU credits, “Prevention of Stillbirth: A Comprehensive Review of Umbilical Cord Accidents" will be one presented by Dr. Jason Collins, OB/GYN, and Founder of the Pregnancy Institute. Dr Deborah Simmons, a marriage and family therapist specializing in the emotions of infertility and reproduction complications, will present “Support for Parents at the Time of Loss and with Follow Up” with Candy McVicar, the Executive Director and Founder of The Missing GR ACE Organization.

Our silent auction opens for bidding at 10am on Saturday the 23rd and ends at 2:45pm on Sunday the 24th. Items will be awarded during the Closing Program which starts at 4:15pm Sunday the 24th. Some of the donated items include: Hotel and vacation packages, spa services, jewelry, restaurant certificates, books, artwork and much more. All proceeds directly benefit the Missing GRACE Organization and its programs. Childcare, for ages 6 weeks to 12 years will be available in the GRACE Kids program both Saturday and Sunday. GRACE Kids is a fun-packed time with crafts, games, music and much more. Where applicable there will also be activities designed to help children with youth bereavement and adoption issues.

For those needing financial assistance to attend this year’s conference, there are currently scholarships available, scholarships become available as donations are given to the organization.

For More Information Contact:

Name: Candy McVicar, Founder and Executive Director of The Missing GRACE Organization
Organization Name: The Missing GRACE Organization
Phone Number: 763-497-0709
Email Address: candy@missinggrace.org
Web Address: www.MissingGRACE.org

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