Mae's Way Foundation

05/09/2026

So grateful for our partnership with organizations like Locking Arms for Su***de Awareness and others who help to make a way for children and their families impacted by su***de!

You Matter!

04/26/2026

The 3rd Annual Mae’s Way Foundation Courageous Caterpillars Camp is in the books… and what a day it was!

Just when I think my heart can’t heal or expand any further… these kiddos walk through the doors, and it stretches just a little more. 💗

Courage was shown.
Creativity came to life.
Feelings were shared.
And joy found its way in.

We had fun… together.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone, you know who you are, who helped make this year’s camp such a meaningful day.

And a special thank you to our therapy puppers, Buddy the guitar-playing Pomeranian, and Polar Bear, the gentle giant Great Pyrenees from Pet Partners.

You Matter.

Michele Gates
Founder

*Photos shared with permission.

04/17/2026

Courageous Caterpillars Camp is next Saturday! 🐛💚🦋

There’s still time to register and join us for a day of connection, creativity, and support for children navigating the loss of a parent to su***de.

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Lou Dennis Community Park, 402 Park Dr, Newburgh, IN

Register: https://bit.ly/4clb1I2

We would love to have your child join us!

You Matter.

04/16/2026

Thank you for the wonderful article, Tammie Tuley, and for sharing Mae's Way Foundation’s story and mission!! Grateful for the connection, conversation, and laughter.

I encourage you to follow along with Tammie’s work…be sure to like and follow Coffee Laughs and Chats or visit her website to learn more about her work in the community.

You Matter.

Some stories don’t just catch your attention; they stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.

From Cocoon to Courage: Mae Leads the Way with Michele Gates is one of those stories. Mae the Courageous Caterpillar is a powerful reminder about how important it is for children experiencing loss, grief, and difficult seasons to understand these two truths: You Matter and You Are Not Alone!

Take a few minutes to sit with this story and let it speak for itself. I think your heart will be touched; I know mine was! 🧡👇

https://www.tatuley.com/say-what/3103728_from-cocoon-to-courage-mae-leads-the-way

04/15/2026

Only 2 days left to submit your entry for our 2026 Youth Mental Health Art Contest! ✨🎨

Today we’re highlighting last year’s entry from Millie Leonard of John Paul II Catholic School. Her piece reminds us that even in difficult moments, the strength and tools we need are already within us. 💚

There’s still time to share your creativity for a chance to win $500 in your division. 🌟

🗓️ Deadline: April 16
👉 Learn more at rvbh.com/artcontest

04/15/2026

Mae’s Way Foundation is FIVE years old today!

Hard to believe it’s been five years since the very first thought became a mission to support children left behind by su***de.

From comfort bags…
to Courageous Caterpillars Camps…
to the moments and connections in between…

Mae’s Way Foundation has grown in ways never imagined.

Not a day has gone by in the past five years that I haven’t dreamt of all Mae’s Way Foundation can be and do.

Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported us, the kiddos, and our mission.

TOGETHER, we can Make A Way for children left behind by su***de!

Much love, everybody!

You Matter!

Michele Gates
Founder

04/14/2026

Some feelings are hard to find words for… especially for little hearts. 💚

That’s why we created our Let’s Check In series, inspired by the book, Mae the Courageous Caterpillar, included in our comfort bags.

This simple page gives children a way to pause, notice what they’re feeling, and communicate it… without needing to say a word. They can circle, color, or choose the cocoon expression that feels most like them in the moment.

You can download this resource for free at the link below and use it at home, in classrooms, or anywhere a child may need a gentle way to check in.

https://www.maeswayfoundation.org/resources

Together, we can make a way for children left behind by su***de and help them feel seen, heard, and understood.

You Matter.

04/01/2026

A BIG Thank You and Shoutout to FresasCrafts for helping us include Mae the Courageous Caterpillar in our comfort bags!!

Your work helps ensure each child has something soft to hold onto after losing a parent to su***de. We’re so grateful for your support, the care you put into creating Mae, and your five star service!

You Matter.💚🐛🦋



Find Jess and her craft store on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FresasCrafts

03/30/2026

Mae’s Way Foundation is excited to share that we have taken a meaningful step forward in supporting children impacted by the su***de of a parent.

For some time now, it has been on my heart to find a way to ensure these children are seen, counted, and supported. Today marks the beginning of the Mae’s Way Foundation Children Left Behind by Su***de Data Initiative, using our new Children Left Behind by Su***de Data Collection Form.

To begin, we’ve partnered with three LOSS teams who have agreed to begin sharing de-identified information through this form, helping us capture meaningful, real-time data to better understand and support these children.

We are deeply grateful to the following LOSS teams for their willingness to lead in this initiative with us:

CARES in Kosciusko County
Locking Arms for Su***de Awareness in Dubois County
Creating Community Connections in Crawford County

We would love to have your LOSS team or organization join us. Please message us directly through maeswayfoundation.org, and we’d be happy to help get you set up with the form, which takes just a minute or two to complete.

Together, we can make a difference in the life of a child left behind by su***de!

We appreciate your support in helping us share this news.

You Matter.

Michele Gates
Founder

10/07/2025

We would like to thank Kingsleigh Rose Photos for capturing moments at our 1st Annual Make a Way Benefit Dinner this past Saturday!! To download a photo, use code 4837.😁