Hopeful Heart Initiative

Our Mission

The Hopeful Heart Initiative, a program of The Goodwin Family Project, exists to support families navigating the devastating loss of a baby through pregnancy loss, stillbirth, infant loss, or sudden infant death. In moments when grief is overwhelming and decisions feel impossible, we step in to provide practical, compassionate, and dignified support—so families are not left to navigate loss alone.

One of the most unexpected and painful realities many families face after losing a baby is the financial burden of burial or cremation services. While families are grieving, they are often confronted with urgent costs they were never prepared for. The Hopeful Heart Initiative helps ease this burden by offering financial assistance for cremation services, burial expenses, funeral home service fees, and required documentation, allowing families the space to grieve without the added weight of financial stress.

Our support prioritizes families experiencing second- and third-trimester pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and infant loss, with particular attention given to single mothers, low-income families, and those facing severe medical complications. While financial screening is not required, we intentionally serve families who are most vulnerable during these moments of crisis.

Beyond financial assistance, the Hopeful Heart Initiative is rooted in compassion, dignity, and faith-centered care. Every family we serve is treated with respect, confidentiality, and grace. We believe every life—no matter how brief—deserves to be honored, and every parent deserves to feel supported, seen, and held during their grief.

We work to build collaborative relationships with hospitals, hospices, funeral homes, and community partners to help identify families in need and ensure support is provided quickly and sensitively. Our goal is not only to assist in moments of loss, but also to restore hope by reminding families that they are not forgotten and that their child’s life matters.

Through donor generosity and community support, the Hopeful Heart Initiative exists to bring light into one of life’s darkest moments—offering dignity in goodbye, compassion in grief, and hope for healing.

“At the heart of our work is a simple belief: no family should have to choose between honoring their baby and surviving financially.”

— Morgan Goodwin

What We Hope to Accomplish

Through the Hopeful Heart Initiative, our goal is to create a future where families facing pregnancy and infant loss are met with compassion, dignity, and tangible support during one of the most painful moments of their lives.

  • Relieve the immediate financial burden placed on grieving families by helping cover burial, cremation, and funeral-related expenses, allowing parents the space to grieve without added stress or shame.

  • Ensure every baby’s life is honored with dignity, regardless of a family’s financial circumstances, recognizing that every life—no matter how brief—matters.

  • Build trusted partnerships with hospitals, hospices, and funeral homes to create a compassionate referral network that connects families to support quickly and sensitively.

  • Prioritize the most vulnerable families, including single mothers, low-income households, and those experiencing severe medical complications, while maintaining a judgment-free and confidential application process.

  • Offer faith-centered hope alongside practical assistance, reminding families that they are not alone and that their grief is seen, valid, and honored.

  • Establish a sustainable fund that allows us to serve families consistently, respond quickly to urgent needs, and expand our reach as community support grows.

  • Break the silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss by creating space for open conversation, remembrance, and healing within the community.