The 21st Annual Blossoms of Hope Brunch is honored to present the 2012 Charles T. Rubey LOSS Award to Tom and Ginny Neuckranz.

Tom and Ginny Neuckranz are native Chicagoans who now live and who raised their three daughters in the northern suburb of Winnetka. Tom works as a trial attorney for Williams, Montgomery and John. Ginny relished being a “stay at home” mom, and took care of her three daughters, Kristin, Laura, and Erika. Always active in the community and with children, Ginny has taught ballet, yoga, Sunday school and worked with children with disabilities.

In 2004, the family was shocked and devastated when their youngest fourteen year old daughter, Erika, succumbed to clinical depression and took her own life. The Neuckranz family, guided by Father Rubey, became members of the LOSS family. It was there that Tom and Ginny received support, and decided to do something in Erika’s memory.

They, along with capable friends, founded the 501(c)3 not for profit, Erika’s Lighthouse: a Beacon of Hope for Adolescent Depression. The organization is dedicated to educating communities and schools, especially children and adolescents, about depression and good mental health. Up to this point, the subject was not discussed by young people at school. Erika’s Lighthouse has an ever growing presence, and now provides curriculums and programs in over 54 schools in the Chicago land area.

The program gives students, educators, parents, and health professionals a common vocabulary to talk about depression. With the Erika’s Lighthouse programs, young people are reminded that depression is a common illness, that it is treatable, and that it should be addressed. Erika’s Lighthouse supplies the tools, support, and resources to help “Get Depression out of the Dark.”

For more information, visit their website at www.erikaslighthouse.org.

The Charles T. Rubey LOSS Award is named in honor of the founder of LOSS. Father Rubey's steadfast commitment to the needs of survivors has been an inspiration to his colleagues, his clients, and the community. Since its inception in March, 1979, Catholic Charities LOSS Program has grown from a small monthly meeting in a survivor's home to 11 meeting sites throughout Cook and Lake counties.

The purpose of this award is to honor individuals who have made an extraordinary impact on the lives of survivors of suicide. Through both public examples and private energies, the honorees exemplify the meaning of Loving Outreach.