Supporting Children and Families Impacted by Grief or Addiction

The mission of Eluna is to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. Our innovative resources and programs address the critical needs of children experiencing powerful, overwhelming and often confusing emotions associated with the death of someone close to them or substance abuse in their family. No child should have to face these struggles alone, and our unique programs bring kids together to ease their pain and provide the tools to help restore hope.

Children affected by grief or addiction can feel isolated and alone. Circumstance puts them at increased risk for depression, suicide, poverty, anxiety and behavior problems. Children living in a home with addiction are also at four times the risk of developing an addiction of their own. Eluna’s programs come alongside children and their families to provide vital support helping to prevent complications that arise from unaddressed childhood bereavement and to help break the cycle of addiction in the next generation.

Eluna is dedicated to energizing new research and inspiring political advocacy that will lead to higher standards of care and positive outcomes for children in the fields of bereavement and addiction prevention. By raising awareness for these issues, Eluna reduces stigmas, improves understanding, and makes healing possible for children in need.

Stories That Inspired Our Mission

Erin Metcalf

Camp Erin is named in memory of Erin Metcalf, a remarkable young woman who developed liver cancer when she was 15 years old. Karen and Jamie Moyer met Erin through Make-A-Wish and were immediately drawn into a friendship with Erin and her family. Erin had a compassionate heart, and when she was hospitalized, she often expressed concern for the other children in the hospital as well as their siblings. She recognized the impact the illness of a family member had on the siblings and their need for support and attention.

In 2000, when Erin died at the age of 17, Jamie and Karen Moyer wished to honor Erin's memory and her caring spirit. Acknowledging her love of children and her desire to help others, the Moyers felt that a grief camp for children would be a befitting tribute. The first Camp Erin was established by Eluna in 2002 to honor Erin’s passion for life and desire to help other kids and teens. 

Stories That Inspired Our Mission

Camp Mariposa

Karen and Jamie Moyer created Camp Mariposa after a personal experience with their young niece who was impacted by her mother’s addiction. After researching available resources, they discovered that a very limited number of programs existed to help children ages 9 to 12. Karen sought out international addiction expert Claudia Black and together with a youth-serving organization in the Seattle area, they created the Camp Mariposa program model. The first Camp Mariposa was held in Washington State in 2007. In 2011, Eluna began the national expansion of Camp Mariposa that continues today.

Spanish for butterfly, the naming of Camp Mariposa was inspired by Karen Moyer who truly believes in the transformation that happens with the children who attend camp.

Stories That Inspired Our Mission

Gregory Chaya

Throughout Jamie Moyer’s career in Major League Baseball, he and his wife Karen made a commitment to give back to the communities in which he played. In 1993 during Jamie’s time with the Baltimore Orioles, he met a young cancer patient by the name of Gregory Chaya. The Moyers and Gregory developed a special bond throughout Gregory’s battle with leukemia, and continued to stay in touch after Gregory’s life-saving bone marrow transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. Jamie was inspired by Gregory’s brave spirit and positive attitude amidst such adversity. Being a part of Gregory’s story and his struggle was a life-changing experience for both Jamie and his wife Karen.

In May 2003, Eluna created The Gregory Fund, an initiative to raise funds and awareness for early cancer detection research at Fred Hutch that still exists today. The Organization’s annual Catch a Cure for Cancer initiative raised over $1.8 million through events and community grassroots fundraising.

Since 2000

Eluna was created in 2000 by former Major League Baseball pitcher Jamie Moyer and child advocate Karen Phelps Moyer. What started as a small nonprofit in Seattle, WA, with a broad mission to help children in distress, has grown into a national organization with signature programs reaching thousands of children impacted by grief or addiction in their family in cities across the U.S. and in Canada each year.

The early years of the organization included a dedication to support smaller, grassroots organizations as well as multi-million dollar commitments to some of Seattle’s largest institutions including Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s and Swedish Medical Center. The Organization raised and awarded over $26 million for organizations providing services to children in need.

In 2002, Eluna created Camp Erin which has grown into the largest free bereavement program for children and teens in the U.S. and Canada, with locations serving children in every Major League Baseball city. Created in 2007, Camp Mariposa is a free mentoring and addiction prevention camp and program for children affected by a family member’s substance abuse. Eluna's once broad mission has evolved to focus on the two issues deeply impacting today’s youth: childhood bereavement and addiction prevention.

In 2012, Eluna expanded to include a new headquarters in Philadelphia, PA, supporting the national growth and future sustainability of its programs.

Eluna’s Board of Trustees consists of professionals dedicated to the children and families we serve while providing leadership and stewardship of the organization’s mission.

Current

    • Kevin Mincio
    • President, Eluna Board of Trustees
    • CEO - Watermark Estate Management Services
    • Kevin Collins
    • Treasurer, Eluna Board Trustee
    • HNTB Corporation - Senior Vice President/New York Office Leader
    • Gina Clark
    • Secretary, Eluna Board Trustee
    • Executive Vice President and Chief Communications & Administration Officer - Cencora, Inc.
    • Aaron Ball
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Senior Vice President and Head of Insurance Solutions, Service, and Marketing - New York Life
    • Ellen Barry
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Founder & Principal E M Barry LLC
    • Phylliss DelGreco
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Vice President and Associate General Counsel - New York Life
    • Rob Densen
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Founder and CEO, Tiller, LLC
    • Susan Hansen
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Executive Director, Facilities - Amgen (retired)
    • Henry Miller
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Chairman - Odgers Berndtson
    • Cynthia Ray
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Healthcare Marketing Professional
    • Lamont Robinson
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Director, Supplier Diversity - Cencora, Inc.
    • Mike Robinson
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Partner - Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas
    • Robert Stern
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Partner - Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
    • Ponni Subbiah
    • Eluna Board Trustee
    • Chief Medical Officer/Senior VP, Global Head of Medical Affairs - ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
    • Andrew Grant
    • Eluna Board Program Committee
    • Partner - Perkins Coie LLP
    • Heather Hager
    • Eluna Board Marketing Committee
    • CEO/Founder - HH Interiors
    • Jeff Jubelirer
    • Eluna Board Marketing Committee
    • Vice President - Bellevue Communications Group
    • John Melcher
    • Eluna Board Finance Committee
    • Chief Strategy Officer - First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union
    • Edward Rendell
    • Eluna Board Emeritus
    • Former Governor of Pennsylvania - Rendell Management and Consulting
    • Bart Wear
    • Eluna Board Emeritus
    • Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

Ambassadors

Eluna's Advisory Committees are experts in fields related to the organization's initiatives providing important knowledge and guidance helping to ensure the offering of high-quality programs and services.

Bereavement Camp Standards of Practice Advisory Committee

Camp Mariposa Advisory Committee

Eluna Resource Center Advisory Committee

Eluna COVID Advisory Council

Meet our team!

Financial Information

Eluna is committed to financial integrity and sound stewardship of the dollars generously invested in our mission and the children we serve. Eluna retains some of the highest donor integrity ratings amongst nonprofits receiving the highest rating from Guidestar, its Platinum Seal of Approval and the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for Accountability & Transparency. Remaining true to the vision of our Founders, each child that participates in an Eluna program attends free of charge. Thank you to the dedicated individual, corporate and organization supporters that make this possible year after year.

Eluna's Federal Tax ID Number: 91-2065051

Fiscal Year 2022:

Fiscal Year 2021:

Fiscal Year 2020:

Join Our Team

Passion and dedication best describe the team at Eluna. Each member of the team, from staff to interns, plays a key role in working towards our mission to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. The following positions are currently available:  

If you are interested in learning more about these or other potential job or internship opportunities, please contact us.