Our History

• 2000 - Lost & Found was founded by Shawn Askinosie and Karen Scott, and was modeled after The Dougy Center, a children's grief support center in Portland, Oregon.
• The first Board of Directors chose the name Lost & Found to reflect the vision of a place where grieving people find hope to get them through the painful process of dealing with their loss.
• January, 2001 - The first children's grief support groups began meeting in Shawn's law office. 
• Soon teen and “middlers” groups were added and hundreds of children and their families began receiving grief support at Lost and Found.
• July 2006 - Lost & Found moved into its own facility at 1006 N. Cedarbrook in Springfield, MO, after making a down payment from a generous donation given by Chuck & Ginger Foster, in memory of their son Conor Foster, who died at age 4.  The facility was named "The Conor House," in his memory. 
• Fall 2008 - Two Adult Groups were added:  The Young Adult Group, for those ages 18-30 something who are grieving the death of a loved one and the Older Adult Group for those grieving the death of a spouse of many years or an adult child.
• An average of 70-90 children, and 65-80 parents from a 14-county area are enrolled in groups at any given time.  Over 50 volunteer facilitators provide approximately 3,500 volunteer hours each year.
• Lost & Found is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS.
• For more information, or to enroll in a greif support group, please call 865.9998.