Together We Heal - A Brandon Tolson Foundation 2025 Event

Spartan Surfaces hosted a special charity event, “Together We Heal,” in partnership with the Brandon Tolson Foundation (BTF). This event brought together families navigating the grief of losing a child, providing a space for connection, healing, and shared experiences. With an engaging schedule of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and meaningful activities, the event was a testament to the power of community and support.

A Day of Healing and Connection

This Brandon Tolson Foundation 2025 event began with a keynote speech by Marcy Larson, host of the Always Andy’s Mom podcast and founder of a nonprofit by the same name. Marcy, a pediatrician and bereaved mother, shared her insights on navigating grief, offering comfort and inspiration to families in attendance. As a result, her powerful message set the tone for a day focused on healing and community.

The event was structured into two halves, with breakout sessions tailored to different aspects of loss. Attendees could choose discussions that resonated with them, such as:

Loss by Suicide, led by Dr. Amy Ocasio
Sibling Loss, featuring Nicole Stagnoli, Kristina Witt, and Jennifer Costa
Loss by Overdose and Fentanyl Awareness, led by Julie Blood
How Losing a Child Affects Fathers, presented by Jon Tolson

For those needing a break or preferring a creative outlet, Made Me Mine, a Bel Air craft shop, hosted art sessions where attendees could create keepsakes with sea glass and personal photos. Additionally, friendship bracelet-making, led by Spartan Surfaces Hope McGreevy, provided another space for connection and reflection.

Community Support and Generosity

Local businesses and sponsors played a significant role in making this event special.

Wash Day Floral, a local florist, donated stunning centerpieces that added warmth to the venue.
Yorktowne Apparel generously contributed T-shirts and journals for attendees.
Made Me Mine created a special craft experience to honor lost loved ones.

A highlight of the Brandon Tolson Foundation 2025 event was the check presentation, totaling $26,670, which included contributions from Spartan Surfaces employees and a personal donation from Kevin. This substantial donation will further the foundation’s mission of supporting grieving families across multiple states.

A Special Gathering for Families

While Friday’s event was open to a broad audience, Saturday was reserved for families directly impacted by the foundation. It was a day of deep connection, where families who had never met in person before found solace in shared experiences. Some were at the beginning of their journey through grief, while others had walked this path for years. The retreat allowed them to connect, share stories, and find comfort in knowing they were not alone.

Attendees described the retreat as a space of understanding and hope. Conversations flowed naturally, bonds were formed, and many left with a renewed sense of support from their extended community.

Honoring Families, Building Hope

The Brandon Tolson Foundation has helped over 250 families across seven states, and its impact continues to grow. Events like these highlight the importance of providing a safe space for families to grieve, heal, and support one another.

Candi Tolson, CEO of the Brandon Tolson Foundation, shared her gratitude for this special event, saying, “BTF is honored and so very grateful to accept such a generous donation from SS and the community. The funds will go directly back to the families we serve in different forms, including funeral and burial costs, support group costs, funding our family gatherings, therapy cost assistance, lost wages, and various other supportive therapies that we use to welcome our families to BTF. We thank you from the most sincere place in our hearts. We could not do what we do without such wonderful, giving, and selfless people like yourselves! Sincerely grateful!”

Spartan Surfaces is honored to have been part of this meaningful retreat, and we look forward to continuing our support for the foundation’s mission. To learn more about BTF and how you can contribute, visit the Brandon Tolson Foundation online.

ABOUT SPARTAN

Spartan Surfaces is a specialty flooring supplier headquartered in Bel Air, MD. Employing over 250 team members, Spartan prides itself on taking a human-centered approach to business. We put people at the forefront of everything we do – our clients, our suppliers, our communities, our team, and our families. Spartan holds warehousing and offices in Maryland, Minnesota, and Upstate New York with showrooms in D.C., New York City, and Chicago. Its geography spans the contiguous United States with continued expansion on the horizon. We are great people dedicated to great products, great families, great friendships, and great happiness. Whatever you’re working on, we’ve got you covered!