Coming together to honor little lives, support grieving families, and make a meaningful difference in our community.
Sometimes, the most meaningful steps we take are the ones we take together.
On Sunday, October 11, Team Ellafi proudly participated in the 2026 Footprints on Our Hearts Walk & 5K at Hubbard Park in Meriden, Connecticut. The event, held from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, benefited Hope After Loss, a Connecticut nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals and families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss.
Despite the rainy weather, hundreds of participants came together for a day filled with remembrance, compassion, connection, and hope. For Team Ellafi, it was an opportunity to stand alongside families, honor the little lives forever carried in their hearts, and support an organization making an incredible difference in our community.
And together, we accomplished something pretty special!
Small Steps. Big Impact.
Thanks to the generosity of our employees, friends, families, and supporters, Team Ellafi raised an incredible $2,291.44 for Hope After Loss, more than doubling our original $1,000 fundraising goal!
Our team was also recognized during the event's remembrance ceremony alongside other fundraising teams that exceeded their goals.
Even more inspiring, this year's Footprints on Our Hearts Walk & 5K brought together more than 800 participants and raised nearly $130,000 to help Hope After Loss continue its important work.
Every dollar raised represents more than a donation. It represents compassion, understanding, and a reminder to grieving families that they do not have to navigate their journey alone.
About Hope After Loss
Hope After Loss is a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization providing compassionate support, resources, and education to individuals and families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss.
Through its programs and services, the organization helps families find connection, comfort, and understanding during some of life's most difficult moments.
Its work includes:
- Peer-Led Support Groups: Creating welcoming, supportive spaces where grieving families can connect with others who understand their experiences.
- Burial & Cremation Assistance: Providing financial assistance to families facing unexpected expenses following pregnancy or infant loss.
- Education & Training: Helping healthcare providers and funeral home professionals deliver compassionate, informed care to families experiencing loss.
- Community Awareness & Connection: Creating opportunities for families to honor their babies, share their experiences, and find strength through community.
Events like Footprints on Our Hearts help make these essential services possible while bringing greater awareness to pregnancy and infant loss, a topic that deserves more compassion, understanding, and open conversation.
A Team Effort Led with Heart
Team Ellafi's participation was organized by Krystal Aimi, an Ellafi employee and member of the Hope After Loss Board of Directors, whose dedication to the organization's mission helped bring our team together for this meaningful cause.
For Krystal, seeing her Ellafi colleagues and community rally behind Hope After Loss was especially meaningful.
"Seeing Team Ellafi come together to support Hope After Loss means more than I can put into words," Krystal shared. "I'm so proud of our team for showing up for our community. The generosity and support help this incredible organization continue providing resources, education, and compassionate care to women and families who need it most."
Her leadership and passion are a wonderful reminder of what happens when we bring people together around a shared purpose.
Supporting Women and Families Beyond Financial Services
At Ellafi Federal Credit Union, our mission is rooted in empowering women and those who support them, helping build stronger, more resilient individuals, families, and communities.
We believe that support comes in many forms. Sometimes it's providing financial guidance or helping someone achieve greater independence. Other times, it's simply showing up, listening, and standing beside someone when they need it most.
Supporting organizations like Hope After Loss reflects that commitment. It's about recognizing the challenges women and families face throughout life's journey and finding meaningful ways to make a difference beyond our everyday work.
Because being there for our community means showing up for the moments that matter most.
Thank You for Walking with Us
To everyone who donated, participated, cheered us on, or helped spread the word, thank you!
A special thank-you to Krystal for bringing this opportunity to Team Ellafi and for her continued dedication to Hope After Loss.
We're incredibly proud of what our team accomplished, but even more grateful to be part of a community that comes together with so much heart.
To the families who joined the walk, shared their stories, and honored the babies they carry in their hearts, we stand with you.
Every step was taken with love. Every donation made a difference. And every little life remembered matters.
Learn More About Hope After Loss
To learn more about Hope After Loss, explore its support services, or find ways to get involved, visit HopeAfterLoss.org.
