NorthStar Care Community® Partners with Beads of Courage, Inc. to Launch Beads of Courage® NorthStar Bead and Carry a Bead® Initiative

New Beads of Courage^® NorthStar Bead acknowledges the bravery of individuals and families navigating hospice care; now accessible to 200+ children's hospital partners across the nation

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NorthStar Care Community, (NorthStar) a leading nationwide organization dedicated to enhancing access to quality care for serious illnesses and end-of-life support with both hospice and palliative care, is thrilled to announce a heartfelt partnership with Beads of Courage, Inc., a nonprofit that provides innovative arts-in-medicine programs for children, teens, and their families coping with serious illness, and The Center for Arts in Nursing, a partner organization of Beads of Courage (BOC) exists to support and strengthen experiences in human caring through the arts. This collaboration introduces the Beads of Courage^® NorthStar Bead, a meaningful symbol honoring individuals entering hospice care, and the Beads of Courage Carry a Bead^® initiative featuring the Beads of Courage^® NorthStar Bead, inviting public participation to support people facing life's most challenging moments.

The BOC NorthStar Bead is a unique, handcrafted bead designed to commemorate the courage and resilience of individuals as they transition into hospice care. This special bead will be integrated into the Beads of Courage Flagship program, where each bead represents a milestone, treatment, or moment of courage in a child or teen's healthcare journey. By integrating the BOC NorthStar Bead into this globally recognized program, NorthStar Care Community and Beads of Courage aim to provide emotional support and a visual and tangible symbol of connection and caring during end-of-life care.

"We are honored to partner with Beads of Courage to bring this powerful experience to those we serve," said Patrick Miller, RN, MBA, MHSA, FACHE, president and CEO of NorthStar Care Community. "The BOC NorthStar Bead is a symbol of compassion, dignity, and strength, acknowledging the bravery of individuals and families navigating hospice care. This partnership reflects our mission to provide personalized, mission-driven care that uplifts and supports our community." 

The Beads of Courage^® Carry a Bead initiative offers a meaningful way for individuals, groups, and communities to show support. Participants can carry the BOC NorthStar Bead during significant personal moments—such as a marathon, a hike, or a special event—and return it with a note of encouragement. These beads and messages are then gifted to people in hospice care, offering compassion and connection during difficult times. The Carry a Bead^® initiative is open to everyone, fostering a nationwide movement of compassion and solidarity.

"Every bead tells a story of courage, and the BOC NorthStar Bead will honor the profound courage of those in hospice care," said Jean Gribbon, RN, BSN, PhD, Founder and Chief Mission Officer of Beads of Courage, Inc, and President for the Center of Arts in Nursing. "We are excited to collaborate with NorthStar Care Community^® and invite the public to join us through our Carry a Bead^® initiative featuring the BOC NorthStar Bead, spreading love and encouragement to those who need it most during hospice care."

This partnership strengthens the mutual dedication of both organizations to support individuals and families coping with serious illnesses. It is a key component of the recently launched Life's Big Moments campaign, which seeks to promote dialogue and awareness about end-of-life hospice care while raising funds for NorthStar Care Community members.

The BOC NorthStar Bead will be available at NorthStar Care Community's partner organizations and select Beads of Courage member hospitals, with the Carry a Bead® program accessible at www.beadsofcourage.org and www.northstarcarecommunity.org 

For more information about the partnership, the NorthStar Bead, or the Carry a Bead® initiative, contact NorthStar at www.northstarcarecommunity.org or Beads of Courage at www.beadsofcourage.org Corporations, organizations, or individuals interested in supporting the initiative can join the Life's Big Moments campaign. For details or to donate, visit www.northstarcarecommunity.org/news/lifes-big-moments  or call 1-877-311-7578.

Media Contact: Judy Diethelm, WagTree, 310-245-1166, [email protected]

SOURCE NorthStar Care Community