Company Profile
National Students of AMF Support Network
Company Overview
The National Students of AMF Support Network’s (National Students of AMF) mission is to support college students grieving the illness or death of a loved one. National Students of AMF accomplishes this through campus chapters. Chapters consist of a support group where bereaved students can relate to peers who are also facing the unique challenges of grief during their college years and a service group, open to the entire campus community, which helps raise awareness and funds for causes important to chapter members. Incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in April 2006, there are currently 37 Campus Chapters across the United States. In addition to developing campus chapters, National Students of AMF also raises awareness about the needs of grieving college students and puts on events, such as the annual National Conference on College Student Grief and the Spring Soiree.
Company History
In 2003, just before David Fajgenbaum left his home in Raleigh, North Carolina to attend college at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., his mother Anne Marie was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. Anne Marie passed away in 2004, and as a result of a promise he made to her, David created an outlet for college students who, like himself, were coping with a loved one’s illness or death and suffering in silence. He called the group Students of AMF, a dual acronym for his mom (Anne Marie Fajgenbaum) and Ailing Mothers and Fathers.
Students of AMF began as a support group for 10 of David’s peers and quickly grew into a network that involved more than 400 members of the Georgetown community. Soon, other students across the country heard about the Georgetown Students of AMF model and wanted to do something similar on their campuses.
Along with the efforts of David’s best friend, Benjamin Chesson, National Students of Ailing Mothers & Fathers Support Network was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in April 2006.
David led the organization as volunteer Executive Director for its first three and a half years. The first full-time, paid Executive Director was hired in September 2009 and she took the opportunity to strengthen the foundation of the organization, open the organization’s first office (3344 Hillsborough St Raleigh, NC 27607) and grow the campus chapters in level of impact and numbers. Also, to be inclusive, our name was changed to National Students of AMF (rather than Ailing Mothers & Fathers) in 2009, where the letters AMF continue to be a tribute to our inspiration, Anne Marie Fajgenbaum, and where college students grieving the illness or death of any loved one are welcome.
In an effort to continue to grow and mature as an organization, National Students of AMF seeks to hire their second full-time, paid Executive Director.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
Over the last five years, we have been fortunate to receive media exposure on the Today Show, Reader's Digest, the CW, the back of 40 million bags of Doritos, and many more places.
Today, Students of AMF chapters are open to all grieving college students and the letters AMF remain a tribute to our inspiration, Anne Marie Fajgenbaum. We have 37 university-recognized Students of AMF chapters, many more in development, and receive student inquiries at the rate of 3-10 per month. Our website, www.studentsofamf.org, receives over 10,000 visitors per month. National Students of AMF also sponsors the annual National College Student Grief Awareness Week and National Conference on College Student Grief.