Honoring Our Founder: Charlene Chambers and the Healing Hearts Foundation Legacy.
Charlene Chambers
The story of the Pacific Perinatal Foundation began in 2015, when Charlene Chambers founded the Healing Hearts Foundation, Vancouver Island’s first charitable organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families through pregnancy and infant loss.
Charlene was inspired to create the Healing Hearts Foundation after the loss of her daughter, Faith Tien. As Founder and Executive Director, she worked tirelessly to build community, expand access to support, and break the stigma surrounding pregnancy and infant loss. Her impact on countless families and the broader loss community was profound.
Following Charlene’s unexpected passing in 2020, a dedicated group of volunteers continued to sustain the organization through the challenges of the pandemic, ensuring that peer support and advocacy efforts remained available to those in need.
In 2022, the Healing Hearts Foundation team partnered with the clinical team at Full Circle Perinatal Care. Through a shared vision of more integrated, compassionate support for individuals and families navigating pregnancy, infant, and reproductive loss, the Pacific Perinatal Foundation was created.
Memory/comfort box
We believe healing is supported through connection and community, and that no one should have to navigate complex reproductive journeys alone. Our work is grounded in addressing gaps in the health system by bringing together clinical care, emotional support, and peer connection.
As the Pacific Perinatal Foundation, we integrate hospital and community-based supports to provide more seamless care through the emotional and psychological experiences of pregnancy loss and reproductive grief. Our services reflect both the grassroots origins of the Healing Hearts Foundation and a growing commitment to coordinated, accessible support.
At the heart of our work is a collaborative network of community volunteers, midwives, perinatal care providers, social workers, counsellors, and peer support facilitators who share a common goal: ensuring individuals and families feel supported, understood, and less alone in their journey.