Did you know that the Animal Planet TV show Treehouse Masters built Lisa’s Butterfly Treehouse at Cornerstone of Hope in 2013? This unique and fun space on Cornerstone of Hope’s beautiful campus is used frequently by our grieving children and teens.

The episode featuring the building and unveiling of Lisa’s Butterfly Treehouse, In Loving Memory of Lisa Kurtz Luciano, at Cornerstone of Hope originally aired on Friday, January 24, 2014 at 10:00pm on Animal Planet.

“The idea for the treehouse came about after the death of my Aunt Lisa who was a major benefactor and founding board member of Cornerstone,” said Christi Tripodi, founder of Cornerstone of Hope. “Lisa Kurtz Luciano was such a force behind our ministry. I was blessed to be her niece.  Aunt Lisa was one of our main supporters and strategic advisors.  We simply would not be in existence today without her wisdom and guidance. We wanted to memorialize this beautiful, kind woman, and mother of eight in a special way. Lisa’s Butterfly Treehouse is our way of doing that.”

The treehouse features a 20-foot-high north and east deck that overlooks towering trees and the valley, 350 ft² of therapeutic space, a meditative loft cove, an Amish craft table for group activities and art therapy, leather chairs and comfortable seating for both group and private counseling, outdoor deck seating, a butterfly bouncing net for children, and outdoor cocoon hammocks for reflection and relaxation.

Funding to construct the treehouse was made possible by an estate gift by The Luciano Family Foundation, Sam Lucarelli, who recently lost his battle to cancer, DiGeronimo Companies, Dave Graneto of Electrical Design Consultants, Mike Tomasone of Southwest Companies, Dan Zust, Kichler Lighting, Pucuda Leading Edge founder John Rexroad, Tory Jones of the New York Institute of Art and numerous volunteers who helped meet the strict deadline for the completion of the treehouse.