Devereux awarded $30,000 grant to purchase emergency clothing for youth

“Every child deserves to feel proud of who they are. We also know the role that clothing plays into this sense of self, particularly for children and adolescents. It is this sense of self that helps youth build the confidence they need to succeed in their schools, homes and communities.”
– Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Behavioral Health Services Executive Director
Patricia Hillis-Clark, Psy.D.

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health was recently awarded a $30,000 grant from the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust to purchase emergency clothing, uniforms and gift cards for emergency clothing for children and adolescents who receive services through Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) and Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services (CIDDS).

“We are extremely grateful to W.W. Smith Charitable Trust for awarding us this generous grant to help our youth look and feel their very best,” said Hillis-Clark. “Many of the individuals we serve enter into our care with little more than what they are wearing. We want them to feel confident in their own skin – receiving new clothing can help boost their self-esteem.”

Improving a child’s well-being

Clothing items, including pants, shirts, shoes, socks and coats, will be distributed to youth enrolled in Devereux Pennsylvania’s Children’s Behavioral Health Center and residential programs through emergency clothes closets and supervised online shopping. Gift cards will be provided to community-based outpatient services staff and foster care families to purchase clothing.

“When a child is given a new pair of jeans or sneakers, their whole attitude can change,” noted Devereux Pennsylvania CIDDS Executive Director Carol Anne McNellis, Psy.D. BCBA. “This is about much more than what you see on the outside – receiving new clothing can help improve a child’s overall well-being by lifting their spirits, creating a sense of normalcy and letting them know they are valued.”

About the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust

The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation established by William Wikoff Smith in 1977 to make grants in the greater Philadelphia region to support basic needs, higher education scholarships, maritime education, and medical research primarily for heart disease, cancer and AIDS.

Learn more about Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

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