$250,000 Gift brings Devereux Texas closer to recovery

Valero Energy Foundation donation benefits Devereux’s Hurricane Harvey Relief

The Valero Energy Foundation recently presented Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Texas with a check for $250,000 to aid in the nonprofit’s recovery following Hurricane Harvey. From left: Kim Griffin, Valero human resources director; Sal Viscontini, Valero Texas City Refinery senior vice president and general manager; Pam Reed, Devereux Texas executive director; and Eric, a Devereux client.

Numerous Devereux Texas staff and board members came together during the check presentation to thank the Valero Energy Foundation for their support.

Six months after Hurricane Harvey’s devastating blow to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Texas, a donation has the nonprofit on firmer footing for its path to recovery.

Recently, the Valero Energy Foundation presented Devereux Texas with a check for $250,000 to benefit the organization’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.

Valero’s team members, many of whom reside along Texas’ Gulf Coast, saw and experienced the destruction the record-breaking storm left in its wake, said Sal Viscontini, senior vice president and general manager of Valero’s Texas City Refinery. The Foundation chose to come together to help its Texas neighbors.

“I’ve lived in the area for a while and been through a couple of these things now, and Hurricane Harvey was truly, truly terrible,” Viscontini said during a check presentation inside Devereux Texas’ League City dining hall. “We’re just very, very pleased to be a contributor to part of your rebuild. Thank you very much for allowing us to do that.”

During the last five years, Valero and its Foundation have contributed $3.5 million to organizations in the Texas City and Galveston County area.

Making it through the storm

Devereux Texas evacuated more than 300 clients and staff members to safety as Hurricane Harvey rolled in. Heavy winds damaged programs at Devereux’s Victoria campus, while extensive flooding to the League City campus forced clients and staff members to reside in Victoria until late December.

Eric, a client served by Devereux Texas, recalled the events surrounding the evacuation, including wading through waist-high water to trucks waiting to take him and others to safety. The experience was frightening and, at times, overwhelming, but Devereux was determined to make it through the storm together.

“Like some of the staff say here, it’s all up to you,” he said. “If you want to make it through something, you’ve got to choose to.”

Going above and beyond

Devereux Texas Executive Director Pam Reed thanked Valero for going above and beyond to help during the nonprofit’s time of need. Insurance helped during the recent rebuild of Devereux’s five residential buildings and its school building, she said, but about $1.5 million in uninsured damages remain.

“This donation is huge for Devereux. It’s the biggest donation we’ve received, and we want to thank you,” she said to the company representatives present. “We’ll be forever grateful to you all, and to Valero.”

Although clients were affected by the flood, Reed said she envisions a bright future for Devereux, thanks in large part to the generosity of organizations like the Valero Energy Foundation. “(Our clients) are resilient and so is the staff,” she said. “And much stronger today. We’re all much stronger. Thanks to you guys and your help, it’s a real hand up for us.”

Learn about Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

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