DePaul Expressions Vol XXIV Num1

Your Impact at DePaul

The E. C. Wareheim Foundation supports Independent Living (IL) programs at DePaul Community Resources in a big way! Thank you to the E. C. Wareheim Foundation for a life-changing grant this year supporting all three of DePaul’s Independent Living programs. This grant helps our young adults that aged out of foster care pursue driver’s education, obtain licenses, and take steps toward saving for their first cars—all critical milestones on the path to independence. It also helps our young adults enroll in community college, giving them the tools to pursue their goals with confidence. And sometimes, it’s the small things that leave the biggest mark—carving pumpkins together, picking out clothes for a special event, or simply feeling like they belong. This grant makes those moments possible. It helps our young people feel seen, supported, and accepted in ways they may never have experienced before.

The Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia and the Phalia M. and Guy M. Kinder Fund We are grateful to the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia for their support of DePaul’s Community-Based Counseling Services program in Roanoke through the Phalia M. and Guy M. Kinder Fund. Their generous grant funding is providing healing experiences and alleviating mental health issues for at-risk youth and families in the Roanoke Valley. These funds support animal-assisted therapy for youth and families when they cannot access or afford therapy due to lack of Medicaid, insurance coverage, or other barriers. Our animal-assisted therapy includes counseling sessions with our certified therapy dog, Daisy, and her owner, Kim, a licensed clinical social worker at DePaul. “I’ve seen firsthand the impact animal-assisted therapy can have, especially with children and clients with complex trauma,” said Kim. “There are clients who ask for Daisy the minute they walk in. I have children and young adults that have only opened up to me about their trauma while petting and looking at Daisy.”

The C.E. Richardson Foundation and the Sam and Marion Golden Helping Hand Foundation We are grateful to both the Al Stroobants Foundation for their Both foundations granted DePaul funds to support children and families in Southwest Virginia through our annual adoption family camp event. Every year, our team of adoption specialists organizes a camp day that brings together adoptive families from across our service area for engaging activities and connecting with one another in a relaxing, therapeutic setting. DePaul’s adoption camp provides a positive experience that encourages deeper family connections, creates a support network for adoptive families, and enhances the stability of newly formed families. One of our families states: “We love getting the kids together with other adoptive families in a safe and less restrictive environment. The family camp day is our favorite activity of the year.” In 2025, our camp successfully supported 37 adoptive families, including 105 youth and 62 adults for a total of 167 people in attendance. This funding will help our team grow the camp event and serve even more families at this summer’s 2026 camp.

To make a gift to DePaul, please scan this QR code.