Beaumont Center for Exceptional Families Receives Grant

Beaumont’s Center for Exceptional Families (CEF) in Dearborn has been awarded a $95,300 KidCents Regional Grant to support on-going programs including: placement of applied behavior analysis (ABA) patients in the University of Michigan’s onsite Early Childhood Education Center; therapeutic summer camps and social skills groups; after-school tutoring; support groups for teens, mothers, and siblings; on-site recreational opportunities that nurture relationships; and updates to the outdoor inclusive playground that houses many of these activities.

“We want to thank the Rite Aid Foundation for this generous grant,” said Susan Youngs, MD medical director of the Beaumont Children’s CEF. “These funds will facilitate the CEF’s ability to provide exceptional patient and family-centered care beyond billable services.”

Beaumont's CEF offers comprehensive medical, rehabilitation, recreational and social support for children with special needs or life-threatening injuries. No child is turned away no matter how difficult the case. Many children at CEF have cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities or genetic syndromes while others are dealing with conditions related to illness, accident or traumatic birth. CEF's extraordinarily far-reaching program addresses all the needs of young people and their families coping with life-altering conditions, including: nutritional assessments and management; medication management; speech-language therapy; occupational therapy; physical therapy; social skills groups; inclusive play groups; feeding and swallowing therapies; medical management for dually-diagnosed patients; parent support groups and education; sibling support; and respite and recreational opportunities. In 2017, CEF added an on-site 12,000 square foot Autism Center to expand clinical and educational services for patients with autism.

The Rite Aid Foundation is awarding $2.3 million to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the nation through a special KidCents Grant Program. The grants will enable local children’s hospitals to advance initiatives focused on improving the health and wellbeing of children in the communities Rite Aid serves.

“Rite Aid and The Rite Aid Foundation have been passionate supporters of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for 25 years. Through our annual in-store Miracle Balloon Campaign and other special events, we’ve raised more than $92 million for local children’s hospitals,” said Tracy Henderson, director of The Rite Aid Foundation and charitable giving initiatives. “We are excited to expand the reach of our partnership and help local children’s hospitals make an even greater difference in their communities.”

KidCents Grants awarded to children’s hospitals in targeted communities range from $49,124 to $300,000 and support existing programs or initiatives focused on children’s health and wellbeing.

A total of 20 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington received grants.