Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation Awards $40,000 Grant to Support Children’s Center at Southern Miss

Mon, 11/11/2024 - 02:50pm | By: Courtney Tesh

For the fifth consecutive year, the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation (LPRVF) in Picayune, Mississippi, has awarded a $40,000 grant to The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). This funding has significantly enhanced the center’s services in the Lower Pearl River Valley region, providing families with essential support at no cost.

One of the families benefiting from this support is the Kuhn family. Savannah Kuhn was born prematurely at 25 weeks, weighing only 2 pounds, and spent her first six months in the neonatal intensive care unit. She was diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus, a seizure disorder due to a brain bleed and cortical visual impairment. At 16 months, Savannah began receiving services from The Children’s Center in her home. Over the last three years, she has transitioned to group therapy at the center.

“I’m so thankful for the support of Savannah’s team at The Children’s Center,” said Leigh Ann Kuhn, Savannah’s mother. “They saw the potential in Savannah where others may not, and they’ve spent these past three years working with not just Savannah, but our whole family, creating goals and therapy plans centered around bringing out that potential.”

Clyde Dease Jr., president and CEO of LPRVF, expressed pride in partnering with Southern Miss and The Children’s Center. “Our foundation is pleased to support The Children’s Center for Communication and Development and its vital mission to empower children and families within our community. This grant reflects our commitment to fostering inclusive educational opportunities and enhancing access to essential resources that positively impacts the lives of families whose children are the most vulnerable and challenged,” Dease said. 

Savannah’s progress highlights the center’s mission and commitment to those they serve.

“Our team works hand in hand with one another, alongside the family, to develop individualized plans for each child, building on their strengths, coaching caregivers and doing everything in their power to set each child up for success after they leave our doors,” said Sarah Myers, director of The Children’s Center. “That’s what this place is all about.” 

Success looks different for everyone. For Savannah, it includes transitioning to school next fall, ready to learn and play with her peers. Thanks to the services she has received during this pivotal first chapter of her life, her family and her team are confident she will do just that. Savannah has made incredible strides in therapy and will continue to do so in this, her last year with the center. The center’s transition team has already begun preparing the family and the school staff who will work with her to ensure she is ready and able to learn from day one.

Myers underscores the transformative power of early intervention. “Savannah’s journey is just one example of how our services impact families in the Lower Pearl River Valley region and the generous funding from LPRVF helps make it all possible. We can meet families where they are at no cost to them because of the continued support of this incredible organization,” said Myers. 

Since its establishment in 1974, The Children’s Center has been a leader in early intervention services for infants, toddlers and preschoolers with significant disabilities. Each year, more than 130 children receive support for various conditions, including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and more.

About The Children’s Center for Communication and Development 

The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi is a non-profit that provides cost-free comprehensive early intervention therapy for children age 0-5 with complex disabilities while educating, training, and supporting families, university students and professionals. To learn more about The Children’s Center, you can follow them on Instagram or Facebook.