2025 YEAR IN REVIEW
Welcome to KidsPeace’s annual presentation of The Year in Review!
2025 proved to be a difficult year for those in our field of mental and behavioral health services. We were challenged by the turmoil at both the state and Federal levels over policy and fiscal disagreements, which presented additional barriers to our ability to provide services to kids and families who needed them.
Despite these headwinds, however, the people of KidsPeace remained focused on fulfilling our mission and helping those who rely on us to heal and find hope. As we welcome 2026, we are excited for the future, as we seek to build on the successes of the past year (many of which are listed below), and as we launch a new strategic plan for our organization.
Thanks to our associates for all they do to improve the lives of the children and families touched by our services, and thanks as well to all our supporters and donors who helped us in 2025.
Happy New Year!
Michael W. Slack
President and CEO
- KidsPeace awarded funding for program enhancements:
- Portside Real Estate Group of Maine provides KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs (FCCP) $5,000 for after-school and peer engagement activities for kids in care.
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs Charities awards $1,500 to PA Residential’s Pioneer Center empowerment space project.
Lehigh Valley “Elevate Your Health and Wellness Expo” names KidsPeace beneficiary of the event, donates $500.
KidsPeace programs in Pennsylvania, Maine, Georgia, and North Carolina are all reaccredited by The Joint Commission.
Students in education program at Donley TEC at Orchard Hills mark the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Snake.
2024 KidsPeace Annual Report “Passport to Healing” published.
KidsPeace New England Executive Director Rachel Bousquet joins other behavioral health providers in Maine at news conference to push for better funding at state level.
Hope Center for Youth and Family Crisis featured in North Carolina state public service campaign on resources available to families with kids experiencing crisis.
KidsPeace CEO Mike Slack among area human services and healthcare leaders and state officials at Lehigh Valley event advocating for more resources for mental health programs in state and Federal budgets.
Ashley R. Calle named KidsPeace Vice President of Development and Communications.
Dezerae Kelley-Cavalho, lead education technician at Graham Lake School, becomes the first graduate under the Farris Foundation Scholarship partnership program between KidsPeace and University of Maine.
KidsPeace Lehigh Valley Board of Associates hold second annual KidsPeace Dodgeball Tournament, featuring 16 teams sponsored by local companies and organizations. Tuskes Homes team repeats as champion of the tournament, which raises $30,000 for KidsPeace’s LV programs.
Healing Magazine Spring-Summer 2025 issue published; focus of issue is “The Intersection of Mental Health and Medical Care.”
KidsPeace Communications and Creative Services wins three Gold Awards in national Healthcare Advertising Awards competition (for Healing Magazine Fall/Winter 2024 edition, podcast series, and 2023 KidsPeace Annual Report).
Board of Directors member Diana Marshall honored by colleagues upon completion of service on board.
Hope Center opens Facility-Based Crisis capability at Fuquay-Varina (NC) location; opening of staff-secure inpatient care completes the program’s triad of crisis mitigation offerings (along with MORES mobile crisis response and Behavioral Health Urgent Care).
KidsPeace Georgia launches new education program for kids in care – cooking and meal preparation classes.
KidsPeace associates are celebrated across the network with free ice cream in honor of National Ice Cream Day and international Self-Care Week.
KidsPeace Foundation launches “The KidsPeace Chronicle,” a monthly newsletter connecting the organization with donors and supporters.
Mike Slack named to Lehigh Valley Business’s “Power List for Health Care and Human Services” for second straight year.
Starlight Children’s Foundation supports KidsPeace with donation of LEGO sets to programs (including Maine).
In Scranton, 17-year-old student organizes a community car show and raises more than $3,000 to support KidsPeace’s northeast PA foster care operations – where her aunt works.
Berks Campus nurse Kelly Naylon introduces acute partial hospitalization clients to the therapeutic power of gardening through “Nurturing Resilience: Adopt a Plant Day” effort.
KidsPeace joins Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA), a statewide industry group in Pennsylvania, and exhibits at its annual conference.
More than 140 KidsPeace associates celebrate milestone anniversaries (5 years through 35 years and above with KidsPeace) in annual Years-of-Service Coin Commemoration program.
Williamsport (PA) FCCP office receives $7,250 grant from the Williamsport Lycoming Competitive Grant Program at the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, to fund programs supporting foster families – including events to bring together foster families in the region, and extension of its “Mo’s Closet” program that offers clothing, hygiene products and other items to facility emergency foster placements.
The office also was the beneficiary of “Foster Strength: Pull for a Purpose,” a weightlifting fundraiser.
KidsPeace Stories video series premieres “Gio’s Story” – profiling a young man who has been in programming for kids with autism for much of the last decade, showcasing his exuberant personality and zest for life – along with a deep interest in aviation.
(Following the video’s posting, at the suggestion of the KidsPeace Board of Directors, Gio and his foster parent were given the chance to tour Lehigh Valley International Airport in December and meet both a pilot and aircraft mechanic.)
40th Annual KidsPeace Golf Classic, sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Board of Associates, raises nearly $95,000 in cash and in-kind donations.
KidsPeace’s annual Associate Achievement Awards effort selects ten individuals and two teams as 2025 honorees, among more than 150 nominations submitted by colleagues. Longtime KidsPeace supporter and board member Dr. Scott Reines receives 2025 President’s Award.
Staff at KidsPeace Children’s Hospital participate in Lehigh Valley “Out of The Darkness” walk and fundraiser for suicide prevention efforts.
KidsPeace Angels gift drive kicks off at tree-lighting ceremony at Promenade Shops (Lehigh Valley), partnering with Capital Blue Cross. Among sponsors from across the KidsPeace network who collected donations: Orchard Hills neighbor Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theater.
Annual “Themed Basket Bingo” fundraiser welcomes more than 300 players to event at Donley TEC gym – a new record for participation and money raised at the event, which benefits the PA Residential Holiday Fund.
“Kudos4KidsPeace” associate engagement efforts prompts Kudos organization to name KidsPeace a “2025 Culture Leader” for the extent and innovation of the organization’s engagement activities; it’s one of only 18 organizations across North America receiving the designation.
KidsPeace Georgia BOA members and supporters sponsor annual Thanksgiving Fest event for staff and clients at Bowdon program.
Healing Magazine Fall/Winter 2025 edition published – focuses on opportunities for clients, their families, workers and organizations involved with mental healthcare.
KidsPeace Angels gift drive concludes for 2025’s holiday season, with more than 5,000 gifts donated across the network by over 20 organizations and multiple individual donors. The drive’s conclusion was covered live on a local TV newscast.
Sandy Kerr named to KidsPeace National Board of Directors.
Looking towards the future, Board of Directors approves 2026-2028 Strategic Plan and adopts new Vision and Values statements:
Mission: To give Hope, Help and Healing to children, adults and those who love them
Vision: A world where kids and families are at peace.
Values:
Kindness
Integrity
Dignity
Safety
Perseverance
Excellence
Advocacy
Courage
Empathy
