October 24, 2025 • 9 mins
We’re joined by Leah Yaw, Senior Vice President at Devereux, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral healthcare organizations. For more than a century, Devereux has been supporting children, adolescents, and adults living with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive differences, helping them build fulfilling, independent lives. On Saturday, November 8, Devereux Pennsylvania will host its annual Evening of Hope gala at Vie by Cescaphe in Philadelphia. This year’s “Night in Venice”–themed celebration will feature masquerade masks, live entertainment, music by Philly’s Milan 77, and a special tribute to longtime board member Phil Glick. Proceeds will directly benefit more than 4,000 individuals across Pennsylvania served by Devereux programs. 🌐 Website: www.devereux.org
📸 Social Media: @DevereuxCare on Facebook, Instagram, and X
📸 Social Media: @DevereuxCare on Facebook, Instagram, and X
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, and welcome to Insight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Ballad Morrel. Before we dive into
today's conversation with Children First, a leading advocacy organization dedicated
to making sure every child in Pennsylvania has a fair
chance to thrive. I want to take a moment to
reflect on a story and a movement that has been
(00:20):
close to my heart for more than four decades. I
began covering the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the early eighties,
when fear and stigma were everywhere and compassion was far
too rare. Back then, there were no effective treatments, just confusion, heartbreak,
and the courage of those who refused to be silent.
(00:42):
I remember interviewing doctors, nurses, and activists who are working
tirelessly to provide care and fight discrimination when so many
others turned away. I also remember the families and friends
who came together to care for loved ones when there
was nowhere else to turn. Those moments have stayed with
me my entire career. Over the years, I've witnessed remarkable progress,
(01:04):
scientific breakthroughs that have transformed HIV from a death sentence
into a manageable condition, and social movements that have demanded dignity,
funding and equal access to care. And through it all,
one constant has been the Aid's Fund and their unwavering
dedication to ending HIV in our region. Every year they
brought thousands of people together for the AIDS Walk Philly,
(01:27):
an event that's as much about remembrance and education as
it is about hope and community. I've been honored to
participate in that walk year after year, to see the
faces of those we've lost memorialized on panels of the quilt,
and to celebrate the survivors and advocates who continue to
move us forward. This year's AIDS Walk retrospective looked back
(01:49):
on nearly forty years of compassion, activism and progress in
the fight against HIV. It reminds us that the work
isn't finished and that together we've built something extraordinary. I'll
be sharing an excit from the retrospective a little bit later.
In addition to talking to folks about Children First and
the upcoming judicial elections, will also be sharing information about
(02:11):
an exciting fundraiser honoring one of entertainment's true icons, Melbamore,
at a fundraiser for the Mazzoni Center. But first we're
joined by Leah Yaw, senior vice president at Devereaux, one
of the nation's leading nonprofit behavioral healthcare organizations. For more
than a century, Devereaux has been supporting children, adolescents, and
adults living with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive differences, helping them
(02:35):
build fulfilling, independent lives. Well. On Saturday, November eighth, they
are hosting an evening of Hope, and we're going to
tell you all about it and also about the honoree.
This year, proceeds will benefit more than four thousand individuals
across Pennsylvania served by Devereux programs. So Leah, very nice
to see you. And for those who are not familiar,
I did give a little capsule description, but tell us
(02:58):
more about Devereux, the mission and the communities you serve
here in Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Happy to do that, Lorraine, and thank you so much
for having us with you today. DEVA in Pennsylvania serves
more than four thousand children, adolescents and adults, as you mentioned,
and DEVRO has more than one hundred year history doing
that here in Pennsylvania. We serve two primary populations of individuals.
Our history is one of caring for individuals with autism
(03:24):
and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. That's the work we've
done for more than a century here in Pennsylvania. And
we also serve individuals with mental health issues, often very severe,
often trauma related, and so we do that work in
twelve states around the country. We serve tens of thousands
(03:44):
of individuals a year. That our hearts and our roots
are right here in Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Well, the upcoming evening of Hope Gayla is a beloved
tradition for you guys. What can guess expect from this
year's Venetian Night in Venice theme.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Well, it's very exciting bit of a masquerade ball in Philadelphia.
Will be at the Downtown by Chesscafe. We'll have over
four hundred guests with us that night. We are honoring
a longtime friend of Devereux, Phil Glick, So a wonderful
friend of Devereux. Phil has been on our Pennsylvania Advisory
Board since nineteen ninety nine, so a long time dedicated
(04:22):
supporter of the organization. So it'll be a great night,
lots of fun, live band of I think twelve pieces.
It'll be a great time. Cocktails or drives, sit down dinner,
live auction, silent auction, three sixty photo booth, drinks, dancing, celebrating,
(04:43):
and most importantly, honoring the individuals we serve. The evening
raises a great deal of money to help us expand programming,
to enrich our programming, to ensure our programs are safe
and high quality and effective. And that's really the most
important part of the e is raising money to expand
programming and do great work for individuals across our region.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
What are some of the biggest needs or challenges facing
children and adults with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences right
now and how is Devereux helping to address them?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Well, that's a great question. Funding is always a challenge
in this community and in this network of practice all
across the country, and of course times are very challenging
in the provider community at this moment, so fundraisers are
so important to all the providers across our region. Individuals
(05:37):
with disabilities often face stigma, and sadly, stigma is on
the rise at this time. So when we come together
in communities now and have the opportunity to really talk
about the work of organizations like Devereux who serve individuals
with disabilities. It's a wonderful opportunity to talk about the
(06:01):
extraordinary importance to our communities of individuals with autism, of
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and of individuals with
mental health diagnosis. These individuals are part of our communities.
They are important to our communities. They are valuable, They
are neighbors, they are our friends, and they deserve to
(06:23):
live lives of dignity and enrichment. Organizations like Devereux and
many others across the Philadelphia region have been part of
the treatment community for as long as there's been a
treatment community. I think many folks don't know that Philadelphia
and our region was a founding part of the nonprofit
behavioral health treatment community. It wasn't known as as that
(06:45):
at the time, but many of the most historic and
storied nonprofits in our country who are now large treatment
community practice providers, we're founded right here in the Philadelphia region.
It's something we should all be very proud of, and
hopefully folks will come together and help keep those organizations alive.
Federal funding and state funding sources are becoming so challenged.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Yes, well, certainly there's been a lot of progress made
in the treatment and support for individuals with intellectual disabilities
and mental wellness issues, and Devereux has certainly been at
the forefront for providing resources and support for those individuals.
And if you want to support Devereaux in the work
that you do again, Saturday, November eighth, Devereu Pennsylvania will
(07:30):
host its annual Evening of Hope and Gala at v
by Chesca Fey in Philadelphia, and sounds like it's going
to be a fabulous event. If people want more information
about the event but also about Deveraux, what are some
of the best ways to get in touch with you?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Great question. You can reach us at Devereaux dot org.
Of course, dev er Eux dot org. That's the best
way to learn more about our organization and also about
the Evening of Hope. You can find that at Devereu
Pennsylvania dot org right on the homepage. We still have
a few tickets left, but not any so please hurry
(08:06):
on over and learn about this great evening. It really
will be a wonderful time and it's right after the
Halloween season, so it's a great time to come out
for a masked event in downtown Philadelphia. And we really
do hope that folks will join us.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Thank you so much for joining us. Leah Yacht, Senior
Vice president at Devereaux, one of the nation's leading nonprofit
behavioral healthcare organizations. For more than a century, Devereux has
been supporting children, adolescents, and adults living with emotional, behavioral,
and cognitive differences and helping them build fulfilling, independent lives.
And again event happening on Saturday, November eighth, an evening
(08:45):
of Hope Gala d V by Jessica Fey And what's
that website for more information one more.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Time, that's Devereaux dot org, d e V E R
e u X dot org.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Great, thank you so much for joining us today.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Thank you, Lorain.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
We'll have more insight after these messages.
Good morning, and welcome to Insight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Ballad Morrel. Before we dive into
today's conversation with Children First, a leading advocacy organization dedicated
to making sure every child in Pennsylvania has a fair
chance to thrive. I want to take a moment to
reflect on a story and a movement that has been
(00:20):
close to my heart for more than four decades. I
began covering the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the early eighties,
when fear and stigma were everywhere and compassion was far
too rare. Back then, there were no effective treatments, just confusion, heartbreak,
and the courage of those who refused to be silent.
(00:42):
I remember interviewing doctors, nurses, and activists who are working
tirelessly to provide care and fight discrimination when so many
others turned away. I also remember the families and friends
who came together to care for loved ones when there
was nowhere else to turn. Those moments have stayed with
me my entire career. Over the years, I've witnessed remarkable progress,
(01:04):
scientific breakthroughs that have transformed HIV from a death sentence
into a manageable condition, and social movements that have demanded dignity,
funding and equal access to care. And through it all,
one constant has been the Aid's Fund and their unwavering
dedication to ending HIV in our region. Every year they
brought thousands of people together for the AIDS Walk Philly,
(01:27):
an event that's as much about remembrance and education as
it is about hope and community. I've been honored to
participate in that walk year after year, to see the
faces of those we've lost memorialized on panels of the quilt,
and to celebrate the survivors and advocates who continue to
move us forward. This year's AIDS Walk retrospective looked back
(01:49):
on nearly forty years of compassion, activism and progress in
the fight against HIV. It reminds us that the work
isn't finished and that together we've built something extraordinary. I'll
be sharing an excit from the retrospective a little bit later.
In addition to talking to folks about Children First and
the upcoming judicial elections, will also be sharing information about
(02:11):
an exciting fundraiser honoring one of entertainment's true icons, Melbamore,
at a fundraiser for the Mazzoni Center. But first we're
joined by Leah Yaw, senior vice president at Devereaux, one
of the nation's leading nonprofit behavioral healthcare organizations. For more
than a century, Devereaux has been supporting children, adolescents, and
adults living with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive differences, helping them
(02:35):
build fulfilling, independent lives. Well. On Saturday, November eighth, they
are hosting an evening of Hope, and we're going to
tell you all about it and also about the honoree.
This year, proceeds will benefit more than four thousand individuals
across Pennsylvania served by Devereux programs. So Leah, very nice
to see you. And for those who are not familiar,
I did give a little capsule description, but tell us
(02:58):
more about Devereux, the mission and the communities you serve
here in Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Happy to do that, Lorraine, and thank you so much
for having us with you today. DEVA in Pennsylvania serves
more than four thousand children, adolescents and adults, as you mentioned,
and DEVRO has more than one hundred year history doing
that here in Pennsylvania. We serve two primary populations of individuals.
Our history is one of caring for individuals with autism
(03:24):
and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. That's the work we've
done for more than a century here in Pennsylvania. And
we also serve individuals with mental health issues, often very severe,
often trauma related, and so we do that work in
twelve states around the country. We serve tens of thousands
(03:44):
of individuals a year. That our hearts and our roots
are right here in Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Well, the upcoming evening of Hope Gayla is a beloved
tradition for you guys. What can guess expect from this
year's Venetian Night in Venice theme.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Well, it's very exciting bit of a masquerade ball in Philadelphia.
Will be at the Downtown by Chesscafe. We'll have over
four hundred guests with us that night. We are honoring
a longtime friend of Devereux, Phil Glick, So a wonderful
friend of Devereux. Phil has been on our Pennsylvania Advisory
Board since nineteen ninety nine, so a long time dedicated
(04:22):
supporter of the organization. So it'll be a great night,
lots of fun, live band of I think twelve pieces.
It'll be a great time. Cocktails or drives, sit down dinner,
live auction, silent auction, three sixty photo booth, drinks, dancing, celebrating,
(04:43):
and most importantly, honoring the individuals we serve. The evening
raises a great deal of money to help us expand programming,
to enrich our programming, to ensure our programs are safe
and high quality and effective. And that's really the most
important part of the e is raising money to expand
programming and do great work for individuals across our region.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
What are some of the biggest needs or challenges facing
children and adults with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences right
now and how is Devereux helping to address them?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Well, that's a great question. Funding is always a challenge
in this community and in this network of practice all
across the country, and of course times are very challenging
in the provider community at this moment, so fundraisers are
so important to all the providers across our region. Individuals
(05:37):
with disabilities often face stigma, and sadly, stigma is on
the rise at this time. So when we come together
in communities now and have the opportunity to really talk
about the work of organizations like Devereux who serve individuals
with disabilities. It's a wonderful opportunity to talk about the
(06:01):
extraordinary importance to our communities of individuals with autism, of
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and of individuals with
mental health diagnosis. These individuals are part of our communities.
They are important to our communities. They are valuable, They
are neighbors, they are our friends, and they deserve to
(06:23):
live lives of dignity and enrichment. Organizations like Devereux and
many others across the Philadelphia region have been part of
the treatment community for as long as there's been a
treatment community. I think many folks don't know that Philadelphia
and our region was a founding part of the nonprofit
behavioral health treatment community. It wasn't known as as that
(06:45):
at the time, but many of the most historic and
storied nonprofits in our country who are now large treatment
community practice providers, we're founded right here in the Philadelphia region.
It's something we should all be very proud of, and
hopefully folks will come together and help keep those organizations alive.
Federal funding and state funding sources are becoming so challenged.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Yes, well, certainly there's been a lot of progress made
in the treatment and support for individuals with intellectual disabilities
and mental wellness issues, and Devereux has certainly been at
the forefront for providing resources and support for those individuals.
And if you want to support Devereaux in the work
that you do again, Saturday, November eighth, Devereu Pennsylvania will
(07:30):
host its annual Evening of Hope and Gala at v
by Chesca Fey in Philadelphia, and sounds like it's going
to be a fabulous event. If people want more information
about the event but also about Deveraux, what are some
of the best ways to get in touch with you?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Great question. You can reach us at Devereaux dot org.
Of course, dev er Eux dot org. That's the best
way to learn more about our organization and also about
the Evening of Hope. You can find that at Devereu
Pennsylvania dot org right on the homepage. We still have
a few tickets left, but not any so please hurry
(08:06):
on over and learn about this great evening. It really
will be a wonderful time and it's right after the
Halloween season, so it's a great time to come out
for a masked event in downtown Philadelphia. And we really
do hope that folks will join us.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Thank you so much for joining us. Leah Yacht, Senior
Vice president at Devereaux, one of the nation's leading nonprofit
behavioral healthcare organizations. For more than a century, Devereux has
been supporting children, adolescents, and adults living with emotional, behavioral,
and cognitive differences and helping them build fulfilling, independent lives.
And again event happening on Saturday, November eighth, an evening
(08:45):
of Hope Gala d V by Jessica Fey And what's
that website for more information one more.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Time, that's Devereaux dot org, d e V E R
e u X dot org.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Great, thank you so much for joining us today.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Thank you, Lorain.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
We'll have more insight after these messages.
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