PathWays PA Center for Families Receives $10,000 Donation From Kimberly-Clark Professional

Funds Will Help Support Residential Services for Low-income Women and Their Children  

Just after Christmas in 2011, Samantha Singleton, 22, and her two-year-old daughter, Malaya, became homeless. Because of Malaya’s many medical issues, which include epilepsy, glaucoma and a feeding tube, there was a risk that she could be separated from her mother and put into foster care.

Fortunately, mother and daughter found a temporary home at the PathWays PA Center for Families (CFF) in Media, Pa., a supervised group residence for women and their children who are referred by the child welfare system. It helps vulnerable, low-income mothers stabilize their lives and keep their families intact as they move toward employment and self-sufficiency. The CFF provides a variety of services to mothers like Singleton, such as GED and math classes, computer training, resume writing and interviewing skills as well as teaching parenting and life skills, encouraging responsibility and fostering self-esteem.

“It has given me a stable environment, a safe, clean environment for me and my daughter,” Singleton said. “The staff has also been there for me in the middle of the night when my daughter has gotten sick. They have accompanied me to doctor appointments, helped me find a job, looked into programs for possible home ownership, and helped me in so many ways.” 

Helping women improve their lives by putting them on a path to employment and independence were the goals behind a recent $10,000 donation from Kimberly-Clark Professional to the Center for Families. Kimberly-Clark Professional and its Home Professional Business, based in Newtown Square, have supported PathWays PA for 10 years with cash donations, clothing, furniture and essential supplies, and through the Adopt-a-Family holiday giving program.  

“The Center for Families is a nurturing environment that helps vulnerable mothers acquire the skills needed to find jobs and become better parents,” said Sue Sears, Vice President, Global Marketing and Sales, Kimberly-Clark Professional. “It is an exceptional place that aligns with the Kimberly-Clark Professional mission of helping people lead healthier, safer and more productive lives.”

For Singleton and the more than 1,000 mothers like her that the CFF has helped since 1978, Pathways PA provides the instruction and support to become better parents and helps develop the skills to successfully find housing and employment. The CFF also promotes the healthy physical, emotional and social development of children through an early childhood development program. School-aged children are enrolled in the Garnet Valley School District in Delaware County. The CFF can house up to 16 mothers and their children for stays that generally range from six to 18 months. All of the mothers come to the CFF voluntarily and no one leaves without a place to go.  

“They come to this location because it’s a safe haven. The women are here to keep their children with them or to reunite with a child in foster care and then leave here together,” said Carol Goertzel, President and CEO of PathWays PA.  “When they walk in the door they are prepared to work as a family, without violence, and with a great deal of care and support. All the research shows it’s best for children to stay with their families.”   

For Singleton, the Center for Families has enabled her to plan for a future that includes continuing her education. Having completed certificate programs in medical billing and cosmetology, she is considering utilizing Pathways PA’s healthcare job training opportunities or going back to school to get an associate’s degree in nursing. Most importantly, the CFF has enabled her to remain with Malaya, so Singleton can provide the care her daughter needs.  

“We are grateful for the recent donation from Kimberly-Clark Professional as well as for its support over the years,” said Goertzel. “These generous contributions have helped us fulfill our mission of strengthening and keeping families like Samantha Singleton’s together.”

About PathWays PA

PathWays PA was founded in 1978 as the Women’s Association for Women’s Alternatives. It served as one of Pennsylvania’s first residential programs to keel low-income, vulnerable women together with their children and has grown to become one of the Greater Philadelphia Regions foremost providers of residential and community-based services for women, children and families. Each year over 6,000 women, children and families benefit from its full complement of social services; job training and employment assistance; as well as outreach and resident programs as they move along the path to self-sufficiency. For more information, visit www.pathwayspa.org. 

About Kimberly-Clark Professional

Kimberly-Clark Professional partners with businesses to create Exceptional Workplaces helping to make them safer, healthier, and more productive. Key brands in this segment include: Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, and Jackson Safety. Kimberly-Clark Professional, located in Roswell, Ga., is one of Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s four business sectors.  To see how we are helping people the world over, work better, please visit www.kcprofessional.com.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust K-C's brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 140-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.