[Altadena, Calif] – Five Acres has received a $1 million dollar gift from the Helen and Will Webster Foundation to improve and enhance all eight of the residential cottages located on the organization’s main campus in Altadena. The gift has been made in honor of Helen Webster, who passed away in February 2017.
This extremely generous contribution follows two gifts made by the family foundation in 2016, which were designated to help install keyless access on all of the main campus perimeter doors and replace the hallway carpets and flooring in the residential cottages.
“We are honored and greatly appreciative of the Helen and Will Webster Foundation for their wonderful generosity and concern for the children living at Five Acres. Transformative gifts like these truly make it possible to provide the best services to our clients for many years to come,” said Chanel Boutakidis, Five Acres Chief Executive Officer.
The Helen Webster Cottage Care Project will support critical improvements to the comfort and safety of Five Acres’ residential cottages, helping children heal and thrive. The project will begin in 2017 and is set to be completed in 2018, which also marks Five Acres’ 130th Anniversary. The residential cottages house approximately 80 children, ages 6-14, on the Five Acres campus. The residential treatment program provides intensive, temporary out-of-home care and therapeutic services for children and their families, as well as transitional shelter care for girls with a focus on sibling sets.
The Helen Webster Cottage Care Project will enhance the well-being and care of the children living at Five Acres who are working towards reunification with their biological families or foster care or adoption placements.
“As a fellow Five Acres supporter, we are so appreciative of and grateful for Rich Webster and his family for providing needed cottage improvements to ensure the safety and comfort of children in residential treatment,” said longtime benefactor and former Board Chair Andrew Crowell. “Thank you to Rich and the Webster Family Foundation for being advocates and supporters of the children of Five Acres, both now and for years to come.”
“Helping vulnerable children and families in crisis is very important to my entire family,” shared Rich Webster, speaking on behalf of the Helen and Will Webster Foundation. “This gift honors my parents’ vision and heart for children, and will be a lasting and meaningful expression of my mother’s legacy. We hope our support brings hope and healing to the children living at Five Acres during this transitional time in their lives.”
About Five Acres
Five Acres is a child and family service agency that ensures every child has a safe, healthy, and permanent family solution through advocacy, prevention, and evidence-based services. Established as an orphanage in 1888, today Five Acres offers programs spanning a full continuum of care including community-based counseling and support services, intensive residential care, a therapeutic school for students with special needs, and foster care and adoption services. In 2016, Five Acres served more than 8,700 children and families throughout Southern California.