BREAKING: South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley Donates $3.9 Million to Convert Philadelphia House into Homeless Youth Shelter
Philadelphia, PA – June 15, 2025 — In a powerful gesture of compassion and community commitment, University of South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has donated an extraordinary $3.9 million to transform a vacant property in her hometown of Philadelphia into a state-of-the-art shelter for homeless youth.
The announcement came early Monday morning, accompanied by statements from Staley and city officials, marking a pivotal moment for youth services in Philadelphia. The donation will fully fund the purchase, renovation, and initial operating costs of the facility, which is set to open in early 2026.
“I never forgot where I came from,” Staley said in an emotional press conference held near the location of the future shelter. “Philadelphia raised me, and I know what it means to feel uncertain about tomorrow. Every kid deserves a safe place to sleep, dream, and plan for a better future. This is about giving them that chance.”
Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Staley has long been a prominent advocate for youth empowerment and social justice. Her latest contribution adds to a growing legacy of philanthropy that matches her storied basketball career. Under her leadership, South Carolina’s women’s basketball program has become a national powerhouse, winning multiple NCAA championships and producing WNBA stars. But to Staley, success off the court is just as vital.
City officials praised the donation, calling it a “game-changer” in the fight against youth homelessness. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker stated, “Dawn Staley is more than a sports icon—she’s a hometown hero. Her incredible generosity will impact hundreds of lives, creating not just a shelter, but a sanctuary for young people who need it most.”
According to the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services, an estimated 5,700 youth experience homelessness each year in the city. The new shelter—tentatively named “Dawn’s Place”—will serve as a 24/7 facility with 30 beds, counseling and mental health services, education support, and job placement programs.
The shelter will be run in partnership with Covenant House Pennsylvania, a nonprofit that has worked with homeless and runaway youth for decades. “Dawn’s commitment is not only financial—it’s deeply personal,” said Angela Simmons, Executive Director of Covenant House. “She’s been involved in the planning from day one, making sure this space feels like home, not a last resort.”
Renovations on the house, located in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood where Staley grew up, will begin this summer. Local contractors and youth apprenticeship programs will be hired to participate in the construction process, giving at-risk youth hands-on job training as part of the initiative.
In a time when public funding for social services continues to face uncertainty, Staley’s gift stands as a bold act of private leadership. As she told reporters: “It’s not about basketball—it’s about using whatever platform you have to make life better for others. If we’re not lifting each other up, what are we doing?”
For many in Philadelphia, and across the nation, this act is more than a donation—it’s hope made real.
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