Donate
No gift is too small because even the biggest changes begin with a single spark.
Help Support The Bradley Center’s Mission
From classroom materials, art supplies, and athletic equipment to program development, therapeutic outings, and facility improvements, your donations help children at The Bradley Center receive the education, treatment, and services they need to heal, learn, grow, and succeed.
As a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, your donation to The Bradley Center is tax deductible.
How to Give
To make a donation of funding or other resources, please contact our Chief Development Officer, Pat Hargest, at 412-788-8219.
The Bradley Center also accepts online donations through PayPal — click here to donate to Bradley online.
You can also give to Bradley through the United Way, using Contributor Choice #211.
If you shop online, try using Amazon Smile — when you do, Amazon will donate a portion of every one of your purchases to the charity of your choice! Simply visit Amazon Smile and select The Bradley Center as your designated charity.
Also, if you love bringing people together for a great cause, organizing a gift drive is a great way to get involved!
Donor-Sponsored Outings
Trips and outings are an essential part of treatment that helps keep Bradley Center youth motivated to make good decisions and to reach their personal improvement goals. Some types of outings that the children look forward to the most are:
- a group trip to the movies
- a pizza party for the residents
- a day at the museum or the zoo
- a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game
If you or your organization would like to help provide an outing for the children of Bradley, please email us or call 412-788-8219 for more information.
The Special Benefit of Gift Card Donations
The opportunity to make their own choices is an extremely powerful experience for kids at The Bradley Center, and donations of gift cards help to put the power of choice in their hands.
With guidance from our staff, a donated gift card can empower a child to make personal selections of clothing, shoes, and personal hygiene products that will help them joyfully express their personality, educate them on the value of money, and practice the kinds of practical life skills that will prepare them for their future after Bradley.
Restaurant gift cards are also welcome for providing the kids with therapeutic outings or as rewards.
Suggested Donations That Help the Children of the Bradley Center
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are currently unable to accept donations of used items.
Arts & Crafts — Children love to express themselves creatively. They always need more crayons, colored pencils, markers, notebooks and coloring books, and paper. (NOTE: Please, no spiral notebooks or pencils, pens, or markers with sharp metal pieces.)
Books — For education and for fun!
Clothing — Gifts of shirts, pants, socks, underwear, and shoes for children ages 7-19 are always appreciated. (NOTE: Due to regulations, we are unable to accept gently used clothing; all donated clothes must be new.)
Furniture — Practical and comfortable items including beanbag chairs, desk chairs, comfy chairs, suicide prevention furniture, etc.
Hygiene products – The children at Bradley have the basics, but they love being able to have their own products with fun scents (body mist, body wash, face cleansers, hair products, lotion, moisturizer, etc.).
Hair tools — Brushes, combs, curling irons, flat irons, hair dryers, etc., help Bradley youth look and feel their best.
Gift cards – Sometimes children arrive at Bradley with very little, and in some cases with only the outfit they are wearing. If we do not have donated clothing available in their size, gift cards help us provide these children with new clothes.
Games and toys — All children deserve to have fun! Bradley youth especially enjoy video games (age-appropriate games rated E or E10+), board games and puzzles, LEGO, Barbie, baby dolls, and Matchbox cars.
Music (MP3 players, speakers, radios, and headphones) — Like most children, the youth at Bradley love listening to music for fun and relaxation. Music can also be therapeutic in helping the children calm themselves and regain control of their emotions.
Portable DVD Players — Sometimes when stress or anxiety levels are high, a child may need time to unwind and appreciate some alone time, which can be difficult in a group living setting. Portable DVD Players provide the option for a child to watch a movie of their choice and have some quiet time to themselves.
Sports equipment — Basketball, football, and kickball are some of the children’s favorite sports.
Annual Holiday Gift Drive
Sadly, many children who live in The Bradley Center’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility have never known the joy of receiving the holiday gifts they asked for. This feeling of happiness and excitement, which many of us may take for granted in our own lives, can have a tremendous impact on a child’s identity and sense of self-worth.
This is why, every December, The Bradley Center team works overtime to make sure every child gets to experience the joyful magic of the holidays — but they can’t do it without your help.
It all starts when each Bradley Center child creates a personal gift wishlist. Then volunteers select a child’s nametag from our tree and make that child’s wishlist dreams come true. Individual volunteers often choose to serve as a gift-giver for one or two children, while organizations often request multiple nametags. Thanks to this team effort, no child’s holiday request is ever overlooked.
While some volunteers acquire the wishlist items, other volunteers and donors help create a pop-up holiday gift shop where the kids can “buy” personal gifts for their families and loved ones. This helps ensure that every child at the Bradley Center learns the value of both receiving and giving.
Once all the gifts have been collected, the volunteers’ biggest job begins: wrapping hundreds of individual presents! Each year, our volunteers wrap over 1000 gifts for the children and over 1200 gifts for their families.
This makes December one of the busiest months at The Bradley Center, but also one of the most rewarding for our staff, volunteers, and residents. For the children who have never been away from their families during the holidays, or who may feel lonely or homesick, our holiday gift drive brings joy into their lives and helps them start believing in the magic of possibility.
To volunteer as a gift-giver or a gift-wrapper, please contact us. (We can always use more help!)
