By Noah Baptiste
For Beth deVilliers, supporting Kennedy Krieger Institute started when her lifelong friend Lizzy Sweeney invited her to a Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) for Kennedy Krieger Institute event in 2017. She attended and enjoyed the strong sense of community that WIN brought.
“After joining WIN, I felt connected to a community of like-minded women seeking to help those in need,” deVilliers says.
In 2025, deVilliers discovered her inspiration for giving back during a tour of Kennedy Krieger’s hospital campus. She was particularly intrigued by the Adaptive Sports Program, which was founded by the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury (ICSCI) to give children and adults with spinal cord injuries an opportunity to play sports, improving their health outcomes, confidence and leadership skills.
When giving back, it’s important to me that my gift helps others and makes their lives better.” – Beth deVilliers
The program has faced challenges, as its athletes require specialized sports wheelchairs and a trailer to store and transport equipment efficiently. When deVilliers learned about the program and its difficulties with transporting equipment, she saw an opportunity to make a difference. “My wish is that people can feel free in their bodies, experience teamwork and enjoy healthy activities despite limitations,” says deVilliers, whose gift directly addresses the program’s needs. “When giving back, it’s important to me that my gift helps others and makes their lives better.”
Today, her donation is enabling more athletes to attend events, which helps them work toward greater independence and improves their physical and mental health.
“Beth’s gift significantly advances our program, allowing us to focus less on logistics and more on delivering the high-quality, competitive opportunities that our athletes deserve,” says physical therapist Dr. Erin Michael, manager of patient advocacy and special programs at the ICSCI. “We are so grateful for the essential community support that keeps our programs affordable and accessible at Kennedy Krieger.”
“I hope my story encourages others to support Kennedy Krieger, because there’s a tremendous need,” deVilliers adds. “The people who work there aren’t just doing a job—they’re giving a piece of themselves and serving a population in need.”
Photo caption: Beth deVilliers (back row, third from right) and her husband, David deVilliers (back row, third from left), with two of their three children (to either side of Beth), two ICSCI staff members (far right and second from left), and athletes of the Adaptive Sports Program