About CARRY

The Coalition for At Risk Youth, CARRY, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the lives of foster youth suffering from debilitating skin disorders and physical illnesses. CARRY provides a myriad of opportunities for foster youth including pro bono medical treatment, financial assistance for education, mentoring programs and career counseling.

CARRY was founded by Dr. Pearl Grimes, a dermatologist, and is comprised of motivated leaders in the Los Angeles area including physicians, corporate leaders, attorneys, social service advocates, educators and entertainers.

Quality of life measurements show that chronic skin diseases adversely compromise the well-being of children. Although, not life threatening, these disorders are visible to others and in turn make children more susceptible to social problems. The emotional pain and trauma of skin disease causes lack of self-confidence, embarrassment and poor self-esteem as children mature. Researchers find that children with skin conditions rate their quality of life as poorly as children with other diseases such as epilepsy, kidney disease and asthma.

CARRY serves as the only nonprofit organization addressing the painful skin issues of foster youth. CARRY’s mission is to raise the awareness of this overlooked and underserved group of children and to help them overcome the emotional and physical trauma caused by their skin disfigurement.

Dr. Pearl Grimes, Director of the Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California, provides pro bono comprehensive, monthly dermatologic clinics for disenfranchised youth at My Friend’s Place, a homeless shelter. On a regular basis, the Institute treats foster youth from a variety of group homes.

Despite available healthcare for foster youth, many children with physical illnesses go untreated. CARRY recognizes the detrimental effect of physical illnesses on quality of life, overall health and well-being for foster youth. Medical needs of foster youth are being met through CARRY’s affiliation with HealthCare Partners, one of the most outstanding and comprehensive medical organization in California. A team of physicians, led by Dr. Rob Blackman, provides pro bono urgent care medical services for children and emancipated youth from homeless shelters such as My Friend’s Place. In addition to providing urgent care, HealthCare Partners will continue medical assistance by assigning a primary care physician to any youth identified with a chronic disorder.

CARRY’s involvement in educational programs is varied. CARRY contributed financial support to A Place Called Home, an award winning after school program for at risk youth; donated computer workstations to four foster group homes within the United Care and Los Angeles Youth Network agencies and Dr. Pearl Grimes at the Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute created a mentoring program for emancipated youth whereby interns are initiated into the working world.

CARRY sponsors an annual self-esteem summer camp, Camp CARRY, for at risk youth with disfiguring skin diseases. Children are given the opportunity to enjoy traditional camp activities while receiving counseling and treatment for their skin conditions.

CARRY provides a major glimmer of hope and promise for a better future for foster youth.