Michal Smith to Retire in March 2026 after 15 Years of Service
NOVEMBER 24, 2025, PHILADELPHIA, PA — With deep gratitude, Cradles to Crayons® – Philadelphia (C2C®) today announced the planned retirement of Executive Director Michal Smith, effective March 27, 2026. Smith’s leadership and unwavering commitment to children in need grew the organization from serving 15,000 children in 2010 to providing over 300,000 packages of clothing and other basic essentials annually. During her 15 years, Smith has achieved numerous milestones, including:
- Distributing more than 1.75 million packages of clothing and essential items to area children in low-income and homeless situations
- Mobilizing nearly 250,000 volunteers to conduct critical work checking donated clothing, then sorting and packaging to distribute
- Establishing a system of distribution with nearly 170 service partners, including local school districts and social service agencies, to ensure donated items get to those who need them most
- Building a regional collection site network to increase the volume of donated children’s items from more remote communities
- Facilitating the move to a bigger Giving Factory warehouse to accommodate donations, sorting and packaging of items, as well as recycling of those that don’t meet C2C’s quality standards
“Michal has poured her heart into serving Philadelphia’s children, building deep relationships across our corporate, community, and service partners that reflect her genuine passion for this work,” said Christine Morin, Cradles to Crayons CEO. “Her leadership and dedication have touched the lives of countless children and families, and thanks to the strong foundation she’s built, C2C-Philadelphia is serving more children than ever before and is positioned for continued growth in the years ahead.”
Smith will remain in her role through the end of March, helping shape a roadmap for C2C-Philadelphia’s next phase of growth.
“I leave this position with immense appreciation for the collaboration across our community – from our dedicated donors and volunteers and our passionate team in the Giving Factory to the frontline partners serving children every day,” Smith said. “C2C-Philadelphia is ready for its next leader, and I’m confident the team is poised for continued success.”
A comprehensive search for the next executive director is underway. In the meantime, C2C-Philadelphia continues its core mission, with current efforts focused on collecting new and gently used winter coats and warm clothing for local children.
“We are immensely grateful for Michal’s leadership, which has positioned the organization on a solid footing for decades to come,” said C2C-Philadelphia Board Chair Deborah Cohen, retired General Counsel of Patina Health, Inc.
Details about the Executive Director position will be posted on C2C-Philadelphia’s website and social media channels. For more information, please visit cradlestocrayons.org/philadelphia.