Gene'a DeShields

Gene'a DeShields, MSP, CCC-SLP

Gene'a DeShields grew up in Newberry, South Carolina, and was raised by a single parent with a supportive extended family who instilled values such as spirituality, love, education, hard work, and responsibility. These values have proven to be instrumental in her life.

Gene'a graduated from Newberry High School in 1998. As a single parent residing in Grants from 2003 to 2006, she graduated from Columbia College with honors in December of 2003 with a BA in Speech Pathology. In August of 2006, she graduated from the University of South Carolina with honors with a Master's + 30 in Speech Pathology.

In June 2011, Gene'a opened Palmetto Early Beginnings. Palmetto Early Beginnings is a pediatric rehabilitation company offering speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy services to children with special needs and developmental delays ages birth to five throughout South Carolina, with an emphasis on children residing in rural and low socioeconomic neighborhoods. Currently, Palmetto Early Beginnings employs 35 therapists covering 36 counties in South Carolina.

One of Gene'a's greatest joys is being able to give back to the community in the following ways:

Food donations to Harvest Hope Food Bank
Monetary donations to Sickle Cell Foundation
Monetary donation to panty project orchestrated by SC HIV and Aids Council to celebrate HIV awareness in women and girls
Annual monetary donation to SC HIV and Aids Council for World Aids Day
Host 200+ children with special needs and developmental delays and their families at Universoul Circus
Host annual Halloween or Christmas parties for children with special needs and developmental delays
Sponsor Boundary Street Elementary School Step Team
Monetary donation to the ALS foundation
Monetary donation to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for Thanksgiving baskets for the elderly
Monetary donation to Muscular Dystrophy Association
Donate school supplies annually for students residing in Newberry and Richland County
Annually "Adopt a Family" residing in Newberry, Richland, or Lexington County for Christmas
Monetary donation to Jenesse Center for support of domestic violence victims and their families
Provided $15,000 in tuition assistance to a single mother attending Greenville Technical College
Mentor speech pathology students and entrepreneurs
Provide free speech therapy evaluations and services to those ineligible for insurance coverage
On Oct 7, 2016, hosting 115 children with special needs and developmental delays to Peppa Pig's live performance at the Township Auditorium