Nonprofit program transforms dorm rooms for incoming college freshmen

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A nonprofit program is helping incoming college freshmen start the school year with fully furnished and personalized dorm rooms designed to make them feel at home.

The initiative, called Style My Dorm, is part of Youth Enrichment Programs. This year, 14 incoming freshmen from the area were selected based on need, academics and scholastic achievements.

Tonya Rose Davis, founder of Youth Enrichment Programs, said the effort focuses on supporting students who may face financial challenges as they begin college.

"Style My Dorm is my staff going in and styling the dorms of young people entering freshman into college, who may be financially challenged," Rose Davis said.

The program aims to boost students' confidence and academic success by transforming empty dorm rooms into comfortable living spaces. From a Philadelphia warehouse, Rose Davis has collected items that incoming freshmen may need for their dorms.

For Rose Davis, the mission is personal.

"My roommate came in, I looked at her side and her family was there, and it was absolutely gorgeous," she said. "At that point, for the first time in my life, I felt poor."

That experience inspired her to launch the initiative in 2022. Rose Davis initially paid for the program herself, but said she was able to raise funds this past year to help ensure students begin college feeling that they belong.

Students who have benefited from the program said the dorm makeovers can ease the transition to campus life.

"Style My Dorm really helped with that because I feel safe. I feel happy," said Sophia Bass of Hampton University.

Volunteers involved with the initiative say the reveal is often the most rewarding part of the process.

"We love to see the expressions on the scholars' faces when they get that reveal," said Inez Rickards of Style My Dorm.

"For some of them, this is their first time being away from home and coming into that environment and seeing that, and experiencing it, that's what it's all about," Rickards said.

Rose Davis said that by the end of next week, she and her team will have styled 24 dorm rooms since the initiative began, including 14 this year alone.