The
Children's Center dates back to 1878 when an Island resident, George
Dealey, felt that compassionate adults must take responsibility for
the sheltering and nurturing of parentless children. Mr. Dealey, an
immigrant and father of nine children, saw how a simple man like himself
could help. He spearheaded the opening of the Island City Protestant
Orphans Asylum in Galveston at 8th and Broadway Street. Twice moved
and renamed, the Orphans Home relocated to 1315 Moody Street in 1881.
The Great Storm of 1900 caused serious damage to the home. Philanthropist
William Randolph Hearst organized a fund-raiser in New York City to
support repair of damages. One special guest was Samuel L. Clemens.
Because the population of the Home had changed over the years from
orphans to unwanted and neglected children, the board of directors,
in 1976, approved another name change to The Galveston Children's
Home.
Over the decades, the needs of the children changed and expanded.
The Galveston community responded with the establishment of three
additional children's programs:
The Society of Friendless Children organized and established facilities
for children in 1894. As with the Protestant Orphan's Asylum, the
great storm of 1900 caused great damage to the home operated by the
society. Philanthropist Albert Lasker supported the establishment
of new facilities, which was subsequently dedicated as the Lasker
Home for Children, in his honor.
Albertine Yeager, an outstanding Galveston citizen and child advocate,
recognized that there continued to be many unwanted Galveston children
requiring homes and quality care. Mrs. Yeager opened her own home
to these children in 1925, establishing the Albertine Yeager Children's
Home.
In the late sixties our society began to recognize that countless
children and youth were running away from home and greatly at risk.
Galveston children and youth advocates again responded to our own
communities needs with the establishment of the Youth Shelter of Galveston,
Inc., which in 1972 opened to serve abandoned, abused and homeless
youth.
In 1983, The Moody Foundation of Galveston provided leadership in
examining the needs and services for children in Galveston County
by funding a comprehensive study. In 1984, based upon the recommendations
of this study, these four pioneering Galveston child service agencies
merged to become The Children's Center, a child welfare organization
dedicated to meeting the ongoing and future needs of less fortunate
Galveston area children, youth and their families.
