1. Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center:
145 Years of Makinga Differencein the
ErieCommunity& Acrossthe Commonwealth
Gary L. Bukowski, MA, CFRE
Associate VP of Development
June 9, 2016
3. Who Was Sarah A. Reed?
• Sarah A. Reed was born on March 16, 1838, the eighth and final child
born to William and Elizabeth Reed
• Sarah Reed’s great-grandparents, Seth and Hannah Reed, arrived by
sailing ship from Buffalo on July 1, 1795, and became the
first family to settle in Erie
• Sarah’s great-uncle, Rufus Reed, built a residence
in Erie at Sixth & State, which would later become
the first location of “The Home for the
Friendless,” the charity Sarah would lead for
over 60 years
• Sarah’s life was rooted in community service –
she led a literary society, supported her church
and participated in at least 25 organizations
during her lifetime, which spanned from
1838-1934
Take n from A Legacy of Caring: A Tribute to Sarah A. Reed by Margaret L. Tenpas
4. The Beginning of Sarah A. Reed
Children’s Center
• In 1871, Sarah A. Reed and a group of 30 women joined together to help
orphaned and homeless children in Erie. They formed “The Association for
Improving the Conditions of the Poor, and A Home for the Friendless”
* Two Divisions: The children and the “Old Ladies”
• Their purpose was “to generally take care of the unfortunate and poor
without regard to sect or religion”
• They accepted boarders in addition to children who would be offered for
adoption. Some women, left widows or deserted by husbands, wanted
desperately to keep their children
but needed to work
• The boarding system
allowed children to have
good accommodations,
remaining together until
their mother could again
establish a home for them
Take n from A Legacy of Caring: A Tribute to Sarah A. Reed by Margaret L. Tenpas
22nd & Sassafras
5. The Beginning of Sarah A. Reed
Children’s Center
• The first occupants were received on November 2, 1871
• The cost at the time was $1.64 ½ per week, per “inmate”
• Sarah enjoyed finding activities for both the children and the older ladies
to participate in and frequently arranged for street car rides and picnics
for the children. She entertained the older ladies at tea parties in her
own home and hosted annual Christmas parties
Take n from A Legacy of Caring: A Tribute to Sarah A. Reed by Margaret L. Tenpas
6. Notes from the First Annual Report,
Circa 1872
Operating Budget in 1871: $1,500/year
Number of Children and Adults Served in 1871: 80
Stories of the First Individuals Who Were Helped by Sarah Reed:
• “Recently we have received four motherless children. The father could not stay
with them at home, being depended upon his daily labor for support. How much
better to place them here, under the care of our efficient Matron, than to separate
them…”
• “Then Oscar was thrust upon us; and who that saw or attempted to care for that
mischievous, naughty, lovable boy, can ever forget him? His was a strong nature
that could be controlled only by love, and we are thankful that he has been
adopted into a family whose influences, we believe, will develop his
better qualities. They write of their attachment to him and desire to
retain him.”
• “A woman and her infant here, for a short time, found shelter and food.”
7. Erie’s Oldest Human Services Agency
• Sarah Reed was involved in this organization for over 60 years and served
as Board President for 45 years. In 1921, the Home for the Friendless
celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary. Sarah was 83 at the time and continued in
her role as president for another 12 years
• It was renamed Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center in 1936 in honor of Sarah
Reed’s contributions, a change she would not allow during her lifetime
• Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center is the oldest human services agency in Erie
• In 1961, Sarah A. Reed Children's Center opened its main campus in
Millcreek Township
Take n from A Legacy of Caring: A Tribute to Sarah A. Reed by Margaret L. Tenpas
8. Erie’s Oldest Human Services Agency
• By 1978, all children referred to the Sarah Reed Residential Program
required specialized mental health treatment, thus ushering in a new era
of services designed for children.
• In 1986, two independent non-profit corporations formed as Sarah Reed
Children's Center and Sarah Reed Retirement Center.
9. Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center today…
“Sarah Reed, to me, is a second chance in life to restart. If you try to
restart without Sarah Reed, it won’t be easy. It’s a sanctuary for us all.”
-Gavin
10. Fast Facts
Today our programs and services help children and adolescents who are working to
overcome emotional, mental and behavioral health challenges, many of whom have
suffered varying levels of trauma
• Number of Children & Adolescents Served: 1,700 Annually
• Age Range: 3-18 years
• Average Number of Staff: 340
• FY 15-16 Operating Budget: $16,500,000
• Accreditations: Joint Commission for Accreditation on Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA).
• Sanctuary® Model: Cutting-edge therapy method that was developed by Dr.
Sandra Bloom. Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center was one of the first agencies to
adopt this model and become a Sanctuary®-certified organization.
Seven Commitments of Sanctuary:
1. Non-Violence
2. Emotional Intelligence
3. Inquiry & Social Learning
4. Shared Governance
5. Open Communication
6. Social Responsibility
7. Growth & Change
11. Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center
Outpatient behavioral health services:
-Blended Case Management
-Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services
-Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
-Traditional and Family Therapy
- Student Assistance Program
School-based services provided to students in the following districts:
-City of Erie
-Millcreek
-Fairview
-Union City
-Wattsburg
-General McLane
-Iroquois
… and more!
12. 7 Locations Throughout Erie County
• Administrative Offices & Residential Treatment Program
2445 West 34th Street • Erie, PA 16506
• Hamilton Campus – Partial Hospitalization Program
2931 Harvard Road • Erie, PA 16508
• Outpatient Programs
1611 Peach Street, Suite 185 • Erie, PA 16501
• Millcreek Partial Hospitalization Program
3814 Asbury Road • Erie, PA 16506
• Bayfront Alternative Education Program
40 Holland Street • Erie, PA 16507
• Career Alternative Education Programs
8500 Oliver Road • Erie, PA 16509
• Sanctuary ® Education for Learning Fundamentals
1020 East 10th Street • Erie, PA 16503
13. Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center
• Children come to Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center from some of the
following counties:
14. Looking to the future…
The Importance of Private Philanthropy:
16. Exciting New Developments
• Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center will celebrate it’s 145th Anniversary
during FY 2016-2017
• $6 Million Capital Project at our Hamilton Campus – Strategic
partnership between Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center and the Primary
Health Network
18. Exciting New Developments
• Developing a Philanthropic Vision for the organization
• Expand our friend and donor base so that we can make an even bigger
impact on the number of children and families we serve
• Creation of the Sarah A. Reed Legacy Society – Planned Giving
19. You Can Make a Difference!
• For more information about Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center and how you
can help make a difference, please visit us online at www.SarahReed.org
• Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news and
info!
https://www.facebook.com/SarahReedCC
https://twitter.com/sarahreedcc
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sarah-a-reed-children%27s-center
Thank You!
