CEDARS was founded in 1947 by the Reverend Charles and Alberta Danner, when they opened their home to homeless youth. In a newspaper article, Rev. Danner commented that if children had a place to call home and were not permitted to grow up on the streets, they could have a real childhood and plans for the future.

Remembering the Past... Celebrating the Present... Believing in the Future

Sixty years have now passed since that simple act of kindness. Rev. Danner's passion still lives on through CEDARS dedicated work today, even though one hard fact still remains — home is not safe for every child. Each day, drug use, criminal activity, extreme poverty, mental illness and neglect put children in harm's way. These children come to CEDARS desperately in need of a safe haven. Today, CEDARS celebrates continued success in improving the lives of children who have been abused, neglected or homeless.

This timeline gives a glimpse of our efforts over the past years to build a brighter future for children and families striving to be their best for today and tomorrow.

CEDARS History and Legacy