Profile: Patrick Gogerty

Patrick Gogerty grew up the angry child of an alcoholic father who beat him and a fortune-teller mother who parked him in foster care. This is the story of how he used political skill and high-level connections, hitched to his single-minded conviction, to build the state's premier organization for treating the youngest victims of abuse and neglect.

Read the full story.

The History of Childhaven

A century of caring for children

Since 1909, Childhaven has been a safe and nurturing place for children. From our earliest days as one of Seattle’s first child care centers for working mothers to our position today as a national leader in caring for abused and neglected children, we’ve healed old hurts, nurtured young lives and empowered families to break the cycle of abuse and neglect and create lifelong loving relationships.

1941—While their mothers worked at Boeing and other war-time enterprises during World War II, their children were safely cared for at Seattle Day Nursery.

1953—The State pays $33,000 for the Eastlake property to make way for Interstate 5 and the branch moves to a new location nearby. It is christened the John Wilson Branch in 1961.

1959—A Board of Trustees is formed, ending 50 years of volunteer management.