A Story of Hope, Healing, and Community
Edgewood has been a place of hope and healing for children in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly two centuries. What began with nine orphans in 1851 has grown into a transformative force in thousands of young lives.
Roots in Compassion
During the tumultuous California Gold Rush, a group of visionary women saw children in need and took action. They created a safe haven for nine orphans, planting the seeds of what would become Edgewood Center for Children and Families. By 1865, the idea of Edgewood had captured the community’s imagination, and local supporters began investing in its prosperity and future.
Finding Home at the Edge of the Woods
In 1924, Edgewood opened a new chapter—and a new campus—at 1801 Vicente Street in San Francisco’s Sunset District. The children who arrived there gave it a name that would define the organization forever: “the edge of the woods.” Designed as a home for 120 children, this campus became the physical and spiritual heart of our mission.
A Century of Transformation
One hundred years later, the Vicente campus continues to thrive as a place of growth and transformation. The grounds that once sheltered 120 children now serve as the hub for services reaching over 4,000 families annually across the Bay Area.
More Than a Place
But Edgewood is so much more than our campus. It’s the community of people who surround us and invest in our mission. It’s the dedicated volunteers and staff who work tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. It’s donors who believe every child deserves a chance to heal and thrive. It’s the families who trust us with their most precious relationships.
As we celebrate 175 years, we honor this legacy—and look forward to the next generation of children whose lives will be transformed at the edge of the woods.