Our History
“I have begun my work. I have two boys, ages six and seven.”
This message—written by Oak Park’s Mary Wessels on a postcard addressed to a friend in 1897—is one of the few remaining records of Hephzibah’s beginnings more than a century ago.
Not long after Wessels sent this postcard, a local orphanage was destroyed by fire and she opened her home and her heart to a dozen more children. She named her fledgling children’s home “Hephzibah,” after her own mother.
Learn More about Hephzibah
Read the latest news and stories about Hephzibah.
Employee Spotlight: Camiya Honorable
Illinois & Hephzibah: Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis
Brianna’s Story: From Foster Child to Foster Hero
Hephzibah’s Auxiliary Boards Make Lasting Impact
The Power of Volunteering
A Summer of Learning
Your Donation Will Impact a Child's Life.
Upcoming Info Sessions