ACC HISTORY

 

On November 11, 1918, Bishop Edward O’Dea approached a group of Seattle’s Catholic women and asked them to organize a program of social welfare on behalf of children.  The Seattle Council of Catholic Women was founded by these women:

 

Mrs. John B. Agen                                Mrs. John N. Jackson

Mrs. Nordoff Beck                                Mrs. Mary Kutzchawn

Mrs. Clarence B. Blethen                      Mrs. Frank McDermott

Mrs. Michael Donahoe                           Miss Katherine Meloy

Mrs. J.S.G. Graham                               Mrs. Charles E. Peabody

 

Initially, these women cared for the children themselves and were involved in their placement in adoptive homes and foster care.  As the workload increased, they employed professional childcare workers to tend to the children, while they focused their efforts on raising money.  In the late 1920’s, the first “Circles” were formed, as SCCW members gathered in small neighborhood groups to facilitate special projects and sew layettes for the infants. 

 

It was from this beginning that Catholic Community Services (CCS),

 the largest private social service agency in Western Washington, was born in 1937.

 

Several name changes would occur for the organization.  Seattle Council of Catholic Women became Catholic Women’s Child Welfare League in 1935.  In 1940, CWCWL changed its name to the Association for Catholic Childhood (ACC) and expanded its coverage to the entire Archdiocese of Seattle, including all of Western Washington.  The same year, ACC adopted as its logo the present symbol of the Christ Child as the “Light of the World”. 

 

Though the organization has changed names, its vision has remained constant.  The members work to help children and their families, through fundraising activities, volunteering, and advocacy.  ACC members have given thousands of volunteer hours and raised several million  dollars to support children and families in need, regardless of their race or creed.  This mission was re-stated in 1980, when the members voted to maintain their focus on children and families, at a time when CCS was expanding its programs to include a broader population. 

 

In 2007-08, ACC awarded $167,000 in grants to 22 agencies in Western Washington,

 located from Bellingham to Grays Harbor,

 the largest total amount granted in a single year.

 

In 1997, ACC established an active membership committee to recruit new members to insure the continuation of ACC and its mission into the future.  Six new circles were formed and an additional one hundred women became part of ACC and its work.  Currently, there are 20 active Circles, with almost 600 members.

 

In November 2002, the ACC Endowment Fund was established.  The primary purpose of this endowment is to provide a continued funding source to children’s programs sponsored by CCS, in light of reduction in state funding and the necessity of having a stable source of income to cover budget shortfalls.  From an initial deposit of $1760.00, the Endowment Fund now stands at over $125,000.00.