It was the summer of 1909, after a year of planning by a small group of women that a summer retreat was opened for a few disabled children in Fort Erie. It was the beginning of The Children's Guild Foundation...a summer camp for children with various disabling diseases. This group of women were innovators, risk-takers, advocates, but most of all, they cared about the conditions of the time with which handicapped children had to endure and they set out to make a difference. And make a difference they did! Almost immediately, they knew their idea for a summer respite did not go far enough. So they continued to plan and one year later they incorporated themselves and set a goal...to provide a home in Buffalo for disabled children and give them the care to return them to society as a potential self-supporting member.

In January of 1910, the group purchased their first permanent home at 127 College Street for 7 children. In April of 1911, they purchased a larger home at 487 Niagara Street for 15 children. Over the next several years, this grew to 40 children which was their capacity. Over the years between 1916 and 1938, polio was on the rise and the Foundation was looked to by the community to help deal with this devastating disease.

In 1916, they received their first bequest in the amount of $5,000.00 from E.H. Butler, Sr., - founder of The Buffalo News.

In 1919, they had grown in stature and reputation and were able to affiliate with the Joint Charities and Community Fund to assist them in financing their home. By 1935, they became self-supporting, running an in-patient facility with medical personnel and social workers renowned regionally and nationally.

That same year, through a generous donation, the Foundation acquired the current property at Delaware and Hodge Avenues. Construction of a new facility was completed in 1938, with a capacity to house over 100 children.

For the next 20 years, they truly made miracles happen. Polio was continuing to dominate the need, but all types of other disabilities were also being addressed at the facility.

In 1958, with the Salk vaccine preventing polio from occurring and health care delivery systems beginning to change dramatically, the Foundation recognized the need for a new path for their mission. In July of that year, they announced the establishment of a Children's Rehabilitation Center - the first of its kind in the United States!

Collaborating with Children's Hospital, the Foundation provided the building, maintenance and substantial financial support and the hospital provided the medical and direct professional services. The Foundation also provided funding for summer camping programs and year-round recreational projects. They had come full circle and, in the process, changed the lives of children and society's way of dealing with disabling conditions.

Today, the Foundation continues to make a difference in the lives of children. Programs and research have been expanded with the Foundation's support and children with special needs receive a quality of care internationally renowned. The commitment continues.

In 2006, the opportunity to again improve the delivery of services to children with special needs was shaped. Plans unfolded for the programs of the Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo to relocate into the hospital space to provide more comprehensive delivery of services to families. The Foundation sold its building at 936 Delaware Avenue with the proceeds invested into the Foundation’s endowment. This opportunity strengthens The Foundation’s fiscal ability to grant needed funds to additional programs in the areas of health care, education, recreation and research in fulfillment of our mission.