Casey Family Programs celebrates 50 years of service

Jim Casey, the founder of United Parcel Service, saw a need 50 years ago to ensure that every child had a safe, stable family and the opportunities and support needed to succeed in life. His vision led him to create Casey Family Programs in 1966.

Since that time, Casey Family Programs has become the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and building Communities of Hope. We now work in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to influence long-lasting improvements in the safety and success of children, families and the communities where they live.

In 2016, we’re celebrating a meaningful milestone: our 50th anniversary of working to improve outcomes for children and families across America. Over the past five decades, we’ve provided direct services to more than 34,000 youth, young adults and families; set an ambitious goal for America to safely reduce the need for foster care by 50 percent by the year 2020; and worked to build Communities of Hope for children and families.

Jim Casey in Pioneer Square
Jim Casey visits the original offices of the American Messenger Company in Seattle’s Pioneer Square

Throughout our anniversary year, we will mark the progress the communities across America have made to keep children safe and families strong and to honor Jim Casey’s legacy, vision and spirit. This section of our website will provide weekly updates on that progress, significant milestones that have been achieved over the decades, and the contributions of those working to improve the lives of children, families and the communities where they live.

The theme for our anniversary year — “Investing in Hope: Safe Children, Strong Families, Supportive Communities” — represents the fundamental value that, to succeed, our nation must lift up the vast human potential of all at-risk children and families whose well-being is impacted by neglect and abuse and a lack of opportunities to reach their full potential.

We hope you’ll come back often to learn more about the progress being made in building Communities of Hope.