The Children’s Guardian Fund (CGF) was established in 1995 by a dedicated group of volunteer child advocates who identified a simple, yet deeply meaningful need among the children they served—a birthday celebration. These volunteers, driven by compassion, organized bake sales to raise funds, ultimately providing $20 Publix gift cards for each child in care. The cards allowed caregivers to purchase essential items for a modest celebration—hot dogs, chips, soda, and, most importantly, a cake and candles. For many of these children, it marked the first birthday celebration they had ever experienced.
Building on this initial success, the group expanded its fundraising efforts to support additional needs, including summer camps and bicycles. One of their signature events was a November luncheon, where they auctioned a one-of-a-kind dollhouse—meticulously crafted over the course of the year by talented committee members.
From these humble beginnings, CGF has grown into a thriving organization that funds a diverse array of opportunities and experiences, enriching the lives of children and teens in care and offering them a much-needed sense of normalcy and joy. (See full list of programs here.)