History of tragedy inspired us to make a difference
In 1907, Edgar Allen lost his son in a streetcar accident because of inadequate medical services to save him. In response, Allen sold his business and began a fund-raising campaign to build a hospital in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio. Through this new hospital, Allen was surprised to learn that children with disabilities were often hidden from public view. Inspired to make a difference, in 1919 Allen founded the National Society for Crippled Children, the first organization of its kind.
The history of “Easterseals” and Easterseals PORT Health
In the spring of 1934, the organization launched its first Easter “seals” campaign to raise money for its services. In 1967, the organization changed its name to Easter Seals in response to the overwhelmingly successful campaign. In 2016, the name was modernized to one word, “Easterseals.”
Today, Easterseals PORT Health is one of 70 affiliates of the national Easterseals organization and is also one of 55 affiliates of the national United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) organization, one of the largest health nonprofits in the country dedicated to individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. After merging with Easterseals Virginia in 2010, our organization had more than 75 years collective experience of being a powerful force for our neighbors in North Carolina and Virginia who are living with disabilities.
In January 2023, we acquired PORT Health and expanded our combined continuum of services to include substance use treatment and pharmacy services. As a result, people across North Carolina and Virginia now benefit from our broader range of comprehensive services for collaborative, whole person care.
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