Groundbreaking for Center for Healing and Group Maternity Home

Jim Knight, current Wichita Children’s Home Board President, hosted the ceremony, and we were honored to welcome Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and Captain Travis Rakestraw of the Wichita Police Department. The celebration also included a special song performed by one of our youth alongside a Wichita Children’s Home staff member.

Debbie Kennedy, CEO of the Wichita Children’s Home, shared remarks about the importance of these new spaces and what they will mean for the children, youth and young mothers we serve. We then gathered outside for the official groundbreaking, joined by several children representing the youth who are at the heart of this work.

We were grateful to have so many community leaders, partners, donors and supporters join us for this special moment, including Mayor Lily Wu, Captain Travis Rakestraw, DCF representative Kristen Peterman; City Council Member Joseph Shepard; donors Doug and Kim Rippel, Rick and Barb Hemphill, Colby Sandlin, Stephen Clark, Tim and Tracy Ferrel, and Rhona Turner, VP of WCH Programming; Joe Tigert, former Board President and current Board member; Eric Swenson representing Dondlinger Construction; Robert Love representing Schaefer Architecture; Debbie Kennedy; and Jim Knight.

This groundbreaking represents more than the beginning of construction. It represents a shared commitment to creating spaces where children, youth and young mothers can find safety, support and the opportunity to move from comfort to hope to healing.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this day possible and to the many people who will continue to stand with the Wichita Children’s Home as we build what comes next.