About
Our History
In 1985, San Bernardino County Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Pat Morris recognized a critical gap in services for the children appearing before his court. He envisioned a collaborative solution, one that united public and private sectors to meet urgent needs of children. With the leadership and support of Jack H. Brown, CEO of Stater Bros., they created a nonprofit arm for the County of San Bernardino. This new entity, originally named First Fund of Children’s Resource, Inc., was created to bridge service gaps and provide essential resources to children in crisis.
In 1991, after navigating early challenges, the organization welcomed its third co‑founder, A. Gary Anderson. Under his leadership, the board reimagined the organization’s structure and strategy, setting the stage for long-term success. This pivotal moment marked the transition from a county-affiliated initiative to an independent nonprofit—now known as Children’s Fund.
For 40 years, Children’s Fund has strengthened its partnership with the County of San Bernardino, demonstrating how public and private entities can work together to support vulnerable children. Through this partnership and a strategic network of community-based organizations, Children’s Fund remains efficient, responsive, and able to quickly deploy aid when needs arise. Since its inception, Children’s Fund has helped more than 1.8 million children throughout San Bernardino County.
Children's Fund Board of Directors Chairmen have included Jack H. Brown, Gene Wood, A. Gary Anderson, Matthew A. Jordan, Vaughn Bryan, Lee R. Redmond, Jacob Zeidman, Mark Ostoich, Douglas McAdam, William Meyer, Bob Kain, Joseph P. Barr, Dave Harris, Dianne Crowther, Bill Nietschmann, Russ Moore, Pete Pitassi, Bob Balzer, Debbie L. Brown, Laurie Connell, Steve PonTell, Vicente Wright, Lee Jackman, Neal Waner, Gary Ovitt, and Kristin Pierce.
Currently, Children’s Fund is located at 348 W. Hospitality Lane, Suite 110, San Bernardino, CA 92408. Contact us at 909.379.0000. Help us give hope for brighter tomorrows to the children who are our future.
Who We Impact
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Children experiencing poverty, abuse, and neglect
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Children in foster care
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Children and families under case management
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Youth experiencing homelessness
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Transitional-aged youth (18–24)
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Vulnerable youth in college
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Youth involved in the justice system
Our Model
We believe that strong partnerships with primary advocates, social workers, counselors, and case managers, are essential to building a consistent foundation of support. We collaborate with more than 50 agencies, nonprofits, and school districts across San Bernardino County to ensure that brighter futures are built on a system that puts children first.
The Need
We believe that strong partnerships with primary advocates, social workers, counselors, and case managers, are essential to building a consistent foundation of support. We collaborate with more than 50 agencies, nonprofits, and school districts across San Bernardino County to ensure that brighter futures are built on a system that puts children first.