ChildSavers Capital Campaign

In 2008, ChildSavers completed a $5.4 million fundraising campaign, designed to help chart a bold new course for this venerable institution, established through the efforts of Mrs. Martha P. Branch more than eighty years ago. Gifts to the Campaign have enabled us to transform the former WRVA building atop Church Hill into an innovative children’s center, increase annual operating support, and grow the building endowment to ensure long-term viability.

To make access to our services easier for our primary client population: children and families who live in Richmond's impoverished East End;
To create a state-of-the-art therapy and training facility;
To house our entire staff: Guidance Clinic, Child Development Services, and Trauma Response program staff as well as administrative staff in one facility for the first time in 12 years; and
To preserve an historically significant Richmond landmark.

Acquisition of the historic WRVA building was made possible through a gift-purchase agreement between E. Carlton “Buddy” Wilton, Jr., a long-time supporter and board member, and our Endowment Board.

The two-story structure designed by nationally recognized architect Philip Johnson covers more than 18,000 square feet. The building was in very good condition and required few structural changes. For 34 years, the building served as a radio broadcast studio; therefore, the primary renovation goal was to reconfigure the interior space to create therapy rooms, training space, and staff offices, and to render the space more child-friendly.

Baskervill, a full-service architectural, engineering, interior design, and facilities management firm based in Richmond, completed the renovation design work. The firm is known for healthcare interior designs: its ASK Pediatric Cancer Clinic at VCU was selected as one of the ten most innovative designs in the country for 2002 by the Center for Innovative Health Facilities. Baskervill outlined a two-phase construction schedule: one phase for each floor of the building.

Phase I, which began on March 1, 2007 and was completed in September 2007, involved renovation of the lower level of the building, as well as installation of a new HVAC system throughout the building, constructing a new staircase leading up to the front lobby on the upper level and ramps for wheelchair access, and completing any necessary electrical and plumbing work. Phase II, completed between September 2007 and March 2008, involved renovation of the upper (street) level.

By the end of March 2008, both levels of the building were re-opened for business. The lower level now includes office and resource storage space for our Child Development Services staff, as well as a 40-seat multipurpose room, a child care training center, a conference room, a kitchen for use in nutrition training services, space for volunteers to gather and work, and storage. The upper level include therapists’ offices, administrative offices, a four-room play therapy suite, a waiting room for Guidance Clinic and Trauma Response clients, and a staff lounge.

The photos below show a portion of the interior of our renovated building. We invite you to come by and see it for yourself, perhaps as part of a Lunch & Learn session. If you would like to attend a Lunch & Learn, please call Cynthia Bedell at (804) 644-9590, ext. 3007 or e-mail her at cbedell@childsavers.org.

We are very grateful to the hundreds of individual, corporate, and foundation supporters who made the renovation project possible.