Last Updated: February 2011
THORNWELL HOME FOR CHILDREN
Fact Sheet
Contact:
Lorain Crowl, Communications Director
864-938-2713 Office
864-901-0069 Cell
[email protected]
Mission:
Founded as a Presbyterian ministry in 1875, Thornwell Home for Children is a joyful Christian community, offering
hope and wholeness to children and families. Its goals are to provide loving homes for abused, abandoned and
neglected children, to offer an opportunity for healing by providing proper healthcare and mental health counseling for
every Thornwell child, and to offer Thornwell’s children hope for a successful future by providing educational support
and teaching self-advocacy.
History:
Thornwell Home for Children was founded in 1875 by Presbyterian minister, Rev. Dr. William Plumer Jacobs. What
was originally envisioned as an orphanage for post-Civil War orphans, today has become a home for nearly 100 abused,
abandoned and neglected children from across the southeast. The ministry first opened its doors in Clinton, SC, on
October 1, 1875, with 10 children residing in the Home of Peace - the first building on campus. Dr. Jacobs and his wife,
Mary, were Thornwell first houseparents. Named for Dr. James Henley Thornwell, theologian and mentor to Dr.
Jacobs, Thornwell has been home to thousands of children over it 136-year history.
Thornwell today:
Today, Thornwell serves abused, abandoned and neglected children - boys and girls in a range of ages from six months
to twenty-two years old. The majority of Thornwell’s children and youth are private placements; however, some
children come to Thornwell through the Department of Social Services. Thornwell’s program is not for offenders or
youth with addictions.
Number of children and youth served annually in residential care:
Thornwell serves approximately 100 children annually in our residential program. There are 13 residential cottages with
six to eight children in each home.
Thornwell’s program:
Thornwell provides a safe home for each child, physical and mental health care, a state-of-the-art
Learning Center for academic support, a faith development and Christian nurture program, and a fully
operational farm and agricultural program. Our Teaching-Family Model (TFM) is a unique program designed to help
children overcome negative behaviors and replace them with positive behaviors. Each child’s program is tailored to meet
his or her needs; and youth are taught to self-advocate so they can achieve their goals and dreams.
Each Teaching-Family home at Thornwell:
* teaches young people to value themselves and their family;
* assists youth in developing sound values, good principals, and high morals; and
* teaches social, academic, and self-help skills
Thornwell’s funding:
The majority of Thornwell’s support comes from private funding, primarily
from individuals, Presbyterian churches, foundations, and businesses. Gifts from
donors provide approximately 77% of the total revenue for Thornwell each year.
Additional sources of income provide the remaining 23% and include family
support payments, government support, trust income, and payments for rental
fees and other miscellaneous services.
302 South Broad Street
Clinton, SC 29325
864-938-2100
www.thornwell.org