Our History

Healing the Children began with one couple helping one child in Spokane, Washington in 1979. Cris Embleton responded to a request for help for one child with a life-threatening heart condition by finding donated medical care. As a result, that child's life was saved.

With requests for help coming in from all over the world, Healing the Children formally organized in 1981. Thanks to the compassion of Cris and Gary Embleton, thousands of children's cries of despair and pain are being turned into laughter filled with hope for a better life. Thanks to the vision of Penny and Broose Johnson, who saw the need for a Healing the Children chapter to come to Florida, HTC-FL was formed.

In 1998, Xerox Corporation generously donated the services of an executive, Bill Kelly, full time for one year to bring Healing the Children-Florida, Inc. through the start-up phase. (That contribution alone was valued at over $100,000). Bill and his wife Rose moved from Northwest Florida to Orlando and got to work, completing the steps required by the National Organization, receiving full chapter status in record time.

The history of the organization is written everyday. Shouldn’t you be a part of our history?

<< Return to Programs and Services