The Eden Foundation

All too often youngsters don't have productive, safe activities to occupy their day simply because their parents don't know of these type of activities in the area, or don't have the means to get them there.

Cultural events for example are all but left out of the lives of so many young people simply because they are not emphasized in the home. There is a great wealth of civic and cultural organizations with in a four-block radius of the Eden Foundation. We are committed to make these organizations, and what they have to offer available to anyone that has a desire to gain knowledge from them. If transportation, supervision, financing, or even the knowledge of their existence is stopping the personal growth of a child, we will find a way through grants, volunteers, and community gifts to put an end to the lack participation in civic and cultural events.

In the early 1850's the Seminary Corridor - in and around 3rd Street and Haight Village - was one of Rockford's most glorious places to live and raise children. Today, one can find one abandoned home after another boarded-up because of neglect, gang activity and apathy.

Eden is located on the site of the historical Woodruff estate. Few people know the story of Gilbert Woodruff and his many contributions to the founding of Rockford. Noteably, Woodruff was instrumental in bringing to Rockford the railroad, and founding Rockford Furniture Co., Rockford Insurance Co., and Rockford National Bank.

Woodruff was one of the most loved, benevolent and respected founders of this city. We are blessed to be able to give his estate back to the children of this city with the same passion with which he gave for so many years before us.