Rest Haven Children's Health Fund

Rest Haven Children’s Health Fund (Rest Haven) was started in 1909 in San Diego, CA - largely through the efforts of Mrs. Francis “Ma” Mead - for to help treat people with tuberculosis, and was initially known as the Society for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis. Rest Haven incorporated in 1910 and in 1920 became a “Preventorium”, a convalescent facility devoted to the welfare of children

who suffer from, or have been exposed, to tuberculosis. At that time its legal name became Rest Haven Preventorium for Children. When the preventorium was no longer needed due to the tuberculosis epidemic dramatically improving, the preventorium was closed. Upon disposition of the physical facility in l953 and from the proceeds of the sale, Rest Haven established an endowment fund for children in San Diego County designed exclusively to help children in need with health problems when no other financial resources were available, and to assist agencies in the acquisition of equipment. Later, the fund was expanded to include children in Imperial County. In 1998, Rest Haven began doing business as Children’s Health Fund. The spirt and mission of Rest Haven’s beginnings have been persevered for more than 106 years due to the dedication and commitment to ensuring all children’s health needs are met.