150 Years of Hope: Celebrating Thornwell’s Founders Day

On October 1, 2025, Thornwell gathered at the Home of Peace to celebrate a remarkable milestone: 150 years of serving children and families.

What began in 1875 as a dream in the heart of a young minister, Dr. William Plumer Jacobs, has become a 150-year legacy of hope. And while our anniversary year has given us many reasons to look back, it has also reminded us that Thornwell’s story is far from over.  There is so much hard and holy work to be done in the years ahead — for children, for families, for communities. And the story is never written by one person alone.

It is a story written by children and families, staff and volunteers, churches and community partners, foster parents and donors, alumni and friends. Most of all, it is a story of God’s faithfulness through every season.

A Year to Remember

Our 150th anniversary celebrations began on Founders Day, October 1, 2025, with a joyful gathering at the historic Home of Peace. President Myron Wilkins and his wife, Anna, officially kicked off the 150th celebrations by cutting the anniversary cake.

Celebrations that week continued with the premiere of our 150th documentary, followed by a cocktail reception and a concert featuring Christian pop duo Caleb + Kelsey. The Fall Festival at LushAcres Farm brought even more friends to campus to keep the celebration going into the weekend.

Throughout the year, the story continued to travel. Churches experienced Thornwell’s history and mission through our Documentary Church Tour. Friends and partners gathered with us on campus to learn more, ask questions about our work today, serve children and families in tangible ways, and imagine what the next 150 years might hold.

Celebrating God’s Provision, the Good Mission, and the People Behind It

The past year has given us plenty to celebrate.

We celebrated children who found safety and belonging. Families who took steps toward healing and thriving. New staff members and volunteers committed to the mission. Foster parents who opened their homes to sibling groups. Children in residential care who took steps toward reunification. Families who graduated from Strengthening Families with tangible skills, deeper bonds, and a new community of support. New children learning at the Child Development Center.

We opened a new Foster Care Village home to welcome siblings and help children maintain the relationships that matter so much.

At the CDC, we celebrated new students and introduced an English as a Second Language 4K classroom led by teacher Diana Perez.

LushAcres Farm welcomed families to the Fall and Spring Festivals and introduced Christmas at LushAcres — winning Best Festival in South Carolina 2026 for the second year in a row. LushAcres Farm became a go-to destination for field trips where kids of all ages experience hands-on, outdoor learning.

We watched a rare South Carolina snowfall transform Thornwell’s campus into a winter wonderland. Children played in the snow, and President Myron Wilkins and First Lady Anna joined in the fun.

Our dining hall team worked hard to ensure community families had nutritious meals to enjoy over the Christmas holidays and summer break — in addition to feeding kids during the school year at Thornwell Charter School and Thornwell CDC.

A Legacy Carried by Many Hands

Our anniversary year would not have been possible without the many people who stood alongside Thornwell.

And we are grateful for every church, donor, volunteer, foster parent, alumni, community organization, business, staff member and friend who has helped Thornwell serve children and families.

Thank you for being part of this story.

For 150 years, God has faithfully opened doors for Thornwell to respond to the needs of children and families in changing times. Through seasons of growth, challenge, uncertainty and change, the mission has remained: to care for children and strengthen families.

We know there is still work to be done. So, as we close this year of celebration, we aren’t closing the story. We are continuing it.

Join us in celebrating 150 years of Thornwell — and partner with us as we continue this legacy of serving children and families for generations to come.

Here’s to 150 years of faithful service. And here’s to the next 150.