Our History

The Casey Legacy

Jim Casey and his siblings George, Harry, and Marguerite established the Annie E. Casey Foundation, of which Casey Family Services is part, in honor of their mother, a young widow who struggled to raise them. The Foundation’s history starts back in 1907, when Jim Casey, at age 19, began a messenger service in Seattle, Washington, to help his family make ends meet. That small family business became the global, multi-billion dollar corporation UPS. 

Jim Casey had no children and, by 1948, he had amassed wealth beyond his personal needs. In that year, he and his siblings established the charitable foundation, reflecting Jim’s belief that children’s futures depend largely on what emotional, ethical, and material supports their families are able to provide. For its first 20 years, the Casey Foundation primarily funded a camp for disadvantaged children in Seattle.

Providing Direct Services

In the mid-1960s, Jim Casey retired as chief executive officer of UPS and turned his attention to reshaping the focus of the Foundation. In 1966, he launched Casey Family Programs, an independent Seattle-based foundation, which provides foster care and other programs for children and families. When UPS moved its headquarters to the East Coast, Jim Casey established similar programs in New England. These became known as Casey Family Services, which today provides services to thousands of children and families across New England and in Maryland.

Casey Family Services Grows

In 2003, Casey Family Services moved its headquarters to New Haven, Connecticut. Today, the agency has more than 350 employees working to better the futures of children throughout New England and in Baltimore, Maryland.

Families for a Lifetime

In recent years, Casey Family Services has strengthened its commitment to achieving a lifetime family for every child in its care. This focus on family permanence builds on a strong track record of achieving reunification and adoption, and providing post-adoption services and supports.

Learn More

  • View the Casey Family Services timeline.