A Brief History of CWL

Children's Well-being League (formally named Children's Welfare League) has been in existence
for over 101 years. Since its formation to ​the present, there has always been one common purpose:
to improve and enrich the lives ​and education of children in the Buncombe County area.
Over the years, the means to achieve this goal have varied. The size of the organization has changed, and the specific recipients have been assorted, ​but the purpose has always remained the same.

Early Days - A Small Group of Friends

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In 1923 twelve women in Asheville recognized a need at the Buncombe County Children's Home. The ladies began meeting twice a month at
​Mrs. Burnham Colburn's home to sew for and then visit the children afterwards. In 1924 to raise funds they organized a New Year's Ball at the newly opened Biltmore Forest County Club. They made $2,000 and held the Ball there
​for two more years. A fund-raising tradition
was born. 

The Depression and World War II

The depression of the 1930s and the war in the 1940's were hurdles that had to be dealt with realistically by the League. No  major fundraising balls were held in 1929 or 1930 due to the collapse of the financial markets nor was a ball held in 1942 when the US entered the war. But by 1949 the League was acting on members' ideas for helping promising, under-privileged children and youth. A Receiving Home Committee was formed and 12 children identified to receive help to finish their education. By the 1950's the League was up to 80 members who set up a reading program, donating $1,000 to assist many children.

Splendid Women - The Group Organizes

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An article in the Asheville Citizen Times referred to the "splendid women" who took an interest in the children of our community. By 1925 the ladies formalized this group choosing the name of The Children's Welfare League. Mrs. Herbert Brown was elected the first President. There were 45 active members. Dues were minimal at $2. In 1927 the League bought stock in the Women's Club on Charlotte Street and held their meetings in the clubroom. They contributed both service and money to the YWCA and held Christmas suppers for the young working women who lived there. They also worked with the Salvation Army in their Christmas Toy Shop during the early 1930s.

Many Activities, One Focus

In 1965 the membership voted to spend $500 matched by the city to train a woman as a juvenile police officer. Other projects included establishing a Scholarship Fund and a Memorial Gifts Fund. The CWL was the first agency in Buncombe County to print copies of a Directory of Social Services for children. The Elizabeth Gudger Scholarship established by Charlotte Lunsford sent a student to Brevard Music Camp and provided $900 for a William Randolph student to attend after-school-care. That same year 30 students and one Warren Wilson College student teacher received assistance. The decade of the 70's found more of our members serving on City and County Planning Boards, where they could influence government agencies to take over many of the projects CWL had begun. In the 1980's Caring for Children and the Health Adventure were added to the organization's list of recipients.

From Our Photo Albums