Clara Hale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clara McBride Hale
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Clara McBride
April 1, 1905 |
| Died | December 18, 1992 (aged 87) New York City, US
|
| Occupation | Humanitarian |
| Children | 3 |
Clara McBride Hale (born April 1, 1905 – died December 18, 1992), often known as Mother Hale, was an amazing American humanitarian. She created the Hale House Center, a special home for children who needed extra care and support. Many of these children faced health challenges from birth.
Contents
A Life of Caring: Clara McBride Hale
Early Years and Family
Clara McBride was born on April 1, 1905, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. She grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
After high school, Clara got married and moved to New York City. She studied business and worked hard cleaning houses and as a janitor. When she was 27, her husband passed away. She had three children: Nathan, Lorraine, and an adopted son named Kenneth. Supporting her family during the Great Depression (a time when many people struggled to find jobs and money) was very difficult. She worked day and night to make sure her children had what they needed.
Eventually, she decided to spend more time with her own children. She opened a daycare in her home. She cared for other children while their parents worked. The children loved being in her warm and loving home so much that many started staying full-time. They would only see their mothers on weekends. Her home became a safe haven for many families.
Opening Her Home to Children
Clara became a foster parent in the 1940s. She provided both short-term and long-term care for children in her home. She also helped find permanent homes for homeless children and taught parents important skills. She received a license to be a foster mother and often cared for 7-8 children at a time. By 1968, she had lovingly cared for over 40 foster children.
Special Care for Babies
In 1969, while living in Harlem, New York, Clara Hale found her true calling. Her daughter, Lorraine, brought a mother and her baby to Clara's home. This baby needed very special medical attention from birth. Clara, at 65 years old, decided to open her home to these vulnerable babies. Within months, she was caring for 22 infants who needed this special care.
Mother Hale became famous for her incredible work. She was known as a loving "mother" to children who needed one most. In 1970, she officially licensed her home as a "child care facility," calling it the Hale House. A few years later, she bought a larger, five-story building to help even more children. By 1975, Hale House was fully licensed.
Clara devoted her life to caring for children who needed help. She welcomed babies who faced health challenges from birth, offering them a loving environment for free. She raised them as her own. Once they were healthy, she helped find caring families interested in adoption. She carefully made sure each family was a good match, sometimes turning down families if she felt they couldn't provide the best home. She helped over 1,000 babies and young children, including those with serious health conditions or whose parents had passed away. Her secret was simple: "hold them, rock them, love them and tell them how great they are."
Expanding Support Programs
Clara's work grew beyond just caring for babies. Hale House created many programs to support children and families.
- Community-Based Family: A program for young people who needed guidance.
- Time-Out-Moms: A program that gave parents a safe place for their children when they needed a break.
- Children Helping Children: A program designed for young people to support each other.
Hale House also started research programs. These programs studied the challenges faced by mothers and their babies when mothers had certain health issues. This helped educate people about these important topics. Families dealing with serious health conditions also found support at Hale House. They even had programs to help mothers with housing, education, and support after receiving medical treatment.
Her Lasting Legacy
Clara Hale continued her work right up until her final days. She often kept at least one infant in her own room. She passed away on December 18, 1992, at the age of 87, due to complications from a stroke.
Her funeral on December 23 was attended by over 2,000 people. Many important figures were there, including Mayor David Dinkins, U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato, U.S. Representative Charles Rangel, and even Yoko Ono and her son, Sean Lennon. This shows how much respect and admiration this extraordinary woman had earned for her positive impact on so many children, families, and the entire Harlem community.
After her passing, Clara's daughter, Dr. Lorraine Hale, continued her mother's work.
What Inspired Mother Hale?
Family Values and Harlem's Challenges
Clara's father passed away when she was a baby. Her mother raised Clara and her four siblings alone. Clara's mother believed strongly in being there for her children. She supported her family by cooking for others and taking in boarders. Clara learned this same love for parenting from her mother. She often said that her mother's example was key to everything she achieved.
Clara grew up in Harlem, New York, during a challenging time in the mid-1900s. Many people in Harlem faced poverty, high unemployment, and difficult living conditions. It was a place where getting a good education was especially hard. Clara understood how important education and opportunities were for young people.
Faith and Education
Clara also valued her religious upbringing in a Baptist church. Her strong faith and moral values guided her throughout her life. She shared that her Christian upbringing helped her overcome many difficulties. Graduating from high school was a major achievement for Clara, as it was not common for many people during her time. This education helped her appreciate different people and backgrounds, shaping her caring approach to life.
Recognitions and Awards
Clara Hale received many honors for her selfless work:
- In 1985, then-President Ronald Reagan called Clara Hale an "American hero" in his State of the Union Address.
- In 1986, the Women's International Center gave her the Living Legacy Award, which honors women for their great contributions to humanity.
- She was an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
- She received an NAACP Image Award in the 1980s.
- She received the Candace Award for Humanitarianism from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1990.
