There’s something special about a community that takes care of its own. In Quincy, that spirit has a name: Cornerstone.
For nearly eight decades, Cornerstone has been rooted right here — serving Quincy families, partnering with local schools, supporting at-risk youth, and helping neighbors through some of the hardest moments of their lives. And the reason Cornerstone has been able to do that, year after year, is simple: the people of Quincy believe in it.
When you donate to Cornerstone, your dollars don’t travel far. They stay right here, in your city, working for the people you see at the grocery store, the parents cheering at Friday night games, and the kids sitting next to yours in class. That’s not an accident — it’s by design.
A Quincy Institution Since 1947
Cornerstone’s story began on November 6, 1947, when it was founded as Family Service Agency of Adams County. It took the vision and determination of community leaders like Fabiola Moorman and Jean Suhren, the first board president, to convince Quincy and Adams County that a dedicated social service agency was something this community needed and deserved.
That founding conviction, that people in this community deserve real support, has never wavered. In 2002, our organization became Cornerstone Foundation for Families, and has continued to grow and evolve to meet the changing needs of the people it serves. Today, Cornerstone is licensed by the state of Illinois as a child welfare agency, offering counseling, family support services, and specialized programs that reach some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Nearly 80 years later, Cornerstone is still here. Still local. Still Quincy’s own.
Your Donation Stays Here
One of the most meaningful things about giving to Cornerstone is knowing exactly where your money goes. This isn’t a national organization funneling dollars through layers of overhead to communities you’ll never see. Cornerstone is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit, funded in part by the State of Illinois, by foundation grants, and — critically — by individual donations from people in this community.
When you give to Cornerstone, your gift goes directly toward:
- Affordable counseling services for individuals, couples, children, and families in Quincy and the surrounding area — many of whom could not otherwise access mental health care.
- Comprehensive Youth Services, Cornerstone’s school-based counseling program, which has partnered with area schools for over 37 years to reach at-risk youth where they already are — in the classroom.
- Adoption Preservation services, offering specialized support to adoptive families at little or no cost — including trauma-informed education, support groups, and up to two years of professional guidance during and after the adoption process.
- The staff and counselors who show up every day to provide skills, support, and hope to the people of this community.
The Ripple Effect of a Local Gift
Mental health doesn’t exist in isolation. When a child gets support through Cornerstone’s school-based counseling, they’re better able to focus, learn, and stay in school. When a struggling parent finds stability through counseling, the whole household is steadier. When an adoptive family gets the specialized support they need, children who have already faced so much finally get the chance to feel truly at home.
These aren’t abstract outcomes. They happen in Quincy homes, Quincy schools, and Quincy neighborhoods. The kids Cornerstone serves grow up to be part of this community. The families who find hope here become more stable, more connected, and more able to contribute to the city around them.
Giving to Cornerstone is an investment in Quincy itself.
What the Community Says
The impact of Cornerstone shows up most clearly in the words of the people it has served. Here’s what some of them have shared:
“I have nothing but wonderful things to say about my experience here. My sessions were always handled with care in which I felt important, encouraged, heard and loved.”
Hope. Comfort. Being heard. These are the things your donation makes possible for real people, right here in Quincy.
How to Give
Cornerstone makes it easy to support the work that matters to you. There are several ways to give:
- Online: Make a one-time or recurring monthly donation securely through the Cornerstone website. Recurring gifts are especially powerful — they give the team the ability to plan, hire, and serve with consistency.
- By check: Make checks payable to “Cornerstone” and mail or deliver them to 316 N. 9th Street, Quincy, IL 62301. Please write “donation” on the memo line.
- In person: Cash donations are accepted at the Cornerstone office.
- In honor or in memory: Donations can be made in honor of or in memory of someone special — a meaningful way to celebrate a life while giving back to the community.
Be Part of Something That Lasts
Quincy has supported Cornerstone for nearly 80 years because this community understands something important: when we take care of each other, everyone is better off. The families Cornerstone serves are your neighbors. Their children go to school with yours. Their struggles are the kind any of us could face.
A gift to Cornerstone is a gift to Quincy. And every gift, no matter the size, touches and changes lives right here at home.
Make your donation today and help Cornerstone keep growing — right here, in the community we all call home.
