Crittenton Center

11/18/2025

Each year, thousands of U.S. youth run away from home, are asked to leave their homes, or become homeless. Through the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program, ACF’s Family and Youth Services Bureau supports street outreach, emergency shelters, and longer-term transitional living and maternity group home programs to serve and protect these young people. Learn more about the issue at 1800runaway.org/youth-hope-month.

11/17/2025

Help Make Christmas Magic for Kids in Foster Care!

The holidays should be a time of joy, warmth, and wonder- but for many children in foster care, those moments aren't always guaranteed. That's why Foster SQUAD and Four Oaks Foster Care and Adoption are joining forces once again for Operation Santa Iowa, bringing gifts, connection, and holiday memories to kids across our state.

Here at Crittenton Center, our mission has always been simple:
We support ALL children.
No matter the agency.
No matter the placement.
No matter the circumstance.
If a child needs a little extra love this season- we show up.

This year, our partners at Foster SQUAD and Four Oaks are working to fulfill thousands of wish lists for children placed out of home. And they need our community's help.

How you can make a difference:
- Sponsor a child's wish list
- Donate financially
- Host a toy drive
- Volunteer at a holiday party

Every gift purchased helps a child feel seen, valued, and remembered this Christmas. Sign up or learn more at: www.fostersquad.org/santa

11/16/2025

Story Time with Critter is officially underway!

Each month, our mascot (Critter) will visit one of our child care sites with a special guest reader. This month, Critter stopped by our Stella West locateion, bringing along Officer Donnie Schroeder from the City of Sioux City Police Department to read "The Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything"- by Linda Williams, with our kiddos. We're so excited to continue spreading joy and early literacy across our programs!

11/16/2025

What. A. Night.
(Long post alert!)

Our 130th Celebration was nothing short of extraordinary- and YOU helped make it unforgettable.

For 130 Years, Crittenton Center has stood as a place of hope, healing, and possibility for children and families. Last Saturday, we felt the weight of that history and the excitement of our future in every moment- from the stories shared to the generosity shown to the community that rallied around us.

Our guests, partners, and supporters came together in a powerful way. Every dollar given, every hand raised, and every conversation shared moved our mission forward. You helped us honor our past while boldly investing in the next 130 years.

This celebration would not have been possible without an incredible circle of support-

To our Event Sponsors:
empirical foods
Khalid and Terrie Rasheed
Leonard and Roberta Gill Family
KCAU Channel 9
HR & People Strategies
IBC
Security National Bank
Sterk Financial Services
CF Industries
Wells Enterprises, Inc.
Great West Casualty Compay
David and Dolores Guest
Rich and Karleen Waller
Powell Broadcasting
Jeremy and Jennifer Uhl
Deric and Joey Redmond
RBC Wealth Management
Telco Triad Credit Union
Jack and Gail Bernstein
Heidman Law Firm
CW Suter
Dixon Construction Co.
Janssen Financial Group
Morningside University
Hard Rock Casino
Northwest Bank
James and Kathy Quesenberry
King Reinsch Prosser
Kletschke Wealth Management Group- Stifel
Scott and Laci Varilek
Ron and Robbi Rohlena
Chuck and Marian Burnett
Pamela Kavanaugh Edwards/Dunes Realty, LLC.
"Trustee of God's Blessings"

Next, we would like to thank all the businesses and individuals who donated towards our Silent and Live Auctions- we had over 33 silent auction baskets and five incredible live auction items!

Of course, we can't possibly forget the individuals who helped create the overall magic of the evening-
Heath Weber- emcee
Randy Stabe- auctioneer
Ted Oliver Productions- Top Dueling Pianos
USD Volunteers and other volunteers
Sugar Shack, Erin Sautter, and our lovely Board members- who made a delicious dessert/snack table
Country Celebrations- for contributing their time, talent and a beautiful venue
Sodexo- for the wonderful MEAL!
Winnie's/Hardline- for the lovely furniture
LAMB Theatre- for the costumes and ambience accessories
Record Printing- save the dates!
Sioux City Public Museum- for the Crittenton Museum items!
and....last, but CERTAINLY not least....OUR 130TH CELEBRATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!

From the music to the stories, from the auction excitement to the heartfelt moments- and to every person who showed up to stand with us- we felt the love and support all night long.

Here's to 130 years of impact...and to the incredible future ahead. Thank you for celebrating with us, believing in us, and championing the children and families we serve.

Incase you missed it, check out our 130 Stories for 130 Years Here! https://crittentoncenter.org/130-stories.-130-years

11/14/2025

Community Partner of the Month: MRHD!

We are thrilled to recognize Missouri River Historical Development, Inc - MRHD for awarding Crittenton Center a $250,000 Impact Grant to support the renovation of our shelter space.

This investment is a GAME-CHANGER for the children and families we serve, helping us create a safer, more trauma-informed, and welcoming environment. Thank you, MRHD, for believing in our mission and helping us strengthen our community!

11/12/2025

November is Youth Homelessness Outreach, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Month! Each year, nearly 4.2 million young people experience some form of homelessness. This is unacceptable and we’re working to create a better future for youth everywhere. Learn more about the issue at https://www.1800runaway.org/prevention-education/youth-hope-month.

11/11/2025

If it feels like we've been running in 130 different directions...you're right! But with all the excitement surrounding our 130 Stories for 130 Years AND our 130th Celebration, our focus has been on sharing the incredible people and moments that make Crittenton Center who we are.

That said, we've got a few other fun things we didn't get a chance to post amidst all the celebration chaos- like our Halloween activities (details in the photos!), exciting grant announcements (links below), and the round-table discussion with Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand (check out photos and recap here: (https://crittentoncenter.org/news/meaningful-collaboration-state-auditor-rob-sand-joins-crittenton-center-for-round-table-discussion-on-child-care-and-child-welfare)

So get ready as we play a little catch-up and share some of those great moments with you (because they're too good to miss!)

And speaking of great moments...our 130th Celebration was truly unforgettable! The dust still hasn't quite settled- but stay tuned for a big post full of photos, memories, and special thank yous to our incredible sponsors, donors, volunteers, and everyone who helped make the night a success.

Grant Updates:
Cargill Back To School Supplies- $2,500: https://crittentoncenter.org/news/crittenton-center-awarded-2500-from-cargill-to-assist-in-school-supplies-for-youth
DCAT/CPPC Safe Sleep Project- $2,000: https://crittentoncenter.org/news/crittenton-center-receives-2000-from-woodbury-county-decategorization/cppc-to-support-safe-sleep-project
CF Industries Foundation Feeding Bodies and Minds Project: $10,000: https://crittentoncenter.org/news/building-brighter-futures-major-investments-strengthen-crittenton-centers-transitional-therapeutic-home
MHRD Impact Match Grant- $250,000: https://crittentoncenter.org/news/building-brighter-futures-major-investments-strengthen-crittenton-centers-transitional-therapeutic-home

11/08/2025

11/07/2025

DAY 130...

130 Stories for 130 Years: Our Final Chapter...for Now.

For the past several months, we've shared stories that span generation of care, courage, and community. And while this is our final post in the series, our story is FAR from over.

Join us tomorrow night as we celebrate all who have helped shape Crittenton Center- and hear from CEO Kim Scorza as she shares a sneak peek into where we're headed next. The future is bright, bold, and built on love.

We can't wait to celebrate with you! Tomorrow night, Country Celebrations, 5-10pm! Tickets are still available at: https://crittentoncenter.org/news/a-legacy-worth-celebrating-join-us-for-our-130th-anniversary-celebration

11/06/2025

DAY 129....

As we near the close of our 130 Stories for 130 Years, today’s story comes from one of our own—Anna Salas, Human Resource Generalist at the Crittenton Center.

At just 15 years old, Anna found herself facing the challenges of teenage pregnancy with a small support system and big uncertainties about the future. Thankfully, her mother connected her to Crittenton Center for prenatal care—and that connection changed everything.

"In 1997, I found out I was pregnant with my first child at 15 years old. The father of my child was not involved, and I had a very small support system. Luckily, my mother worked for a local nonprofit and had many connections to resources in the Sioux City area. She referred me to Crittenton Center for my prenatal care. It was there that I learned not only what this meant for me physically, but also about the life-long changes I would face in just a few months’ time.

This was a particularly rough time for me being that I was so young and of course the only student in my junior high school facing teenage pregnancy. I was no doubt an outcast and was treated as such by my peers and most faculty. Crittenton Center however, treated me as a woman, a mother-to- be. They gave the confidence I knew I was going to need to face the judgements of the world- by simply doing what they do, caring for my medical needs with compassion.

During the time I was a client, I was introduced to other programs within Crittenton Center. I was paired with a case worker who took time to make sure I knew what to expect as a new mom. They provided me with the knowledge and support I needed to be successful in my journey. I was offered classes on a variety of topics such as breastfeeding and earned points for attending. Points were also rewarded for regular prenatal appointments and healthy habits such as avoiding smoking. It was through this system that I was able to earn the items that I needed to prepare for my sons’ arrival. I am very grateful for the assistance that was given to me in my time of need, and I am proud to now work for Crittenton Center and support the agency’s mission to empower families like mine."

Today, Anna has come full circle—serving as a member of the Crittenton Center team, helping empower families just like hers once was.

There is still time to get tickets to our big 130th Celebration! See you all THIS Saturday, November 8th, at Country Celebrations. Event details and tickets can be found at: https://crittentoncenter.org/news/a-legacy-worth-celebrating-join-us-for-our-130th-anniversary-celebration

11/05/2025

Take a little peek at some of our INCREDIBLE Silent Auction Basket Items!

We're counting down to our 130th Celebration this Saturday- and our silent auction lineup is STACKED. With over 30 baskets, there's something for EVERY interest and price point. Here's just a small taste:

- Capture your story with two signature prints plus a mini photoshoot by highly sought-after local artist- Britton Hacke Photography
- Take your crew on a taste-filled getaway (to the Greek Orthodox Church, that is)- our Greek Festival VIP package includes a reserved table for 8, $250 in festival tickets, and 2 bottles of Greek wine. Opa!
- Strike a chord with your inner rockstar- this Relic'd Blue Squier Stratocaster, Fender Mustang LT amp package has everything you need to plug in and play.
- Bring the flavor and the fun- our Fiesta Basket comes loaded with tequila, party glasses, hot sauces, kitchen towels, Latin cuisine cookbooks, spices, and more- your next celebration just planned itself!
- Warm, rich, and refined- our Old Elk Basket features whiskey, tasting glasses, whiskey-inspired snacks, and cozy scents for the perfect slow-sip evening.
- Make it a romantic night to remember- enjoy Minerva's for dinner, soft candlelight, rich chocolates, and a cozy read with "The Nightingale" tucked in to finish the evening.
- Keep your ride looking sharp and running smooth- our Knoepfler Chevrolet Basket includes two oil changes, a detailing service, car wash essentials, and plenty of Chevy swag to cruise in style.

Sound enticing enough?? There's plenty more where that came from, check it out for yourself!

Get your tickets today at: https://crittentoncenter.org/news/a-legacy-worth-celebrating-join-us-for-our-130th-anniversary-celebration