Born out of a dream of building a safe yet fun harbor for children and their families on donated property, Children’s Harbor was established in 1990 by Ben and Luanne Russell. Their mission was simple – to strengthen children and their families for their illness-related battles ahead – and it is a mission that continues to this day.

Every year, the non-profit organization partners with over a dozen different groups with the common goal of providing seriously ill children and their families with a wide range of retreat and camping services. These services are delivered at its Lake Martin facilities.

In 2001, Children’s Harbor expanded its services by building a state-of-the-art, fully-equipped Children’s Harbor Family Resource and Counseling Center at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in Birmingham in the State of Alabama. Here, the children/patients and their families receive counseling and coaching, education and recreation, and other supportive services designed to improve their overall health during and after their hospital stays.