Eckerd Connects was founded in 1968 by Jack and Ruth Eckerd, who believed that business success should create opportunities to give back. Jack first built a historic American enterprise—growing Eckerd Drugs into one of the nation’s most recognized pharmacy chains. But together, Jack and Ruth knew that true success was measured not only in commerce, but in community impact.
Our Commitment
Building an American
Legacy of Care.
Jack & Ruth Eckerd
Founders
”We founded Eckerd Connects with one goal: to create a mission-driven organization dedicated to empowering those who need it most. From the beginning, our vision was to build a place where individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances, could find hope, opportunity, and the tools to succeed. We believed that by offering guidance, support, and access to education and skills training, we could help people transform their lives and reach their fullest potential.
The Eckerd’s recognized that America didn’t just have a skills gap—it had an opportunity gap. Out of this vision, Eckerd Connects was born: a national non-profit organization dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities through workforce development, child and family services, and Job Corps career training.
For nearly six decades, Eckerd Connects has carried forward that legacy of innovation and care. What started with a single therapeutic wilderness program has grown into one of the nation’s largest non-profits, serving more than 250,000 children, youth, adults, and families each year.
Our story is not just about where we’ve been—it’s about where we’re going. Today, we remain committed to being more than a service provider. We are a solver—working alongside communities to address the root causes of inequity, strengthen local systems, and close opportunity gaps for generations to come.
1968
Jack and Ruth open first outdoor therapeutic program for boys in Florida.
The Jack and Ruth Eckerd Foundation is officially formed.
1969
E-Nini-Hassee opens as the first outdoor therapeutic program for girls seeking hope and healing.
1977
Eckerd expanded its residential services for boys in the state of North Carolina.
1982
Inspired by the success of Eckerd Connects residential services, the organization opened its first juvenile justice program.
1993
Eckerd begins school-based prevention services to help in recovery efforts.
1998
2008
Eckerd becomes the lead agency for child welfare services in Florida’s Pinellas and Pasco counties.
2010
Committed to strengthening healthy families, Eckerd begins its first family preservation and parenting education services in North Carolina.
2012
Eckerd becomes responsible for the safety, well-being, and permanency of more than 5,000 of Tampa Bay’s children in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
2015
Eckerd expands its services to include operations of Early Head Start Tampa Child Care Partnership, and merges with Paxen to fulfill a mission to provide fundamental life, education, and career skills through workforce development training to reach a total of 11 states.
2025
Eckerd Connects launches a bold new Strategic Plan (2025–2029), charting a clear path to expand community impact, strengthen partnerships, and modernize how services are delivered across the nation. After 18 years of dedicated leadership, David Dennis retires as President and CEO, leaving behind a legacy of growth and innovation. In June 2025, Michael D. Smith—a national cross-sector leader known for his commitment to equity, opportunity, and collaboration—joins Eckerd Connects as the new President and CEO, ushering in the next era of transformation and purpose-driven impact.
