“We are transforming the foster care system through innovation, science, and compassion,” says Graci McGillicuddy, the heart, soul, and co-founder of All Star Children’s Foundation, a pediatric mental health treatment and research center focused on trauma-informed care.
Graci’s mission to stop the cycle of child abuse began 40 years ago, after reading about the death of Shannon Nicole, a 20-month-old baby who was brutally abused and killed by her parents. This marked a significant turning point in Graci’s life, guided by the belief that “every child deserves to be safe and loved.” Graci’s passionate advocacy and leadership locally and state wide in addressing child abuse and learning that the foster care system was failing too many children culminated in the creation of The All Star Children’s Foundation a campus built on love—a brilliant beacon of hope and healing for the children and families it serves.
Every detail of All Star’s beautiful five-acre campus is trauma-informed, with a clinical treatment and research center, six foster homes, a clubhouse, playgrounds, a tricycle trail and gardens. Graci’s goal is to ensure that all children who come to All Star feel “honored, revered and cherished” in a safe place where they can heal, dream, and thrive. All Star’s focus on healing childhood trauma using evidence-based interventions, backed by research and advanced neuroscience, has had a profound and enduring impact directly improving the lives of the children they serve and creating a template for improving foster care policy statewide.
Graci emphasizes the importance of integrity and leading by example, values instilled by her parents. She believes that with proper treatment and support, children can overcome early childhood trauma. Graci’s commitment to fostering change is encapsulated by Gandhi’s quote on her coffee mug: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Through her efforts, she hopes to inspire others to engage with the vision of improving the lives of vulnerable children.