The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital

The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital has a rich history dating back to 1898 when Mattie Mallory, our founder, felt God’s call to help the orphans of Oklahoma City. Through the years the mission has changed, but the primary focus on the well-being of children has always followed Mattie’s basic principles based on faith, hope and love.

After operating The Oklahoma Orphanage at several locations downtown, Mattie moved the children to Bethany, Oklahoma in 1909 where The Children’s Center, a private non-profit hospital serving children with complex medical and physical disabilities, thrives today.

In 1939, the orphans were moved to the Sunbeam Home in downtown Oklahoma City and the original orphanage changed its mission to a medical center for children with polio.

In 1946, the facility became The Children’s Convalescent Home of Oklahoma City, Inc. Executive Director E. Clay “Pops” Venable made diligent efforts to improve the facility, and in 1961, the nursing home became a specialized hospital called “The Children’s Convalescent Hospital.”

After Venable retired in 1968 the financial stability of the hospital became uncertain and The International Pentecostal Holiness Church stepped in to help; the facility continued to lose money.

In the late 1970’s, with a heartfelt call closely resembling Mattie Mallory’s, the brother-sister team of Albert Gray, CEO, and Carol Gray, COO, turned The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital around.

In June of 1995, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation recognized the commitment and financial stewardship and awarded the hospital a grant in the amount of $9.77 million to build the Donald W. Reynolds Complex, which houses administrative offices and the present day Nursing Rehabilitative Care program.

In May of 2008, The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital officially dedicated a new 7 million dollar Pediatric Medical Rehabilitation Unit after a generous capital campaign.

Today, the Hospital offers a wide range of medical services, rehabilitative care and social services to children with complex medical needs in long-term care (Complex Care), children in short-term rehabilitation after experiencing trauma such as a brain or spinal cord injury (Pediatric Medical Rehabilitation Unit, PMRU), Sub-Acute Care, and thousands of outpatients through the hospital and The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital’s Pediatric Clinic.

Like Mattie Mallory’s desire so many years ago, The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital is dedicated to maximizing the potential of all children who come through its doors. The Hospital is now a multifaceted hospital with more than 650 employees and an operating budget of more than $50 million.