Severson Center History

The Severson Center was established after a major financial gift from John G. Severson in 1986.

Severson’s gift to Family Service America, the predecessor to the Alliance for Children and Families, was given in honor of his wife, Jan Severson. It recognized her extraordinary commitment to the family service movement and her own family.

Jan Severson's volunteer commitment spanned more than 40 years and encompassed distinguished roles at the local, regional, and national levels.

Jan Severson was a member of the board of directors of Family Service America, and she served on many of the organization’s committees. She was also a delegate to the White House Conference on Families.