Our History
24/7 Access to Health for Gracelight Patients (323) 953-7330
1897
The Society of El Hogar Feliz Orphanage (Happy Home) was founded to care for the abandoned and neglected children of Los Angeles.
1930s
New Hospital
The Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart made space for the small clinic in their new hospital, Queen of Angels.
1980s
Clinic Moved
The Sisters moved the clinic to its present location adjacent to St. Anne’s Maternity Home in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles.
1994
Transfer
For financial reasons, the Sisters transferred control of the Franciscan Clinic to Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center.
1998
QueensCare
The medical center was sold, and its corporate name was changed to QueensCare. The Franciscan Clinic was combined with QueensCare’s other community clinics in the Wilshire District and Hollywood under the name Franciscan Clinics dba QueensCare Family Clinics.
2002
Newly Appointed Board
QueensCare turned over control of the Clinics to a newly appointed, independent, self-perpetuating board so that the Clinics could qualify as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
2003
New Partnership
Upon becoming a federally qualified health center, Gracelight Community Health operated as a separate partner organization with QueensCare, sharing the mission of bringing healthcare to the underserved in our community.
2008
QueensCare Family Clinics
The Franciscan Clinics name was dropped, and the corporate name was changed to QueensCare Family Clinics. Until now, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization was known as Franciscan Clinics dba QueensCare Family Clinics.
2013
Queenscare Health Centers
QueensCare Family Clinics is renamed Queenscare Health Centers. The five centers provide healthcare to a growing number of underserved Los Angeles residents regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, insurance status, or ability to pay.
2023
Health Centers Partnership
The Health Centers and QueensCare ended their partnership to enable each to adapt more effectively to the evolving healthcare landscape and meet the changing needs of our community. Each organization remains dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of the Los Angeles community. We establish a new and unique identity as Gracelight Community Health, a name that reflects our renewed focus and vision.
2024
New Name
Gracelight Community Health launches as a new name and vision in community healthcare in Los Angeles. As the organization rebrands under this new name it remains committed to its mission and values of faith, grace, kindness, and serving the community with dignity.