When Luk Blackwell was 8 years old, he entered Children's Home Society of Washington's Cobb Center for Youth. Based in Seattle, Cobb is a 24-hour residential care facility for boys who have been forced to leave their homes for various reasons.  Luk landed at Cobb after he started acting out with his parents in the wake of a traumatic divorce. He was confused, hurt, and felt like his step-parents "didn't want me." At the time, parents could admit their children into the Cobb program. Today, all children must be referred by the Department of Social and Health Services.

For Luk, the healing process began the day he arrived. 

Because Luk had moved nine times during the first eight years of his life, his feet never seemed to touch the ground – at least for very long.

"Cobb gave me stability that I never had," he says. "I knew what I was doing tomorrow, and the day after that. The environment was structured."

Staff at Cobb taught Luk and other children about boundaries and how to cope with emotions. He also learned about understanding the consequences for your actions, and as a result, began to trust individuals close to him.

"Cobb gave me stability that I never had," says Luk.

The stability Luk felt at Cobb created the foundation for the man he was to become.  Today, Luk has been employed by the same company for 17 years and married to his wife for 10 years. Together, they have 3 young children. His path took him back to Cobb as an adult when he wanted to pull his records to see if the memory of his childhood matched up with what was documented in his files.  

As he begins to explore volunteer opportunities to give back to the very place where he lived almost 30 years ago, Luk states proudly, "I wouldn't be where I am today, or have the family I have, without Cobb."