The real Angel of Harlem

Clara Hale was a 63-year old widow living in Harlem in 1969, when she became a guardian angel for many of the city’s most needy babies.  Having cared for three children of her own and 40 foster children throughout her life, “Mother Hale” began taking in a stream of kids born to neighbourhood addicts who could no longer care for them. 

City officials helped Clara purchase a 5-storey residence on West 122^nd Street, which became known as “Hale House” and was staffed by volunteers and funded by donations from local businesses and city residents, including John Lennon. 

As the crack epidemic swept through Harlem in the 1980s, Clara and her team cared for even more babies, keeping them out of overcrowded city hospitals and giving them hands-on, loving attention. 

Clara worked tirelessly at Hale House until her death in 1992, at the age of 87.  Clara's daughter took over the running of the place, but in 2001 she and her husband were charged with using more than $1 million in Hale House donations to make improvements to their own home, lend money to relatives, and also to invest in a Broadway production.  Dr Hale and her husband were removed from service, but Hale House continues to operate.

New owners quickly erected a statue of Clara outside the Hale House on West 113th Street, and expanded the site's operations to include a learning centre and housing program to give new generations of NYC kids and their families a helping hand.