EPIC was born out of a tragedy experienced by our founder Robert Wilson.

In 1977, his wife, Linda lost her life at the hands of a 15-year-old neighbor they had befriended. Bob learned that throughout the child’s life, he had been placed in eleven different foster homes and had experienced years of abuse and neglect.

While it was too late to change what happened to his wife, Bob felt that it was not too late to help others who might experience the same fate.

In 1980, he established EPIC in Buffalo, New York with a vision of preventing tragedies like his own. Intent on supporting families, schools, and communities to prevent child abuse and neglect by offering parenting, family engagement, youth services and professional development, he united the village it takes to raise a child.

Now, 44 years later, EPIC works to fulfill Bob’s vision of a world where every child has a strong start and a promising future.