The Eckerds' Remedy for America's Troubled Youth

Jack and Ruth Eckerd shared almost everything in life, including their desire to make sure that every child had an opportunity to succeed.

Jack was labeled a “drugstore magnate” by the press during most of his life in Florida .  He revolutionized the drugstore industry by introducing the concept of self-service to three failing Florida drug stores in 1952. He soon transformed those three floundering stores into one of the nation’s largest drug store chains. At its peak, sales hit $5 billion annually. 

What is less well known is that in reality, he exited the drug store business in the mid-1980s.  For more than 20 years afterward, Jack and Ruth focused their talents, energy, time and hearts – and not to mention a significant amount of money – on Eckerd Youth Alternatives. 

In 1957, the Eckerds married just six weeks after their first date. It was the second marriage for both. Together, they brought five children into the marriage and produced another two in a blended “yours,” “mine” and “ours” family. The Eckerds’ happiness and love for their own children, combined with a desire to share their good fortune with others, is what first sparked their interest in helping at-risk youth. 

When questioned about why he devoted himself to helping children, Jack would say that he believed society would generate the biggest return on investment by helping troubled and at-risk children turn their lives around – “a lifetime of returns” for each child and family who were helped. Those closest to the Eckerds, however, would say that it was because they both had a special place in their heart for children – especially society’s most vulnerable children. 

Over the years, when asked what was most important to him, Jack would always say “the kids.” 

Ruth shared that philosophy, and his passion for helping kids.  After Jack’s stroke two years before his death, she continued in her own leadership role with Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc., serving on the board of directors.  She visited programs, met with policy makers about the needs of children, and inspired the organization and its supporters with her dignity, grace, and commitment to EYA’s mission. She died quietly in July 2006, with her family at her side. 

One Article Changes His Life And Thousands of Kids' Lives

Jack Eckerd’s passion to help kids came into sharp focus in the 1960s after reading about the Dallas Salesmanship Club’s outdoor program for troubled youth in Texas . He became captivated by its effective and holistic approach to helping troubled youth. 

When the Eckerds opened their first outdoor therapeutic program in Brooksville , Fla. in 1968, some doubted it would work. After all, the ideas embodied in the approach were still unusual at the time. The Eckerd Youth Alternatives’ (EYA) outdoor therapeutic program took children out of society in order for them to learn how to live within society’s boundaries. Instead of the prevailing approach of restricting youth to hospitals or detention centers, the Eckerd program gave them freedom to experience personal growth through high-interest, therapeutic recreational activities. As a remedy to anger and hostility, the Eckerd approach advocated unconditional regard, support and nurturing. And it worked. 

A primary difference between Eckerd Youth Alternatives’ outdoor therapeutic programs and many that have emerged more recently is its internal approach to behavior management. The Eckerd model does not use points, levels, demerits or other externally based systems to promote behavior change. The Eckerds believed that such reward/punishment systems do little to promote long-lasting changes in troubled youth because life does not always provide such guides for good decisions. Eckerd Youth Alternatives programs teach kids to actually think differently, to problem solve by themselves and with groups, and internalize good decision-making to guide them for the rest of their lives. 

By 1978, Jack had opened three other outdoor therapeutic programs in Florida . The Eckerds frequently visited the programs to spend time with the children and participate in cookouts. In addition, each year hundreds of children and youth counselors were invited to the Eckerds’ home to celebrate Christmas with them.

Dedicated to Public Service

Meanwhile, in the 1970s, Jack became interested in public service, believing Florida could benefit from applying sound business principles to running state government. He ran unsuccessfully for Florida ’s governorship and for a Florida senate seat. Against his advisors’ wishes, he steadfastly refused to capitalize on photo and other publicity opportunities with the children in his outdoor therapeutic programs during the campaigns, insisting the children’s needs and privacy always came first. 

Ironically, Jack’s losses in elective politics were directly related to his tremendous successes in public service. Jack eventually did become actively involved in politics and service in both state and national government, receiving three appointments by Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Under President Ford he served as director of the U.S. General Services Administration. And in Florida , he led two successful campaigns against casino gambling, and chaired a government efficiency committee that saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Extending Its Reach Beyond Families

At the same time, the Eckerds transformed Eckerd Youth Alternatives into one of the nation’s leading youth services organizations. 

The Eckerd model for residential treatment gained the attention of government agencies and leaders throughout the southeastern and northeastern United States . And Jack was approached to partner with several states in serving youth in state care, extending the program’s reach beyond families and professionals to broader needs of youth served by public agencies. 

In 1982, Jack was asked to pioneer the privatization of Florida ’s juvenile justice programs, taking his nurturing approach and applying it successfully to youth the state considered high risk. That program, the Eckerd Youth Development Center , still ranks in the top one percent in the country by the American Correctional Association. 

But that was not enough. In 1993 – at age 80 – he saw a need to keep young at-risk children from becoming troubled teens, and launched private early intervention programs in elementary schools throughout Florida . Today, Eckerd Youth Alternatives offers 40 programs for at-risk and troubled youth in nine states. 

Eckerd Youth Alternatives’ largest program area continues to be helping troubled teens through outdoor therapeutic programs. And since 2000, EYA has further developed its core mission of helping troubled teens and their families. Two outdoor therapeutic programs, Eckerd Academy at Brooksville, FL , and Eckerd Academy at Deer Lodge, Tenn. , are now dedicated to serving adolescents privately referred by their families or by professionals working with the family. Other EYA outdoor therapeutic programs primarily serve youth referred through public agencies, but can accommodate private referrals by request.

The Legacy of Jack and Ruth Eckerd

The Eckerds left a monumental legacy.  More than 70,000 youth have been helped through one of EYA’s 40 programs in nine states. Countless families have credited EYA for reuniting them with their once-troubled teen, and even for saving their children’s lives. 

At Jack’s memorial service, former Florida Governor Reuben Askew called him “a rare and remarkable man… who didn’t want his philanthropy to be known, although some of it is known.” 

The headline for the St. Petersburg Times article announcing his death stated that Jack was “A Giant Of Generosity, ” while the Tampa Tribune headline noted “He Was A Rare And Reputable Man. ” Virtually every media story that was written about him after he died celebrated his passion for helping children nationwide. 

Today, at Eckerd Youth Alternatives, kids are still what are most important. Eckerd family members continue to guide EYA as members of the Board of Directors. More than 1,400 employees are dedicated to his personal vision of improving the future, one child at a time. 

Just as important, every decision at Eckerd Youth Alternatives is guided by Jack’s over-riding mandate that “the kids should always come first.”