Memorial Foundation for Children
The Memorial Foundation for Children (Former names include Female Humane Association (1807–1921) Memorial Home for Girls (1921–1946) and the Memorial Foundation (1946–1962)) is a charitable organization in Richmond, Virginia that has been operating since 1807. It was one of Virginia's first charitable institutions. While it originally had an orphanage associated with it, it divested of this in the 1970s and now is solely a grant-making institution. History. Founding. The MFC was founded in 1807 as "Female Humane Association" by the wife of the Virginia Governor James E. Wood. According to early founding stories, a  young homeless girl presented herself at the door of the governor's wife, who realized the lack of shelter for homeless children in the city. Original focus on female children: education and domestic service. Eventually the society decided to focus on housing and educating needy children. Often the education provided would be accompanied by the young girls being given employment in prominent local [white] households Name changes. Over the years, the organization has changed its name based on adjusting its focus as well as the realities of other services available in Richmond.