History

Watch the Video: 2010 Year in Review

Eglantyne Jebb, an Oxford-educated teacher and sociologist, founded the Save the Children Fund in England in 1919 to aid children in war-ravaged central Europe. “We cannot leave defenseless children anywhere exposed to ruin — moral or physical,” she said. “We cannot run the risk that they should weep, starve, despair and die, with never a hand stretched out to help them.”

In 1932, a group of forward-thinking Americans were inspired by the Jebb’s vision to establish Save the Children in the United States. Their immediate goal was to help the children and families struggling to survive during the Great Depression in the rugged mountains of Appalachia. Since then, at the heart of Save the Children’s philosophy have been the concepts of self-help and self-reliance — the belief that development is a process by which people take charge of their own lives.

Today, in more than 50 countries, including the United States, Save the Children USA is transforming children’s lives by providing families and communities with the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty. While our programs are diverse, our mission is singular – to create lasting, positive change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children sees its role as that of a catalyst in community evolution. We favor a multi-disciplinary approach, acknowledging that the problems we address — poverty, illiteracy, poor health — are complex and interrelated. Innovation and experience have been the keys to Save the Children’s success.

In partnership with individuals, foundations, corporations, governments, national and international agencies, our programs focus on results and proven solutions. The proud history of Save the Children would be impossible without the enormous generosity of these many supporters. We look forward to your continued commitment as we work to ensure that the 21st century offers positive change and opportunity for children everywhere.