Christ Child Society of Cleveland.

The Christ Child Society of Greater Cleveland was organized in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1916 as part of a national Christ Child Society movement founded by Mary Virginia Merrick (1866-1955) in Washington, D. C. in 1887. The Cleveland chapter was founded by Mabel Higgins Mattingly (1885-1935), a professor at the Western Reserve University School of Applied Social Science and a friend of Mary Merrick. It is a volunteer organization of Roman Catholic women who raise funds to serve the needs of poor children regardless of race or creed. Its service projects include the distribution of layettes to low-income families and foster children, bags of personal items and clothing for children living in homeless shelters or transitional housing, and cribs and other items to low income families. It has participated in nutrition programs, provided First Communion clothing, and collected books for the libraries of several children's charities. The Christ Child Society of Greater Cleveland was instrumental in the founding of Merrick House in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood in 1919. The volunteers in the Christ Child Society of Greater Cleveland continue today to provide mentorship for young women through the Merrick House. All of its service work is conducted in cooperation with other non-profit organizations in northeast Ohio, including day nurseries, hospitals, government social welfare programs, and other charities. Its main fundraiser since the 1950s is the Annual Ball.