The Save the Children Federation was established in the United States in 1932 with the immediate goal to assist the impoverished children of Appalachia struggling because of the Great Depression. Save the Children is now providing families and communities with the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty in 50 countries.
The Save the Children program that allowed individual child sponsorship began in 1940. The Save the Children Austin Chapter began in 1948 when a small group of women agreed to sponsor one child in need of help. The group was organized by Mrs. Dorothy Porter Griffin, and with the help of Mrs. Charles Hardwicke and Mrs. Marvin Hall they expanded their goal to aid many needy children in Appalachia. The women held bridge benefits and musicals in their homes.
In 1954 the Austin chapter began the tradition of holding an annual style show to raise money to support the children they sponsored. The first style show was held on Valentine's Day in the American Bank headquarters and the tradition continued until the late 1990s. While the organization sponsored children outside of Texas by sending money to the national headquarters for distribution they also kept some of the money raised local by making regular donations to the Austin-Travis County Emergency Shelter for Infants and Children, Inc. (later known as the Austin Children's Shelter).
In 1991 the board recommended to disband the Austin chapter of Save the Children because they couldn't find a new president and the lack of attendance at meetings. At the general meeting on April 20, 2001 the entire membership voted to disband.
From the guide to the Save the Children Austin Chapter Records AR. 2007. 023., 1948-2001, 1980-2000, (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, )
