Eglantyne Jebb, a British woman concerned about the condition of children during World War I, established Save the Children Fund (SCF) to provide relief to starving children. The organization was founded on May 19, 1919, to assist children in Germany and Austria-Hungary during the Allied powers’ blockade, which continued after the end of World War I. The motto of the organization, in the words of Jebb, was “We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfill their potential.”

At the beginning, the core work of the organization was humanitarian activities to help children. Subsequently, the organization broadened its work to meet the needs of children worldwide, eventually providing medical and child-care services, nutritional assistance, and family self-help and community-development projects.

In her efforts ...