Our History

World’s Children was founded by the late Rev. Edwin and Mable Purviance in 1965. They wanted to create a living memorial for an infant they lost at childbirth. Realizing the grief they felt was akin to the loss and helplessness felt by children who lose their parents, the Purviances started World's Children to support orphaned children in developing countries.

Using their own savings they traveled to Central America and Asia seeking orphanages that were providing loving care but struggling to meet expenses. They selected appropriate orphanages(also called homes and hostels) and began making appeals for support back in the US.

Over the next 47 years an estimated 44,000 children have been sponsored through World's Children.


Today the organization is administered by the founders' son, David Purviance, and his wife Jean. Prior to assuming responsibility for World's Children, David and Jean lived in India for five years where they assisted with tsunami relief efforts, provided water wells and toilets to villages, schools and orphanages, and worked with destitute street children.

World's Children is a hands-on, grassroots charity with an intimate understanding of forsaken children and destitute families. We are not a large, corporate-style organization that is removed from the children we support.

Comment: Thank you for all the good you do. The Purviance family has inspired me since 1969, when I read a tiny ad about World's Children. --Nancy, Sponsor from Minnesota,2011