About the Hughes Memorial Foundation

Hughes Memorial Foundation was established by John Edward Hughes who built his fortune in the tobacco industry and upon his death in 1922 left most of his estate to build Hughes Memorial Home, an orphanage located in Danville, Virginia. He established a trust fund, which was governed by a Board that was elected and approved by the church, to financially assist with the needs of the facility. The orphanage was self supportive in that the staff and children raised vegetables and animals to assist with the cost of food. The agricultural program also served as a training program for the residents. Many of the individuals that were raised at the orphanage still consider it their "home". The alumnae of Hughes Memorial Home meet annual. Being a non-profit organization, Hughes Memorial also received charitable contributions from individuals wishing to help financial support the orphanage and the children. In the mid 1970's because of the reduction in need for the orphanage, Hughes Memorial became a residential treatment facility for abused and neglected adolescents.

The residential treatment program was discontinued in 1999 and the Board of Hughes Memorial Home made the decision to become a private foundation that kept as its focus the example of Jesus Christ and the legacy of Mr. Hughes' original wishes which was to help children "most in harm's way" ... they chose to do this by awarding grants and scholarships that were targeted for the benefit of children.

The first awards were made by the Board in November of 2000. Awards are made twice a year, in May and November. Since November of 2000, Hughes Memorial Foundation has awarded 3.7 million dollars in grants to nonprofit organizations for programs that benefit children. Scholarships totaling 800 thousand has been awarded.

About John Edward Hughes

John Edward Hughes was born October 12, 1869 in Pittsylvania County and was the sixth child of eight born to John and Bettie Hughes. The family had strong ties to the community and to their church. Perhaps this is why John Edward Hughes always seemed to have such a heart to help those less fortunate than himself. From all accounts, it appears that he began his career in the tobacco industry at the age of eighteen in Lynchburg, Virginia and later in North Carolina. Through the years he proved himself to be a very astute businessman and grew from a warehouse manager to an internationally known tobacco dealer. Around 1901 he founded The John E. Hughes Company which was located in Danville, Virginia. The company consisted of many tobacco factories and processing facilities many of which were probably purchased after World War I was declared. While others panicked and decided to stop buying, John Hughes continued to buy. By the end of the war when tobacco was needed for companies, most was owned by what was now the John E. Hughes Tobacco Company. Unfortunately, at the early age of 50, Mr. Hughes became ill. He sought the help of many physicians located on the east coast, but after a long battle succumbed on March 27, 1922.

ESTATE OF JOHN E. HUGHES
John Hughes was never married, and when he was taken ill, he began the process of writing his will and planning what was to be done with the wealth that he acquired. He wanted his money to go to the benefit of those less fortunate and in need. There are many stories as to how he came to this decision, but whatever the truth was, it was apparent that he had been touched by the children and especially the orphans. He purchased property in Pittsylvania County with the purpose of building an orphanage. In his will, he made provisions to set up a trust that was to build the orphanage on the property he acquired and to assist with the funding and operational expenses of running the facility. The self-sustaining facility known as Hughes Memorial Home was built and accepted its first residents in July, 1927. The Home operated successfully and was and still is "Home" to hundreds of children. In the early 1970's, the need for the orphanage had diminished to the point that other uses for the property were taken on. Still keeping in line with Mr. Hughes' wishes to be for the benefit of children, Hughes Memorial Home became a residential treatment facility for abused and neglected children from 12 to 18 years of age. The facility offered living facilities as well as a school for special educational needs of the children. Hughes Memorial Home operated successfully until 1999, when upon the retirement of the current Executive Director Angus McQueen, the Board of Directors choose to discontinue the residential treatment facility. The property that contained the buildings and program were then leased and later sold with the funds going back into the Foundation.

HUGHES MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
When the decision to close the facility was made by the Board, Hughes Memorial Foundation was established. The Foundation in keeping with Mr. Hughes' wishes to help children, adopted the following Mission Statement: "The Hughes Memorial Home is a charitable non-profit organization that seeks to aid deserving, disadvantaged children in Virginia and North Carolina, and linear offspring of Hughes Memorial Home alumni.. Guided by the example of Jesus Christ and continuing the legacy of John E. Hughes, the Foundation will be prudent stewards of the resources entrusted to us and will provide scholarships and grants, support projects, and initiate programs which will provide care, training, and nurture. In addition to receiving requests for aid, the Foundation will identify needs, advocate for children, and provide education regarding children's needs with the goal of creating and supporting innovative solutions."

The life and dream of John E. Hughes continues today and has awarded 3.7 million in scholarships and grants for the benefit of children since November of 2000 when the first awards were made. Although many stories surrounded Mr. Hughes' life, one thing stands out, his benevolent heart and desire to do something to help children and he accomplished his mission in his short life that has extended past the years that he himself lived. What a legacy that continues today!