2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26109226D

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 386

Offered March 10, 2026

Commending The King's Daughters.

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Patrons—Anthony and Laufer

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WHEREAS, for 130 years, the nonprofit organization The King's Daughters has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of young people in Norfolk and beyond through volunteerism, fundraising, and advocacy, as well as its longstanding support for Children's Hospital of King's Daughters; and

WHEREAS, the International Order of the King's Daughters and Sons was established in New York in 1886 as an interdenominational philanthropic organization, and in 1896, a small group of young women in Norfolk committed themselves to serving those in need by embracing the guiding motto of the organization to “Look up, not down; Look forward, not back; Look out, not in, And lend a hand”; and

WHEREAS, by 1897, these devoted women established a Visiting Nurse Service in Norfolk, hiring Edith Nason, RN, to provide compassionate care to families in the city's poorest neighborhoods, and soon additional circles of women joined to form the Norfolk City Union of The King's Daughters, expanding outreach to include food kitchens, hygiene education, and aid during epidemics; and

WHEREAS, throughout the early 20th century, The King's Daughters provided milk, coal, clothing, and companionship to struggling families, fed hundreds during the 1918 influenza epidemic, partnered with civic organizations and the American Red Cross to promote public health initiatives, and opened a Baby Clinic in 1913 that evolved into the King's Daughters Children's Clinic, which offered pediatric, dental, and maternity services; and

WHEREAS, inspired by a vision to better serve the region's children, The King's Daughters led community fundraising efforts that culminated in the opening of Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) in 1961, the Commonwealth's first and only free-standing pediatric hospital, which quickly achieved accreditation, established a pediatric residency program, and has since provided lifesaving care to tens of thousands of children, regardless of their families' ability to pay; and

WHEREAS, through the following decades, The King's Daughters supported the hospital's growth with the development of neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, facility expansions, and the creation of Children's Health System in 1984 to ensure long-term financial stability while strengthening volunteerism and philanthropy through cherished community traditions, such as the Holly Ball, Festival of Trees, RunWalk for the Kids, and CHKD Thrift Stores; and

WHEREAS, as of 2026, more than 700 members in 40 circles work to uphold the mission of The King's Daughters through volunteer service, fundraising, community engagement, and steadfast advocacy for children's health, carrying forward a legacy that has touched generations of families across the Hampton Roads Region and the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The King's Daughters have continued to support CHKD in countless ways, providing vital equipment, programs, and lifesaving initiatives, including transport units, aquatic therapy pools, NICU beds, child advocacy services, nursing externships, The King's Daughters Milk Bank at CHKD, and a $3 million contribution toward CHKD's new mental health hospital, Children's Pavilion; and

WHEREAS, for 130 years, The King's Daughters have demonstrated that compassion, determination, and community spirit can transform lives and strengthen communities, leaving an indelible mark on pediatric health care in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That The King's Daughters hereby be commended on the occasion of its 130th anniversary of faithful service to the Norfolk community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to The King's Daughters as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's historic achievements and longstanding dedication to the children and families of the Commonwealth.