National CCS History

National Christ Child Society History

Below is a chronological history of the National Christ Child Society in the United States started by Mary Virginia Merrick. Visit the National Christ Child Society website.

  • 1866

    Mary Virginia Merrick is born on November 2, 1866, to a prominent Washington DC family.

  • 1880

    Mary falls and suffers injuries that later confine her to a bed or wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Mary Virginia Merrick the founder of the Christ Child Society
Mary Virginia Merrick as a child. She was the founder of the Christ Child Society
Mary Virginia Merrick, the founder of the Christ Child Society

  • 1884

    The first layette of infant clothes are made by Mary and her friends. It was delivered to an impoverished mother in Washington D.C.

  • 1887

    The Christ Child Society is officially formed by Mary Virginia Merrick.

  • 1905

    Mary establishes the Christ Child Society as a national organization.

  • 1908

    Seven new Chapters are formed, including Baltimore, Chicago, Omaha and Toledo.

  • 1912

    Christ Child Society expands into 24 additional cities across the United States.

  • 1916

    The National Christ Child Society is incorporated as a federation of Chapters.

  • 1933

    The Christ Child Society of Pasadena Chapter is formed.

  • 1955

    Mary Virginia Merrick dies at the age of 88 in Washington D.C. In 1955 twenty-eight new Christ Child Society Chapters were formed.

  • 2003

    The Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome declares that the National Christ Child Society founder Mary Virginia Merrick a Servant of God and preliminary steps begin toward beatification and canonization.

  • 2005

    Challenging Poverty: One Child At A Time initiative from the National CCS emphasizes Mary Virginia Merrick’s guiding principle of personal service to the poor through our forty Chapters.

  • 2016

    All Christ Child Chapters celebrated Mary Virginia Merrick’s 150th birthday.

  • 2017

    New 5-year National Strategic Plan was developed with focus on literacy, membership, and fiscal sustainability.

  • 2018

    Over 130 years since Mary Virginia Merrick began her mission, over 6,000 members from 46 Chapters in 20 states continue her legacy by bringing hope and assistance to the most vulnerable of children in their local communities.

  • 2020-2021

    All events had to be stopped or modified due to the global pandemic.

  • 2023

    Children Served: 97,825 Total of Christ Child Society Members nationwide: 4,793 Families Served: 66,237

  • 2024

    45 Chapters nationwide of the Christ Child Society
The Pasadena Chapter of the Christ Child Society continues to follow Mary Virginia Merrick in “To see a need is to fill it.” Read even more information about Mary Virginia Merrick’s interesting life.