The Virginia Fair Legacy Society
Join A Community of Honored Donors
The Virginia Fair Legacy Society recognizes individuals, couples and families who have made a gift to Holy Family Day Home’s board-designated endowment fund or those who have named the Day Home as the beneficiary of any type of planned or deferred gift. The Legacy Society will regularly and publicly acknowledge those who have made such gifts. It will also encourage and inspire others to support Holy Family Day Home in this unique fashion. Regular communication and special recognition activities are planned for members of The Virginia Fair Legacy Society.
History - Who was Virginia Fair?
Virginia Fair (soon to be Vanderbilt) was the daughter of James Graham Fair, an immigrant from County Tyrone, Ireland. Mr. Fair had acquired a remarkable fortune in gold and silver mining and San Francisco real estate. His daughter remembered visiting the earlier Day Homes as a school girl and she generously offered to build a new facility for the Sisters after the earthquake of 1906 destroyed their properties.
Before leaving for her summer residence in New York, she commissioned Willis Polk to design a building in the Classical Revival style to be built at 16th and Dolores. A local newspaper reported that “special attention will be given to the needs of the children,” including half steps to accommodate little legs and “nearly all of the rooms will be very large and flooded with sunshine, so that the tots may have ideal places to spend their young days.”
Ground was broken on July 17, 1911 and the beautiful new building was dedicated on February 2, 1912; children sang, little Virginia McMullen recited a beautiful Address of Welcome to the guests, and everyone joined in singing “I Love You, California.” In a hand-written note sent to Archbishop Riordan from her mansion in New York, Mrs. Vanderbilt said, “If the home makes a few children happier and the influence of the Sisters moulds the lives of some into men and women of gentleness of heart, I shall feel content.”
How to Join
Joining The Virginia Fair Legacy Society is very simple. Consult with your family and your attorney, or other advisor, to determine and arrange the type of gift that best suits your estate needs. Notify Holy Family Day Home that you have made a provision in your estate plans and wish to be included in the roster of donors who belong to The Virginia Fair Legacy Society. That’s it.
When we hear from you, we will provide a short form on which to record your arrangements. We do not need to know the amount or exact nature of your gift, though we would be glad to discuss your intent for how your gift is to be used. All of your wishes will be kept in the strictest confidence and your participation will only be publicized with your approval.
Bequests made in a will are the most common way to join The Virginia Fair Legacy Society. However, donors may also choose to make Holy Family Day Home the beneficiary of an IRA or 401K Retirement Plan, a Life Insurance Policy, or other planned gifts such as a Charitable Gift Annuity, Charitable Remainder or other forms of Trusts.
Your thoughtful generosity, like that of Virginia Fair, will assure that some of our region’s most vulnerable children will have an opportunity to succeed and to become “men and women of gentleness of heart.” That, truly, is a legacy.
Questions?
Please reach out to our Development Team:
development@holyfamilydayhome.org; 415-861-5361