Our History

The Flagler Foundation, whose assets are derived from the fortune of Henry M. Flagler, co-founder of Standard Oil, was established, in 1963, in Richmond, Virginia by Lawrence Lewis, Jr., Flagler's great nephew. Lewis and his family added to the Foundation's assets and began a legacy which has preserved St. Augustine, Florida, established Flagler College, and developed the Flagler Home. The Foundation continues to provide support for a variety of worthy educational and human welfare organizations.

The Flagler Home, is part of the St. Joseph’s Villa’s Flagler Services for Homeless Families, the first transitional housing program of its kind in Virginia. It is a nationally recognized comprehensive program that successfully empowers and transitions homeless families with children into permanent housing. The home provides up to two years of transitional housing on the campus of St. Joseph’s Villa (for homeless children and their mothers). This along with the other services offered, both on and off campus, have a goal of attaining happy, healthy and educated children, permanent homes, and permanent jobs for homeless families.

The Flagler Foundation also helps to fund the St. Joseph’s Villa’s Lewis Children’s Center a full-service child development center, located on the 82-acre Villa campus. The Center provides an affordable quality early care and education environment for children age six weeks through 14 years old.

These programs are just a few of the many worthwhile programs that the Flager Foundation has supported over the years.