1938, Oct. 6
"China's Children Fund, Incorporated" is chartered by the State Corporation Commission of Virginia.

1938, Dec. 9
First meeting of China's Children Fund convened at Richmond, VA.

1939, Feb. 21
Clarke reports 450 members of CCF's initial "National Committee" and the Board votes to send its first contribution, $2,000, immediately, "to the authorities in China."

1939, Dec. 27
Clarke reports more than $13,000 in contributions sent to KuKong Orphanage and to Ling Nan University in China.

1940 April l6
CCF makes first contribution directly to Madame Chiang Kai-shek "for the children she is caring for."

1940, Aug. 21
First contribution ($1,000) made to the National Child Welfare Association of China, a consortium of private relief funds.

1941, July 31
CCF's first "Adoption" Plan for Sponsors established with an initial subscription fee of $24 per year per child "adopted."

1941, Dec. 9
License issued to CCF by the U.S. government permitting money to be sent directly to China. With annual income of $169,712, CCF is assisting children in 29 orphanages.

1942, Jan. 9
Helen Clarke appointed assistant to the Executive Director.

Rev. Mills with the children from Toishan

1942, June
Verent Mills leads escape of 142 children from Toishan, China, and the invading Japanese army over a distance of more than 300 miles to Dr. J. R. Saunders' CCF-assisted orphanage in KuKong.

1942, Aug. 6
Dr. J. R. Saunders of KuKong Orphanage designated "our representative in China."

1943, Nov. 26
Erwin W. Raetz is appointed to coordinate CCF's China operations.

1944, Nov. 8
Total funds raised for the year $263,923, assisting 45 orphanages in China.

1945, Aug.
Verent Mills moves 700 children from Toishan to Canton with aid from General Cheung Fat Foi; in Canton he meets Erwin Raetz and asks CCF to assist his orphanage.

1946, June-July
Clarke travels to China, visiting 21 orphanages while there; Verent Mills travels to Canton to meet Clarke.

1947, Spring
Rev. Erwin Raetz appointed head of CCF Far Eastern Office in Hong Kong; Verent Mills shortly thereafter is appointed Overseas Director and is placed in Shang-hai to expand into North China, Korea, and Japan.

Rev. Mills in Korea

1948, Fall
Verent Mills sent to Korea and signs up five existing orphanages to be assisted by CCF; from Korea he proceeds to Japan, signing up additional orphanages.

1949, Oct. 1
Communist government established on mainland China; Verent Mills visits orphanages in China one month later and finds homes and children in good condition.

1950
Rev. Verent Mills departs from mainland China escaping the Communist government and is appointed Overseas Director for CCF (1951) as Rev. Erwin Raetz resigns; establishes a headquarters in Hong Kong

1950, Oct. 1
CCF discontinues assistance to orphanages in China, giving up 46 orphanages, $1-2 million in property, and 5,113 children; new centers are opened in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to care for transferees and refugees.

1950, Dec.
Colonel Dean Hess of the U.S. Fifth Air Force and former pastor from Marietta, Ohio organizes plane rescue of CCF orphans from Seoul to Cheju Island inspiring the movie Battle Hymn; Verent Mills receives the children and creates a large home at a former Japanese agricultural college.