Category: Charity and Philanthropy

FAMILY PLANNING. Cleveland's first documented program to control childbearing, the privately funded Maternal Health Assn. (MHA, see PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER CLEVELAND, PPGC), began in 1928 to provide birth control (but not abortion) to married women only.

The FAMILY SERVICE ASSN. OF CLEVELAND, established 14 Nov. 1945, evolved directly from Associated Charities Institute of Family Service (see ASSOCIATED CHARITIES). It attempted to improve and preserve family life through financial assistance, counseling (individual, marital, and financial), help with household management, and other services.

The FATHER MATHEW TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY, organized in Cleveland in 1851, had its roots in the Catholic Total Abstinence Society founded at ST. MARY'S ON THE FLATS in 1840 by Rev. Peter McLaughlin. Fr. Theobald Mathew's TEMPERANCE work in Ireland inspired a revitalized movement among local Catholics; Bp.

The FEDERATION FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING. See CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS.


FENN, SERENO PECK (25 Apr. 1844-3 Jan. 1927), prominent in the SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO., was born in Tallmadge, Ohio, to Sereno and Elizabeth Carrothers Fenn. He arrived in Cleveland in 1862 to attend HUMISTON INSTITUTE. In 1864, he served 4 months in the Ohio 164th Infantry.

FENSTER, LEO (12 Aug. 1910-22 Sept. 1984), a UAW activist, was born in New York, the son of Polish immigrants Samuel and Jennie Fenster. He moved to Cleveland as a child and attended a year at WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY. As a clerk at the Coit Rd.

FERRELL, FREDERIC LEONARD (21 May1915-23 Dec. 1992), attorney, pioneered interracial law practice and defended unpopular cases, such as women against abusive husbands and members of the Black Panthers. Born in Danville, VA, to Isaac and Martha Jackson Ferrell, he was raised in BEREA after his father died.

FESLER, MAYO (19 Nov. 1871-6 May 1945), reformer and director of the CITIZENS LEAGUE, was born in Morgantown, Ind., to Peter and Emma (Collitt) Fesler. He attended DePaul University and the University of Chicago, graduating in 1897. He taught high school before becoming secretary of the St. Louis Civic League in 1903.

FINKELSTEIN, LOUIS, aka "Louie the Dip" (Aug. 1894-1 Jan. 1964) was Cleveland's "prince of pickpockets". His fifty-year career record of over 120 arrests and twenty sentences served made him the most frequently arrested pickpocket in Cleveland's history.

The FIRMAN FUND was incorporated in 1951 by Pamela Humphrey Hanna Firman. The fund supports annual campaigns, building funds, and general support for hospitals, medical, higher and secondary education, cultural programs, youth agencies, community funds, and land conservation programs. Most grants are made to Greater Cleveland-area charitable organizations. No grants are given to individuals, for research, or for loans.

FITCH, SARAH ELIZABETH (14 March 1819-10 April 1893) helped organize and served as the first president of both the Women's Christian Association (WCA, 1867) (see YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION) and the Women's Temperance League of Cleveland (March 1874).

The FLORENCE CRITTENTON SERVICES OF GREATER CLEVELAND, chartered by the Ohio legislature in 1911 as the Florence Crittenton Home for Unwed Mothers of Cleveland, served unwed mothers and their children until changing its focus to delinquent and predelinquent girls in 1970. Organized as a branch of the Natl.

FLYNN, EILEEN ELEANOR FINLIN (13 June 1915-11 Oct. 1992), attorney, civic leader and social activist, was Assistant Attorney General to Ohio Attorney General William Saxbe (1957-59) and a member of the Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals in the 1960s (see ZONING).

FOOTE, JOHN A. (22 Nov. 1803-16 July 1891), reformer and politician, was born in New Haven, Conn., to Samuel A. and Eudocia (Hull) Foote. His father was governor of Connecticut and a member of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Foote was also the elder brother of Adm. Andrew H. Foote, of naval fame during the CIVIL WAR.

FOSTER, CLAUD HANSCOMB (23 Dec. 1872-21 June 1965), automotive inventor, industrialist, and philanthropist, was born in the Cleveland suburb of Brooklyn to George and Julia Wells Foster. In 1891, he opened a machine shop, playing the trombone for 11 years in the Euclid Ave. Opera House orchestra to support his business.

The FOUNDATION CENTER-CLEVELAND, was established in 1978 as one of the 6 field offices of the Foundation Center, an independent nonprofit organization based in New York City founded by FOUNDATIONS to inform the public about charitable nonprofits. Maintaining the Kent H.

FOUNDATIONS have shaped culture, social welfare, criminal justice, GOVERNMENT, and EDUCATION in Cleveland since 1914.

1913: Thomas H. White Foundation

1914: The Cleveland Foundation

1916: John Huntington Art & Polytechnic Trust

1929: Brush Foundation

1929: George Davis Bivin Foundation

1937: Kulas Foundation

1939: Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation

1943: Louis D. Beaumont Foundation

1944: Dauby Charity Fund

1947: Renner Clinic Foundation

1949: Bicknell Fund

The FRANKLIN CLUB was a discussion forum organized by progressive reformer, Dr. LOUIS TUCKERMAN.

The FRED A. LENNON FOUNDATION was established in 1965 in SOLON by engineer and corporate executive Fred A. Lennon. The fund supports only pre-selected organizations, primarily within the state, emphasizing HIGHER EDUCATION, the Roman Catholic church, and medicine and medical research. It accepts no applications.

FREIBERGER, ISADORE FRED (12 Dec. 1879-27 Apr. 1969), a banker active social, educational, and civic activities, was born in New York City, to Esther and Samuel Freiberger. He moved with his family to Cleveland when he was 3. Freiberger attended CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, then worked his way through Adelbert College, graduating in 1901.

The FRIENDLY INN SOCIAL SETTLEMENT, founded in 1874 to offer slum residents a liquor-free gathering place, evolved into one of the city's first SETTLEMENT HOUSES. WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION (WCTU) members established 3 Friendly Inns in Cleveland: at 634 St. Clair St., 34 River (W.

FRITZSCHE, ALFRED (21 May 1869-18 Jan. 1944) industrialist and leader in Catholic charitable organizations, was born in Cleveland, the son of Alfred and Carolyne (Snyder) Fritzsche. Educated in Cleveland public schools, he went to work at age 12 as a typesetter for the Penny Press, forerunner of the CLEVELAND PRESS.

FROHING, PAUL R., (2 Aug. 1903-14 Jan. 1998), was a pioneer in nutritional research who helped develop infant formula and antibiotics and became a well known philanthropist. He was born in Cleveland to William E. Frohring, a locomotive engineer, and Martha L. (Bliss) Frohring.

GANNETT, ALICE (1876-23 May 1962), prominent settlement-house worker and reformer, was born in Bath, Maine to Henry and Mary Chase Gannett. Henry Gannett (1846-1914), is largely considered to be the father of topographic mapping in the United States. Gannett Peak on the Continental Divide was named in his honor. Alice attended schools in Washington, D.C., and earned a degree from Bryn Mawr College.