Service and Philanthropy

Learn more about our philanthropic history and current initiatives:

History of Scudder Service

Dr. John Scudder sailed to India in 1819 with his wife, Harriet, as the first medical missionary to go abroad from the U.S. Forty Scudder descendants of Dr. “Pioneer” John gave over 1,000 years of service in India, Japan, Hawaii and the U.S. founding hospitals, schools and churches.

Dr. Ida S. at back of judka on the way to the dispensary at Gudlyalham August 1909

History of Scudder Philanthropy

Descendants of “Pioneer John” plus supporters of the Scudder educational and Indian medical missions have donated bequests that form the endowment of the Scudder Association Foundation. Income from the endowment plus the generous donations of Foundation members fund our annual grants to support Scudder hospitals and schools in India and scholarships in the U.S. and India in the fields of humanitarian studies, science, medicine, education, social welfare and theology.