Shineforth Child & Family Services announced as new name for UMFS after 125 years

Shineforth Child & Family Services, a statewide nonprofit with roots in Richmond dating back to 1900, has announced a new name and logo to mark its 125th anniversary. Formerly known as UMFS (United Methodist Family Services), the organization says the rebranding reflects its continued commitment to helping children and families across Virginia.

The nonprofit offers programs including therapeutic foster care, adoption, residential treatment for youth, and specialized education through two K–12 day schools. Shineforth operates eight locations across the commonwealth—in Fairfax, Farmville, Fredericksburg, Edinburg, Richmond, Lynchburg, South Hill, and Virginia Beach—and maintains more than a dozen community partnerships.

“We’ve had a change of name, not a change of heart,” said Shineforth President and CEO Nancy Toscano, Ph.D., LCSW. “Our organization has been evolving for more than 12 decades to meet the changing needs of families, and our goal has always been and always will be to help children and teens build bright futures.”

Founded in 1900 by the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Church, the organization has remained at its Broad Street campus for 125 years. It became the Methodist Children’s Home in the 1950s, adopted the United Methodist Family Services name in the 1980s, and abbreviated it to UMFS in the early 2000s. The new name, Shineforth, took effect on September 29th.

“Thanks to the United Methodist Church, our organization has a fantastic legacy,” Toscano said. “And with the continued support of the UMC, and the generosity of other faith-based groups, donors, volunteers, and community partners, we’ll continue to illuminate paths forward for vulnerable children throughout Virginia.”

For more information about Shineforth Child & Family Services and its programs, visit shineforth.org.