Who created the Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) Humanitarian Aid Program?

I always thought that president Gordon B. Hinckley made, created, and started it. Now, though, I am doing a research project, and need to be able to prove that he did in fact create it. Can someone give me a viable source (NOT WIKIPEDIA) that proves this? Thanks!

There has always been a church support system. What President Hinckley originated was the Perpetual Education Fund. This program assists returned missionaries in third world countries to obtain sufficient education to begin a career. It gives small loans that are repaid to finance others.

Joseph Smith.
Enjoy.

I believe he was assigned to head the project by the prophet at the time. But the LDS church has always had some form of aid program in place- bishops storehouses etc...

You need to distinguish between the Church welfare system, (Bishop warehouses, farms, etc.) and Philanthropic agencies.

There has always been some form of aid available through the welfare system...however, I think you refer to the following:

http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation/aboutus...

"The first permanent organization created to raise philanthropic funds for charitable causes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came about in 1955 when the BYU Destiny Fund was launched. In 1971, the Church's First Presidency commissioned a successor organization, Church Education Development (CED). This office sought private support for the Church's institutions of higher learning, its seminary and institute programs, and its elementary and secondary school systems. In 1982, CED's name was changed to LDS Foundation. Since its beginnings, the mission and services of LDS Philanthropies have been continually shaped and refined to better serve the philanthropic needs of members and friends of the Church."

The humanitarian aid aspect has rapidly developed in recent times....

http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation/accelwo...

Don't knock Wikipedia. 99% of what you or I would want to know about a topic can be readily found there. There are also references at the end of articles so we can do our own fact checking or go into more depth on a topic.