grace arents was born in new york city but spent most of her life establishing philanthropic institutions in richmond, va. arents came under the care of her uncle and wealthy tobacco investor, major lewis ginter, after her father's death. arents eventually inherited her uncle's fortune and used the money to create and support in perpetuity a number of social institutions. she focused many of her efforts in the working class neighborhood of oregon hill. the construction of st. andrew's houses in 1904, "which constitute one of the earliest examples of subsidized housing in virginia," demonstrate her forward thinking approach.