Started in 1887, the Portland Women's Union worked to address the needs of women in Portland. The founding women did not choose to be a social club, but rather an organization dedicated to helping advance women. The term "union" was chosen to denote the serious intent of the founders to "uphold the ideals and advancement of American womanhood, to establish residence, to provide counsel and assistance when necessary and to minister to their well being and happiness." The organization began with a small boarding home, Anna Lewis Hall, to house unescorted women at the turn of the century. The initial house accommodated 20 women and started the growth of the organization that eventually led to the construction of the first Martha Washington Hotel in 1917. In 1983, the organization sold its real estate and used the earnings to establish an endowment to fund its ongoing mission of helping women. Today, the endowment provides funding to an average of 30 organizations a year, continuing the tradition of helping women in the Portland area.