St. Jerome Emiliani (1486–1537) is the founder of the Somascan Fathers who run this institution and many other institutions in different parts of the country.
He was born in 1486 in Italy in the city of Venice to wealthy parents Angelo and Eleanor Mauroceni Emiliani (popularly known as Miani). After a dissolute youth, he became a soldier in Venice, Italy in 1506. He commanded the League of Cambrai forces at the fortress of Castelnuovo near Treviso, Italy. Defeated and captured in a war on 27 August, 1511, he was chained in a dungeon. He prayed to Blessed Virgin Mary and was miraculously freed by an apparition on 27 September 1511.

He dedicated his entire life in caring for the sick and housed orphans in his own home. He founded orphanages and a hospital. Founded the Order of Somaschi (Somascan Fathers), a congregation devoted to the care of orphans and the needy. He contracted fever and died on 8 February 1537. He was canonized in 1767. In 1928, Pope Pius XI named him the Universal Patron of orphans and abandoned children.