Hringurinn (The Circle) is a charity organization founded in 1904 by volunteering Icelandic women and has been continually active since then.    Originally the organization emphasized aid to tuberculosis patients, especially those less well off, and in that capacity built a convalescent home which they operated for several years.  When such aid became less needed the women volunteers of Hringurinn made their next project to support Icelandic children.  In 1942 they established The Children´s Hospital Fund with the goal of pressing for the opening of a children´s ward at Landspítalinn (The State Hospital).  The ward was opened in 1957 and by then the organization had started to stress the need for the building of a specialized Children´s Hospital.  The Children´s Hospital of Hringurinn, named to honour the volunteering women´s organization that donated large amounts to the establishment of the hospital, opened in 2003.

Founding members of Hringurinn in 1904 were 46 whereas today the members proudly total 345.  The organization is divided into several groups, each working on  different fundraising projects to raise money for the Children´s Hospital Fund.  One group works on handicrafts to sell at the annual Christmas bazaar and bake sale, another prepares an annual family feast of baked goods and entertainment in December, at the same time there is a very ambitious and popular lottery prepared by yet another group.    One more group organizes the sale of Christmas cards, specially designed for Hringurinn, and one takes care of our collection boxes that are placed at numerous public places.  Hringurinn runs a nice cafeteria in the lobby of the Children´s Hospital and finally one fundraiser is the selling of cards of condolences.  All the proceeds go directly into the Children´s Hospital Fund together with the not to be forgotten donations, gifts and endowments by individuals that show the trust and respect that Hringurinn enjoys from the public.

Since 2003, with the realization of the Children´s Hospital of Hringurinn,the organization mainly supports the hospital and other establishments catering to sick and handicapped children by donating new equipment needed for the treating and helping the youngest generations of patients in the country.