Child sponsorship: It’s been around for a long while, and there are dozens of organizations, but why is it important? And why should you consider it?
At its core, child sponsorship works to break the cycle of poverty, creating lasting change for individuals and their communities. At Children Incorporated, we believe that is done through education. Having a degree, even just high school diploma, increases your likelihood of financial success by 70%, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. For the children at our Affiliated Sites, the barriers to achieve even this simple task are astronomical. Lack of hygiene access at home, poor nutrition, instability in regions, and even lack of technology access provide true and tangible reasons children drop out of school before graduation. We work to change this, but it cannot happen without sponsors.
Sponsorship shows children that they are valued and not alone, no matter their circumstances. This sense of belonging helps them build confidence and hope, encouraging them to dream and believe in their own potential.
you provide Stability and belonging
Sponsorship isn’t just a gift — it provides reliable support that children and families can count on month after month. That stability can mean regular meals, steady access to education, or even just the peace of mind that someone cares enough to stand by them. When a child is sponsored, they can count on consistent support for their most pressing needs. This stability ensures that meals, clothing, and school supplies are not just occasional, but ongoing resources they can rely on. With that security, children are able to focus on their education and personal growth, opening doors to a brighter future.
Knowing that someone cares makes an enormous difference in a child’s life.
sponsorship empowers communities by creating sustainable change
Sponsorship donations go directly to helping the individual child, the resources are not directly shared with their family. But when you help an individual child succeed, they are then able to grow to empower their own families and their own communities. Sponsors help children develop confidence and resilience, which can help them overcome challenges and break the cycle of poverty. This in turn, can help them as they grow into adults who are contributing members of their own communities, therefore creating sustainable change.
When you choose to sponsor a child, you transform not only their life, but the lives of everyone in their community. That’s because the most effective way to make sure positive changes have a lasting impact is to empower them to make a lasting impact for their families and their communities.
A story from our volunteer coorDinator
Children Incorporated has helped so many students at Swansboro Elementary School gain access to the basic needs that help them focus on what is important: school. One of my students this year has struggled with consistently having food in the home. The parents are doing their best but they are unable to work due to intellectual and physical disabilities. Sometimes there are gaps in when they receive their benefits, so they don’t always have a fully stocked refrigerator or pantry. Children Incorporated funds help feed this family when their benefit funds are low. It doesn’t happen often, but every few months we go grocery shopping to get them by until their benefits kick in.
The family is so appreciative, and the student understands that these funds are coming from individuals who are caring enough to donate their own money. Just recently, the sponsored child told me, “Ms. Greenshields, thank you so much for getting food for my family.” I wish that this student didn’t have to be so aware of the reality he is facing, but children are smart and they pick up on more than we think. I’m glad that at least he knows there are people out there that are willing to help. With funds from Children Incorporated, I can help the family in a way that is not judgmental and is actually very easy and seamless. These generous donations from his Children Incorporated sponsor help this student have dinner and breakfast so that he can come to school prepared to learn, and that is truly a gift.
Children Incorporated also helps in ways that people may not think of. Food is vital for everyone, but funds from Children’ Incorporated also help provide items or experiences that are important in different ways.
Several of my sponsored students have been given the chance to go to camp this summer for free. While the tuition is paid for, the students don’t always have the clothing necessary to go away for a whole week. They would probably get by, but they wouldn’t have as many options as the other students at camp. Some of our students don’t have bathing suits, bath towels, swim shoes or extra pillow cases for example. These things aren’t 100% necessary, but being able to help buy these items will make their camp experience so much better. They won’t have to worry about swimming in their shorts and tee shirts or not having the right bedding for the bunk beds.
Sometimes it isn’t always about necessities, but ways we can make students feel comfortable enough so they can focus on having fun like all the other children. Children Incorporated funds allow us to buy them the items that will help them have a fun time at things like summer camp, so they can come back to school in the fall feeling refreshed and feeling like a kid who is ready to learn. I am so appreciative to partner with Children Incorporated, as it truly makes a difference in the lives of my students. The funds that individuals so generously send really help our students in the biggest way.
Thank you,
Kimberly
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Sponsorship isn’t complicated, but it has a lifelong effect. For just $35 a month, you can change a child’s life.
How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?
You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:
- call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members
- email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
- go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.