You can sponsor a child at the Arthur Ashe Charter School in New Orleans in one of two ways – call our office at 1-800-538-538 and speak with one of our sponsorship specialists, or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org.
What is the sponsorship experience with Children Incorporated like?
The sponsorship relationship enables a sponsor to help support a child in need using monthly contributions and through the exchange of correspondence with a sponsored child if the sponsor so desires. A sponsor’s friendship and encouragement are priceless to a child. Indeed, many children value the relationships they establish with their sponsors as much as they value the financial support they receive from them. There is an opportunity to build a relationship between sponsor and child that can be quite profound.
Our current monthly sponsorship rate is $35, which goes toward providing basic necessities such as school supplies and fees, food, clothing, and access to healthcare, among other services.
How much does it cost to sponsor a child?
With Children Incorporated, it costs $35 a month to sponsor a child living in poverty. Our sponsorship amount is lower than that of other organizations because we work with volunteer coordinators around the world. This helps us keep our costs low while also maximizing the amount of money we are able to send to the children in our sponsorship program.
Will my sponsorship help a child go to school or help with their education?
Yes! Absolutely — your sponsorship will help a child go to school or help with their education. Children Incorporated provides basic necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, and educational support to children living in poverty in the U.S. and abroad. These essentials, so often taken for granted, are vital to a child’s growth and success in school. Each year, we give thousands of children in need worldwide a chance at a better life by supporting their education.
Are there non-religious sponsorship organizations?
Yes. Children Incorporated is a non-religious sponsorship organization and an independent charity. We have no religious or political affiliations. We aim to assist as many children living in poverty as possible, and we respect each child’s religious and cultural heritage.
How long can I sponsor a child at the Arthur Ashe Charter School?
We hope you will assist your sponsored child until he or she leaves our program. This may occur when a child graduates from high school, moves out of our service area, or for a variety of other reasons. Due to the transient state of many families and the difficult circumstances of the regions where they reside, we cannot predict or guarantee how long a child will remain enrolled in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program, although we make every effort to provide services to children for as long as possible.
When a child leaves our program, it is our policy to select another child for you to sponsor in the hope that you will accept sponsorship of the new child and continue to partner with us in changing lives. Unfortunately, we usually lose contact with children once they leave the sponsorship program (as we do not maintain personal addresses or contact information for any of the children). Even so, your generosity’s positive impact on the individual child and his or her community endures!
Will I receive updated information about my sponsored child at the Arthur Ashe Charter School?
Yes. We will send you updated information and an updated photo about once a year, although the frequency may vary depending on the child’s location. The typical progress report includes information about the child’s grade level in school, hobbies, and interests.
How do I pay for my monthly sponsorship?
Sponsorship contributions may be made by check, money order, credit/debit card, or ACH transfer (debit from a checking or savings account). Checks or money orders may be mailed to Children Incorporated at P.O. Box 72848, North Chesterfield, VA 23235. Contributions via credit/debit card are accepted online or over the phone, and we can mail you an application to authorize an ACH transfer. The current sponsorship rate is $35 a month.
You may also set up automatically recurring contributions (as charges to your American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, or debits from your checking or savings account). For more information, please call our office or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org.
Are there deadlines for sending additional monetary gifts for the child I sponsor?
Yes. Processing a monetary gift and sending it to your sponsored child’s site takes time. To send additional monetary gifts to your sponsored child, please ensure that the gift arrives at our North Chesterfield, Virginia office at least sixty days before the date you would like it to be received by the child. We will accept donations after this deadline, but please be aware that they may arrive late to your sponsored child.
May I write to the child I sponsor?
Yes! Corresponding with your sponsored child can be a delightful experience. The child’s informational brochure contains the site address. If necessary, our site volunteers will translate your letter and deliver it to the child you sponsor.
What should I write about?
The children enjoy learning about the lives of their sponsors. Writing about your own family (children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, etc.) is always a good place to start. The children also like to learn about your part of the world, what you do for a living, your hobbies and interests, and about any pets you may have.
What if I have specific questions regarding the child I sponsor?
If you have questions or concerns about your sponsored child, please call or email our office. Depending on the nature of a child-specific question, we may need to contact our volunteer coordinator at the site your child attends for the requested information, but we will get that information to you as soon as possible, provided it does not violate our child protection and privacy policy.
Is it possible to visit my sponsored child at the Arthur Ashe Charter School?
It is possible to visit sponsored children; however, since we work with a network of volunteers and sites, we cannot guarantee that all sites are open to sponsor visits. Circumstances vary from area to area. If you are interested in visiting your sponsored child, please contact us for specifics relating to the child and site.
If your sponsored child’s site does allow visits, we ask that you contact us at least 45 days prior to your planned visit. The sponsorship manager who oversees your sponsored child’s site will assist you by making arrangements with the site, the child’s parents, and our volunteer coordinator. You will need to fill out our visit request forms, as well as familiarize yourself with our child protection policy, which we ask that you adhere to; this includes a background check at your expense.