Tag Archives: child poverty

Children Incorporated | October 20, 2024En Español

Thanks to our amazing donors, our Hurricane Helene Relief Fund raised over $25,000 to support families in North Carolina. We can’t thank you all enough for all your support during this critical time of need.

As the counties in which we work start their recovery process, our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, has been receiving updates from our volunteer coordinators on the ground to help us understand how we can best help families of children in our sponsorship program. We will continue to update you all as our coordinators let us know how your donations have helped families rebuild in the upcoming weeks and months.

“We are very grateful that three of our four affiliated counties are making substantial recoveries at this time.”

An upadate from Renée

“At this time, we are very pleased to report that our affiliated sites in both Alleghany County and Swain County were mostly spared damage. All Alleghany and Swain County Schools are back in session. Power has been restored to all customers in the area. Our Watauga County Schools will be closed through October 18th and then reevaluated. All but 20 customers have had power restored.”

Along with information about the damage, our volunteer coordinators sent photos of cleanup efforts being made in their communities.

“The roads in Watauga County are another matter. The county administrators are working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and will determine when it is safe to put buses on the roads. However, alternate arrangements are still being made for Valle Crucis Elementary School, whose building was badly flooded during the hurricane. A replacement building was already being constructed but is not expected to be completed until spring 2025.”

“Mitchell County Schools are still not in session; just 31.9% of customers have restored power as this county was hit harder by the hurricane than the others in which we work. Due to the more extensive damage occurring in Mitchell County, our relief efforts will be focused here. However, we fully anticipate our Watauga County coordinators submitting some funding requests, which we will also be prepared to support.”

“We are very grateful that three of our four affiliated counties are making substantial recoveries at this time. We will update our sponsors and donors as we hear more from our volunteer coordinators about how your donations are helping families during this critical time of recovery.”

***

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; or go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | October 13, 2024

In October 1964, Mrs. Jeanne Clarke Wood started a non-profit children’s organization called Children Incorporated. What began with just 95 sponsored children in Guatemala quickly escalated to helping 1600 children in 10 countries within just two short years. Today, Children Incorporated has sponsorship programs in 20 countries worldwide and provides tens of thousands of impoverished children with clothing and school supplies, medical care, and many other types of assistance.

Thanks to our donors, schools, dormitories, clinics, and housing developments have been constructed in various locations, and our special funds help to feed hungry children, support families and communities in emergencies, and offer our volunteer coordinators the vital support they need throughout the year.

We thank every one of you, our incredible supporters, for being a part of the last 60 years of our journey helping children in need all over the world. Our Fall 2024 Newsletter is dedicated to the memory of our founder, Mrs. Jeanne Clarke Wood, and to the history of this special organization. Thank you for your support. We couldn’t do our work with you.

Our Fall 2024 Newsletter is dedicated to the memory of our founder, Mrs. Jeanne Clarke Wood, and to the history of this special organization. Thank you for your support. We couldn’t do our work with you.

A Timeline of Our Six Decades of Work

October 1964 – The first meeting of the Board of Directors for Children Incorporated is held.

November 1964 – The first appeals for funds were mailed to Mrs. Wood’s contacts; a goal of shipping 10,000 pounds of clothing to Guatemala was met.

January 1965 – Mrs. Wood and her small fledgling staff secure funds to help 95 children in Guatemala, seven
children on American Indian reservations, and six children in Lebanon. These become Children Incorporated’s first sponsorships.

December 1965 – Children Incorporated sponsorships grew from 108 in January 1965 to nearly 800 by the end of the first year. 789 children in 20 affiliated sites in 8 countries (Africa, Japan, Mexico, India, Latin America, Lebanon, Syria, U.S.) have been matched with sponsors.

October 1966 — More than 1600 children now have sponsors, and Children Incorporated has expanded its reach to 35 affiliated sites in 10 countries.

April 1967 – 2,335 children are sponsored in 45 sites in 11 countries; Children Incorporated helps its first child to attend college.

Mrs. Wood traveled with Children Incorporated and often wrote about our work for our newsletters, which were accompanied by photos of children in our program, such as this one.

November 1971 — Children Incorporated continues to grow. At this point, 7,750 sponsored children are in 113 sites in 18 countries. For the first time in its history, over 2,000 new sponsors signed on in just one year.

May 1972 — Mrs. Wood receives a commendation from President Richard Nixon for her charitable work with impoverished children and families.

September 1974 – Mrs. Wood’s name appears in the 38th edition of Who’s Who In America.

December 1983 – An article on Children Incorporated appears in Good Housekeeping magazine, drawing much positive attention to the benefits of child sponsorship.

October 1994 – Children Incorporated celebrates 30 years of service to children around the world.

January 1997 – Dr. Richard Carlson’s best-selling book, Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff, is published. In it, Dr. Carlson mentions Children Incorporated as his charity of choice. Children Incorporated gained over 3,100 new sponsorships as a result of the mention in Dr. Richard Carlson’s book.

July 2004 – Mrs. Wood steps down as President of Children Incorporated after forty years of loyal service. Her successor is Marian Cummins, a long-time employee.

October 2005 – After operating out of Mrs. Wood’s home for over 40 years, Children Incorporated relocates to its first official offices on Dover Road in Richmond, Virginia.

November 2005 – Children Incorporated begins working locally, creating partnerships and establishing sponsorship programs within several Richmond Public Schools; the organization’s Inner-City division is born, with work in Detroit, Michigan, New Orleans, Louisiana, and other U.S. cities to follow.

January 2006 – Our founder, Mrs. Wood, dies at age 89. Her legacy lives on through Children Incorporated.

January 2011 – Children Incorporated’s third President, Marianne Vermeer, begins her 14-month tenure with the organization.

April 2012 – Ronald H. Carter, who had worked with the U.S. Programs division since coming to Children Incorporated in 2003, is appointed as the fourth President and Chief Executive Officer.

October 2014 – Children Incorporated celebrates its 50th anniversary and anticipates many more years of service to children both locally and globally!

We thank every one of you, our incredible supporters, for being a part of the last 60 years of our journey helping children in need all over the world.

April 2016 – Children Incorporated launches its On the Road blog series, which follows our sponsors and donors along with our program teams as they visit our affiliated sites around the world.

January 2017 – Children Incorporated moves from its home on Dover Road in Richmond, Virginia, to North Chesterfield, Virginia.

April 2022 – Children Incorporated launches its Stories of Hope blog series, in which readers are shown their donations’ impact on education, community support, emergency relief, and health and well-being.

May 2024 — Children Incorporated introduces our Guardian Circle, a giving circle opportunity that allows our donors to support special projects around the world.

October 2024 – Children Incorporated celebrates 60 years as an organization by establishing Founder’s Day, which will be celebrated on October 19th.

Congratulations to Our Amazing Staff

2024 is a year to celebrate so many incredible milestones at Children Incorporated, including the 40th work anniversary of our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, and the 25th work anniversary of our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet.

Luis Bourdet is pictured with Ron Carter during Luis’ 25th work anniversary celebration at our office.

“I am very blessed to work with such a wonderful and dedicated staff at Children Incorporated. Over the years, I have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of people who have been employed here. From those who have stayed for many years to others who have had shorter tenures, I have admired and respected their desire to help children and families better and improve their lives.

The staff of Children Incorporated is a good group: dedicated, caring, honest, and real people who truly want to make a difference in the world. They are my co-workers, yes, but we are also family in many ways. I love and value each one of them.”

– Ron Carter, President and CEO

“I started working at Children Incorporated in 1984. My office equipment and supplies included an IBM electric typewriter and carbon paper; a facsimile machine was state of the art. In 2024, I will use a PC, and faxing will be quaint.

Over the past 40 years, I have done different jobs for the organization. I have chosen to stay and grow with Children Incorporated because of our organization’s important mission and our connection to our donors, staff, volunteer coordinators, and the children we serve. I love working with my head and my heart and with amazing people.”

– Renée Kube, Director of U.S. Programs

“It has been an immense privilege to dedicate years of my life to this remarkable organization! From the very beginning, I have been deeply committed to our mission of supporting children in need and empowering them through education. The belief that every child deserves the chance to envision a brighter future has been the driving force behind my work.

Witnessing the transformative impact of our affiliations, our special projects, and our support has been truly inspiring. Countless children have achieved remarkable strides, not only improving their own lives but positively influencing their communities as well. I am profoundly grateful to be a part of this mission and contribute to the positive change we are creating together with our donors and sponsors.”

– Luis Bourdet, Director of International Programs

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Children Incorporated | October 7, 2024En Español

The news about the devastation of Hurricane Helene has been heartbreaking, as families find themselves no longer with homes and the safety of their communities. Children Incorporated is affiliated with schools in four counties where children have been affected by this disaster. Since last week, our Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, has received the following updates from our coordinators after the catastrophic disaster caused by Hurricane Helene:

Hearing from our coordinators

Our volunteer coordinator, Pam, at Sparta Elementary School in North Carolina, wrote:

“Renée — thanks so much for checking on us here in North Carolina. Our area has been hit pretty hard as a whole. My husband has been retired from the power company for four years, and they called him back in to help. Our region still has many, many people out of power, and our neighboring communities of Ashe and Watauga are in even worse shape. The streets have been flooded, and homes washed away. Today, we saw a picture of a double-wide trailer sitting in the middle of a road after the water receded. We will keep in touch as time goes by. Some people here will probably be without power for a week or more. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.”

“I am so worried about all of our Mitchell County kids. There will be so much need. It has been announced that all schools will be closed in the foreseeable future. I know that help is really needed.”

Mandy at Alleghany High School says:

“At my house, damage was minimal compared to others, just lots of flooding in the basement. I am working today on cleaning that up. I did ride down to the river, and it was absolutely devastating. There are still people in my community without electricity and water. Trees are down everywhere. A lot of our county’s roads are completely washed out and closed, even the main roads. My husband works for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and he has only got to come home and sleep for a few hours. Thanks for checking on us and working so diligently to help our families in need at this time.”

Elisa’s message

Elisa, our former coordinator at Bowman Middle School in Mitchell County, wrote:

“Renée, I finally got out of Avery County to go to my daughter’s in Marion, McDowell County, North Carolina. There is still no water, power, cell, or landline in the majority of these areas. I am so worried about all of our Mitchell County kids. There will be so much need. It has been announced that all schools will be closed in the foreseeable future. I know that help is really needed. Loss of life is climbing hour by hour.

I can’t begin to explain the devastation. I have only seen a small portion, and it is heart-wrenching. I had severe flooding at my home, but I am alive and well. My children moved heaven and earth to get me out. I wanted to stay to help others, but for my safety, I had to get out. I am planning to make the hour and fifteen-minute trek back as soon as I can to assist. It would normally take thirty minutes, but so many roads are gone. Not closed… gone. Keep praying, please, Elisa.”

A way to help those in crisis

Families of children in our program are in need of immediate assistance as they work to rebuild their lives. Thanks to our generous donors, we can respond quickly to the needs of those we support. We are currently accepting donations to our Hurricane Helene Relief Fund to help families in their recovery efforts. Donations will provide cleaning supplies and hygiene items, as well as other resources as needed. You can read more about this important fund and make a donation by clicking the link below. Thank you for your endless support of those in need.

*If you sponsor a child in North Carolina who lives in an area that was impacted, we will reach out to you if the child has been affected once our volunteer coordinators are safely able to make contact with the families.

DONATE TODAY

Renee Kube | September 30, 2024En Español

Our affiliated school, Arlie Boggs, is a kindergarten through eighth-grade school with a small population of just 128 students. It’s located in the community of Eolia, in the southeastern part of the county. It’s in a rural area, sandwiched between Bad Branch State Nature Preserve and the Virginia state line. There is a lot of poverty in this community — 84% of the children come from low-income families. The children are also struggling academically. The test scores average 33% in reading and 17% in math.

“Thank you so much for this! It has helped lift a tremendous burden that some of our families were facing.”

This is an older school that sits on a hill right next to the road. In the foreground is the Family Resource Youth Services Center trailer. This is a new affiliation for Children Incorporated with a new volunteer coordinator, Miranda. When I arrived to visit the school, Miranda welcomed me warmly and offered to give me a tour. We walked around the building and grounds, talking all the way. Miranda showed me the STLP [Student Technology Leadership Program] station. She is the faculty/staff sponsor for this program, which teaches participating students to use technology to help their fellow students. Miranda helps the students with their broadcasts to the classrooms.

partnering to help children in need

We then entered the middle school wing of the building. Like most kindergarten through 8th grade schools, older and younger children have separate areas. The playground is behind the school, at the top of a hill, and is usually accessed by these stairs. After a recent storm caused downed branches and some damage, caution tape was put up, and the stairs cannot be used until repairs can be made.

In the meantime, the children access the playground by taking a longer walk to the far end of the grounds, climbing the hill, and going in the far gate. The greenhouse needs hand tools, soil, seedlings, and other supplies, and Miranda is interested in applying for a Hope In Action Program grant from Children Incorporated to get some additional support.

Miranda shows Renée some of the classrooms while she visited Arlie Boggs Elementary School.

Also, during the tour, Miranda took me to the office of the two workers with Partners for Rural Impact. I had not yet heard of the organization. She explained that its mission is to ensure that rural students have the opportunity to fulfill their educational aspirations.

The organization is presently working in three states: East Texas, Appalachian Kentucky, and New Hampshire. In the first two states, the organization offers a “Cradle to Career” Partnership, and in New Hampshire, the organization offers a statewide Family Engagement Center. In Kentucky, the organization is partnering with Arlie Boggs, and Miranda said that two workers were placed at the school to collaborate with her on many goals, and they are mutually supportive. I plan to learn more about this organization.

A letter from Miranda

A few months after returning from my trip, I received a letter from Miranda, thanking our organization for the support we we able to provide to students at the beginning of the school year:

Dear Children Incorporated,

This year, we didn’t have the budget to make sure every family and teacher was covered for supplies. Because of your donation, we are able to provide all students and teachers with the items they need for a great school year. I was able to purchase pencils, paper, folders, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, markers, clipboards, and other basic items. Thank you so much for this! It has helped lift a tremendous burden that some of our families were facing.

Best,
Miranda

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Renee Kube | September 4, 2024

Cowan Elementary School, located off State Highway 931 in the Dongola community, just south of Whitesburg, the county seat, serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade. It’s worth noting that Dongola, the school’s physical address, lost its post office, so the school’s mailing address is now Whitesburg.

The halls of Cowan Elementary School are brightly decorated with students’ artwork.

With a growing student population of about 287, Cowan Elementary School is reaching a significant milestone. For many years, its Family Resource Youth Services Center has been combined with that of West Whitesburg Elementary School, another affiliate of Children Incorporated. However, the school’s growth now justifies the establishment of its own Family Resource Center, a testament to its progress.

Visiting with Lynn

For a long time now, Donna has been the coordinator’s assistant. Sadly, Donna was stricken with a severe illness. In August 2023, the Board of Education hired a substitute for Donna. The sub is Lynn, a retired former coordinator. Thus, Lynn started at Cowan with an excellent understanding of our organization with the help of Donna.

This is also a high-poverty community, with 77% of the children coming from low-income families. Lynn’s office is packed with items for the children, given as needed. She mentioned that our sponsorship program is a big help, as providing these growing children with basic needs is constant.

When visiting the school and meeting with Lynn, it was aparent that Lynn was very dedicated to the students in many ways, one of which was through her weekend food program. The food bags are assembled and ready for Friday afternoon distribution, ensuring the children have enough to eat over the weekend. The clothes closet, a mix of new items and donations, further demonstrates the school’s commitment to providing for its students. Shoes are so expensive. During our meeting, Lynn told that when she sees a good sale, she tries to buy a few extra pairs. She keeps them on hand when children come to her when they’ve outgrown their current pair.

When visiting the school and meeting with Lynn, it was aparent that Lynn was very dedicated to the students in many ways.

meeting some special students

After seeing the Resource Center and chatting with Lynn, I had a chance to meet some of our sponsored children during m visit. The first boy I met was Jack*, who is in fifth grade. He is outgoing and has a great sense of humor. Jack comes from a large household consisting of his parents, three sisters, and two brothers. The father is self-employed, working on cars, and the mother is a cashier at a convenience store. The family lives in a modest mobile home, and the parents need help with all household expenses. Justice was enrolled in our sponsorship program last December and is waiting for a sponsor.

Next, I enjoyed talking with Nicki, who was also in the fifth grade. Nicki is an only child, and her grandparents are raising her. Carlee’s grandfather works as a pharmacy technician at a drugstore in Whitesburg. Her grandmother is a homemaker. The grandparents are caring and conscientious, but they are struggling financially. Nicki was also enrolled in our program in December, and at my visit, she had just been matched with a sponsor.

*Names changed to protect the children.

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Renee Kube | September 2, 2024En Español

During my visit to Letcher County for the first time since the historic flooding that struct southeastern Kentucky in July 2022, I first visited Jenkins Independent Schools. Jenkins Independent Schools comprises two schools: Burdine Elementary and Jenkins Middle-High. Several years ago, at the request of our coordinator, Angela, Children Incorporated “administratively merged” Burdine Elementary into Jenkins Middle-High. They operate as one affiliated site. Angie looks over both schools; they share one Family Resource Youth Services Center. Angie travels between the two regularly.

After the pandemic learning loss, the students are slowly gaining ground. The middle school children are still struggling, but most high school students have hit average benchmarks.

After the flooding

Burdine Elementary School was damaged during the floods in July 2022, but officials agree it could have been worse. There were 3 feet of water outside, but all the doors held. About 4 inches of water was pushed in throughout the building. However, the flood did destroy the separate preschool building. Outside, all the fencing and playground equipment was destroyed and swept downstream.

When elementary school children first enroll, many are not school-ready. The pandemic years also caused learning loss. At present, elementary school children are not performing well in state standardized tests. The children are struggling not only academically but also financially. 82.3% come from low-income families.

Hearing about the students

After a tour of both campuses, Angie and I met at her high school office. She said the enrollment at the elementary school is about 203, and at the middle school, it’s about 236. Angie plans to add more children in the new school year and may include the preschool children, too.

Angie (pictured) shows Renée the Resource Center during her visit.

Angie shared that her students are dealing with persistent poverty. 86% come from low-income families. There are no more active coal mines in Jenkins. The best jobs are with the school system or the small regional hospital. The remaining available work is small retail or service jobs, such as at dollar stores, gas stations, and fast-food restaurants.

After the pandemic learning loss, the students are slowly gaining ground. The middle school children are still struggling, but most high school students have hit average benchmarks.

On to college for Jacob

Angie likes to do much of her Children Incorporated shopping at Sam’s Club. She mainly purchases clothing, hygiene items, and food. Then, she called a student named Jacob into the room for me to meet.* Jacob is polite and very well-spoken. He is ready to graduate from high school and is still thinking about what he wants to do for his future. Jacob said he is frankly tired of the school routine and is ready for a break and a change. A part of him wants to take a “gap year,” where he can work and get a paycheck. Another part of him wants to plow through and get college done and behind him. When we spoke, Jacob had applied to a couple of places but hadn’t heard back.

Happily, in mid-May, Angie called me with the very good news that Jacob had just received an acceptance letter from Alice Lloyd College, which is adjacent to Knott County. The college is tuition-free! The costs are funded by donations from across the country. However, there are costs for room and board, textbooks, fees, and other miscellaneous expenses. Angie asked if she could nominate Jacob for our Higher Education Program. I gave them an extension, and they told me to get the application to me soon. I am thrilled for Jacob to have this opportunity.

*Name changed to protect the child.

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD