Tag Archives: child poverty

Shelley Callahan | En Español

When Norah Quinn McCormick reached out to us in the New Year about sponsoring a child, she told us a heartfelt story about how her grandmother first got involved with our work many years ago, largely due to the fact that she grew up in Appalachia and “never forgot where she came from,” and why now Norah wants to carry on the legacy of helping children in need.

To hear more about Norah’s story, we hosted a virtual interview with Norah in which we found out about her, her grandmother, and how they both came to believe in the power of sponsorship. 

To hear more about Norah’s story, we hosted a virtual interview with her in which we found out about Norah, her grandmother, and how they both came to believe in the power of sponsorship. 

SC: Where do you live and what do you do for work?

NM: I live in Washington, D.C. and work as a fundraiser for the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Maryland.

SC: How did you first find out about Children Incorporated?

NM: My Granny, Bonnie Hobbs Barron, sponsored children for as long as I can remember. I used to see pictures of sponsored children on her refrigerator. I also remember my mom sponsoring a child shortly after my Granny passed away.

SC: Can you tell us more about your grandmother? 

Norah’s grandmother, Bonnie Hobbs Barron

NM: My Granny, Bonnie Hobbs Barron, was born near Big Stone Gap in Wise County, Virginia in 1916. She grew up in a one-room log cabin without plumbing or electricity. As a child, she owned only one dress and one pair of shoes, and occasionally had to offer labor in exchange for food. Her father passed away when she was 6, and she often had to take care of her two younger siblings. She was orphaned by the age of 15, and unable to finish high school until the age of 21.

After high school, she worked as a housekeeper and caregiver for a family in Norton, until she married my grandfather in 1941. My grandfather benefitted from his participation in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), as well as through military service, and had a job opportunity in Washington, D.C. They relocated and eventually settled in Mount Rainier, Maryland, where they raised five children. My Granny lived to be 89 years old and passed away in 2006. However, she never forgot where she came from in Appalachia.

SC: It sounds like your grandmother had a great understanding of the poverty that people often face in Appalachia from her time there – how did that shape her life?

NM: My Granny had a personal understanding of poverty, and as a result she never took anything for granted. Despite all the hardships she faced, she counted her blessings every day. I never knew my Granny to show bitterness over her circumstances, and she often expressed gratitude to have another day of life ahead of her.

I think her impoverished childhood inspired her to provide as many opportunities as she could for her own children. She worked very hard to take care of her family, and was proud of everything that her children and grandchildren accomplished. My Granny also had a strong faith, and believed in helping others. She was always willing to give to people in need, perhaps in part because she knew what it was like to live without.

SC: What about sponsoring a child was important for your grandmother — and now for you?

NM: Unfortunately, I was never able to ask my Granny why sponsoring a child was important for her. However, since she personally knew the challenges of growing up impoverished in Appalachia, I have to imagine she wanted to provide opportunities for children in similar circumstances. She knew how difficult her own childhood was, and she likely wanted to help create a bright future for other children in need.

I would encourage future sponsors to consider everything they have in their own life. Who and what helped get you to where you are today?

As for me, I have been reflecting on my own philanthropic priorities as we begin 2021. So many people struggle for basic necessities — food, clothing, shelter, access to education, employment, and healthcare. While this is true across the United States and internationally, my family has a personal connection to the poverty that people face in Appalachia. I hope to give back to impoverished children in Appalachia, so they can lead healthy and fulfilling lives without the burden of struggling to meet basic needs.

SC: As a sponsor, what would you say to someone who was considering sponsoring a child?

NM: I would encourage a future sponsor to consider everything you have in your own life. Who and what helped get you to where you are today? Not everyone is as fortunate to be granted basic resources to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. You have an opportunity to give back, and to help make a difference in the lives of others.

Philanthropy translates roughly to “love of humankind,” and it can be expressed through sharing time, talent, and treasure with others. If you have the financial resources to sponsor a child, you will be supporting a child’s basic needs while expressing your love for humankind. The children of this world need our love, care, and commitment, perhaps now more than ever.

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HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD?

You can sponsor a child with Children Incorporated 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

Shelley Callahan | En Español

As a very difficult year comes to an end, we couldn’t be more grateful to our amazing sponsors and donors who ensure that children in our program continued to be supported through school closures as their families struggled to make ends meet during a global pandemic. It is not a simple task to put into words what your support does for children in our program, so we want to share with you success stories sent to us by our volunteer coordinators as our way of saying “Thank You” for everything you do for children in need.

As a very difficult year comes to an end, we couldn’t be more grateful to our amazing sponsors and donors who ensure that children in our program continued to be supported through school closures as their families struggled to make ends meet during a global pandemic.

A Letter from Marlena

Another year has come and gone once again, and this year has been a little bittersweet due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it did not stop us from providing our kids with all their everyday needs. As always to say that Children’s Incorporated is a wonderful program is an understatement! There are many children who rely on the sponsorship program for things like food, clothing, shoes, school supplies and hygiene products.

This year, with all the generous donations from sponsors, we were able to allow several of our families to shop for food and everyday supplies like toilet paper, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. We were also able to provide a family with a new washer and dryer from the Children Incorporated Hope In Action Fund as well as regular sponsorship funding. The grandmother was more than thankful and very appreciative. She and the grandfather are raising five of their grandkids which they have adopted. If not for Children Incorporated, this grandma would still be washing all their clothing out on her hands and hanging them dry.

The Hope In Action funding that we so graciously received has been so wonderful and so helpful to so many of our kids and their families. Not only were we able to purchase the washer and dryer, but we were also able to provide a great aunt with some new bedding for two of her great-nephews who she recently received guardianship of.

Thanks to our donors, children around the world have received food and hygiene items during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Family Resource Center has also been able to use some of the funds to help buy supplies for “Grandparents as Parents” meetings. These meetings are not only for the grandparents, but also for other family members that are raising children such as their nieces, nephews, and even younger siblings. During these classes, we offer several activities, such as information on eating healthy, gardening and supplies, and how to preserve food. We have also had guest speakers that have come in and taught some of the guardians how to access Infinite Campus which provides them with their child’s grades and tells them if the child is missing any assignments as well as the scores that they receive. So, thank you so much Children Incorporated for all that you do. Your organization is truly a blessing to so many!

Michelle’s story

What a crazy year 2020 has been for all of us! I would have never predicted that when we all celebrated at New Year’s that we would be facing some of the things we have faced. I have been very proud of the actions taken by so many to protect our students and staff and to help out our struggling families. Our district has been wonderful! The kids, even though doing their schoolwork at home, have continued to receive daily meals thanks to our school lunchroom staff and to our wonderful bus drivers. Teachers and other school personnel have gone on meal runs to help check on students at home and to support them through this challenging time. We as a staff have also made calls daily to check on students and make sure their needs were being met. It has been awesome to watch everyone working together.

Thanks so much again sponsors and Children Incorporated staff. Please have a safe and healthy New Year and know how much your efforts are needed and appreciated.

The support we have received also as part of the Children Incorporated program has once again played a critical role in the lives of our students and families. This year, we have sponsored seven children and helped make their lives a little brighter. Most of the funding we have received has helped with basic necessities such as clothing, personal hygiene needs and school supplies. Our students were also able to continue to be a part of our yearly book fair thanks to their sponsors.

I hope that through the trying times we have all found that spirit within that helps us to keep on going and to appreciate the things and people around us in a whole new way. We are so thankful to continue to be a part of this wonderful program and hope that this collaboration can go on for many years to come.

Thanks so much again sponsors and Children Incorporated staff. Please have a safe and healthy New Year and know how much your efforts are needed and appreciated.

Monica’s Thank You

There is a special story I want to share with you about a second-grade boy in the Children Incorporated program. This young boy’s life is nothing like what we consider normal. One day he spent a little extra time with me in my office. About a week before this I had given him some outfits that the sponsor had given extra money for him to have.

He and I were chatting, and I asked if he could sit down and write his sponsor a thank you letter for the items he received. His face lit up like a Christmas tree just beaming about his brand new clothes. Of course, that made my heart melt. We spent a little too much time talking so our time was cut short before he could start the card. He went back to class and a few hours later he came back in; his eyes were glowing and he had a big smile on his face. He reached from behind his back as if he was getting ready to give me a present. And boy did he ever! He had made a thank you note for his Children Incorporated sponsor during his free time that day. The sponsor made him feel so special that he wanted to do this of his own free will. That may not sound like much, but it meant the world to me because I knew those clothes had meant the world to him.

These children all light up when they get the nice, new things made possible by their sponsors. Thank you very much for giving the world to these children. You, our sponsors, are considered heroes. I am honored to be a part of this program.

Mandy sends her gratitude

Thousands of children around the world have benefited from sponsorship in 2020 because of our amazing sponsors.

I am so pleased to tell you that we have 97 students with sponsors on the Children Incorporated program. Thank you! Because of your financial support we have been able to purchase clothes in the fall and spring, backpacks, supplies for the entire school year, toiletries, books for home, as well as, “special gifts” for birthdays and different holidays throughout the year. It is so exciting and rewarding to see the students when they are called to the office to receive their items.

It is also exciting to see the students with their smiling faces as they come into the school with their new outfits on, and they make sure to come by to show us. We were also able to supply families with a nice gift basket of country ham, biscuit mix, jams/jellies and candies for the students and their families to enjoy over the winter break. The families came by the office to pick up the baskets and they expressed their sincere gratitude. We also purchased much-needed hygiene and toiletry items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

We are fortunate to have caring sponsors who correspond with the students in a positive and meaningful way. Some of the sponsors write letters, send coloring sheets/stickers, small gifts in cards and mailed in packages. The kids get very excited when they receive mail from their sponsors!

We will have to wait and see how things progress with the COVID-19 crisis. We are remotely monitoring the needs of the students at this time. We thank you for continuing your support during this difficult time for everyone.

Thank you to our Children Incorporated sponsors for taking care of our students’ needs!

Tracy’s story

In early January, I was informed that a family in the community lost their home and all of its contents to a house fire. Thankfully, everyone managed to make it out safely. I made a call to Renée Kube, Children Incorporated’s Director of U.S. Programs, to ask if there was anything that they could do to help the family. She quickly responded and said that she would send us funds from the Hope In Action Fund to help the family with food, clothing and household necessities.

We are fortunate to have caring sponsors who correspond with the students in a positive and meaningful way.

When I told the family this, they couldn’t believe the generosity of this program. I met them at Walmart to purchase some items that they needed right away. They asked if we could spend the rest of the money later when they had their new home and ready to move in, and Renée confirmed that that would be just fine.

A few weeks after moving into their new home, I was able to meet the parents, Paul and Karen, at Walmart to purchase a mattress, bedding items, towels, clothing, shoes, food and household items. At the checkout, Karen had tears in her eyes; she couldn’t believe that this program cared so much for her children and her family. This was certainly a success story with a happy ending.

Sharon’s shares her thoughts 

The subsidies from Children Incorporated has made positive impacts on so many of our students. They come to school with new clothes and shoes and have pretty backpacks full of supplies like all the other students. It is amazing what a little extra money can do for a child’s self-esteem.

There are so many wonderful stories about Children Incorporated sponsored kids that it is difficult to pick one out to spotlight. Brian* lives with his mom and dad and his new little brother. Dad works and mom stays home with the baby and takes care of Brian when he comes home from school. They live in subsidized housing, but I was still surprised at the cost of their rent. Children Incorporated subsidy has allowed me to help this family with basic needs for Brian and the family. I have also helped with food on many occasions. This family is very community-oriented and very involved in his education. They come to all school activities, and Brian even joined a basketball league.

Another family had one sponsored child and another unsponsored. These girls are in a single mother household that also lives in subsidized housing. With the extra money, I was able to purchase the unsponsored child items as I did for the sponsored child. Mom is now working and has purchased a car. Another family has been taken off the Children Incorporated program because we felt the family was no longer in need of the services. It is a pleasure watching these families grow and become more self-sufficent and need less and less of my help.

*Name changed to protect the child. 

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How can I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

You can sponsor a child with Children Incorporated 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 donation portal, create an account, and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | En Español

*Note: This blog was written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although much has changed regarding our sponsored children’s learning experience in the past months, our On the Road stories remain relevant in regards to our volunteer coordinator’s work and the impact of sponsorship on children in our program thanks to our sponsors. We are pleased to continue to share stories with you about our work.

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Hear Anthony’s story about how he received help thanks to our Shared Hope Fund, as we highlight some of our work around the world at the end of 2020.

As our sponsors and donors know, everything they do for children in our program provides them with life-changing support while also offering them hope for their future — and this applies to children who don’t currently have sponsors as well. Thanks to contributions throughout the year to our Shared Hope Fund, we are able to help thousands of children who are enrolled in our program so they don’t have to go without vital basic needs while they wait for sponsorship.

Hear Anthony’s* story about how he received help thanks to our Shared Hope Fund, as we highlight some of our work around the world at the end of 2020.

A shared Hope story

Anthony lives in Richmond, Virginia, and is in elementary school at our affiliated project, Blackwell Elementary.

Anthony, pictured here, was in desperate need of new shoes.

During the warmer months, students at Blackwell wear flip flops and sandals to school. But when the weather gets colder, children start to wear tennis shoes and boots.

Our volunteer coordinator at Blackwell Elementary, Jeffery, noticed that Anthony was wearing a pair of shoes that were obviously and painfully too tight. Jeffrey contacted Children Incorporated and expressed that Anthony’s need for shoes was so immediate that there was no time for him to wait for a sponsor. Children Incorporated approved the request and sent Shared Hope Funds right away.

Jeffrey shopped around and found a good pair of gray Nikes on clearance. When Jeffrey gave Anthony the shoes, Anthony sat in Jeffrey’s office and cried. The next day Anthony brought — without having been asked — a thank you note for Children Incorporated sharing that the Nikes were the first pair of new shoes he had ever had for himself.

Jeffrey said they talked about proper shoe care, and Anthony is extremely proud of and careful with his shoes. The laces are tied, and he keeps them clean.

Anthony’s story is just one of dozens of stories about the impact our sponsors and donors have on children thanks to our Shared Hope Fund. We are incredibly grateful for all that you have contributed this year to this important fund to help kids in need around the world.

*Name changed to protect the child.

find out more about our shared hope fund

We enroll new children in our program every day, and finding enough sponsors for all of them is one of our greatest challenges. The global need is so profound that some children wait months for a sponsor. Donations made to our Shared Hope Fund provide immediate assistance to children awaiting sponsorship.

Anthony’s story is just one of dozens of stories about the impact our sponsors and donors have on children thanks to our Shared Hope Fund.

Children Incorporated currently has about 2,000 children enrolled in our program who are waiting to be sponsored. Our Shared Hope Fund provides them with clothes, food, and school supplies until they are paired with a sponsor. Supporting this important fund helps us to provide for the immediate needs of children living in poverty.

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Shelley Callahan |

Dear Friends,

We all know that 2020 has been an extremely difficult year. Natural disasters and protests, rioting, and unrest in the streets were rampant all around the world, and in the U.S., we endured an especially contentious election. On top of all that, there was a COVID-19 outbreak. We were all tested to our limits this year, and I have heard more than a few folks express their hope that 2021 will be quite different.

Many of the children enrolled in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program dream, anticipate, and hope for brighter days, and our organization helps their hopes and dreams become reality for them.

I, for one, choose to anticipate better days ahead. In the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific, the lead character, Nellie Forbush, performs a song entitled “A Cock-Eyed Optimist.” Therein, Nellie proclaims that she is “stuck like a dope with a thing called hope” that she cannot get out of her heart. If only more people were like this character, dreaming, anticipating, and hoping for brighter days, well, the world would be a much kinder place.

Many of the children enrolled in the Children Incorporated sponsorship program dream, anticipate, and hope for brighter days, and our organization helps their hopes and dreams become reality for them.

The poverty that encircles the children in our program can be crippling, and it is easy for them — both the children we serve and their parents and guardians — to lose hope for better days ahead, yet Children Incorporated is always working to keep that hope alive. You would simply be amazed at what a warm jacket can mean to a West Virginian child in the dead of winter, or what a new pair of shoes can mean to a child in India as he or she walks miles each way, to and from school, on a daily basis. The importance of a backpack full of food, to get a child and family in Eastern Kentucky through a long otherwise foodless weekend, cannot be underestimated, nor can the significance of a bag of rice, beans, or flour for a child and family in Guatemala. 

The scope of our work is vast and broad. From the simple things mentioned above to much larger offerings, Children Incorporated works to keep hope alive and to offer opportunities to those whose lives can be quite difficult. We provide resources for education and learning, such as laptops and iPads, school books, and even desks, as well as training to better equip young people for careers once they graduate from high school. We realize that keeping hope alive matters greatly. 

I am asking that you consider making an important donation to our Annual Fund so that together, we can continue our work in 2021.

I know the value of our work. I’ve seen it first-hand. I’ve talked to parents whose appreciation is heart-deep, and I have looked into the eyes of children and young people and listened as they have raved about the support they receive from their sponsors. I’ve met with our wonderful volunteer coordinators and heard them share what the support we offer, by way of loyal sponsors and donors like you, means to the children and families they serve, as well as to the communities in which they live and work. For these reasons, I am asking that you consider making an important donation to our Annual Fund so that together, we can continue our work in 2021. 

Nellie Forbush, the character in South Pacific that I mentioned earlier, was “stuck like a dope with a thing called hope,” and so am I. Beyond that, I am blessed to see hope being kept alive and dreams being made reality through the simple caring of so many good people who care, and care deeply. You are those people, and I sincerely thank you for supporting Children Incorporated’s work and for the possibilities that we, together, are providing to many children.

From the heart, 

Ronald H. Carter
President and CEO
Children Incorporated

DONATE TO OUR ANNUAL FUND

Education, Stories of Hope

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written by Shelley Callahan

Shelley is the Director of Development for Children Incorporated. She is also the lead social correspondent, regularly contributing insights through the Stories of Hope blog series. Sign up for Stories of Hope to receive weekly email updates about how your donations are changing the lives of children in need.

» more of Shelley's stories
Shelley Callahan | En Español

*Note: This blog was written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although much has changed regarding our sponsored children’s learning experience in the past months, our On the Road stories remain relevant in regards to our volunteer coordinator’s work and the impact of sponsorship on children in our program thanks to our sponsors. We are pleased to continue to share stories with you about our work.

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Administrators at the schools we partner with are the ones most closely linked to the children in our program and have a deep understanding of the tools they need to help them excel in school.

Accelerated Reader can also help improve a student’s knowledge of many different varieties of books and also raise their vocabulary.

While visiting our affiliated project, Lake/Desert View Elementary School in Arizona last year, our President and CEO, Ron Carter, met with our volunteer coordinator, Elouise, and the school’s principal, Ms. Erikson, who felt that her students would greatly benefit from using Accelerated Reader — a computer software that monitors the practice of reading.

Understanding Accelerated Reader

Renaissance Learning, Inc., the company that developed Accelerated Reader (AR), states on its website that the software was developed for use in K-12 schools and is “intended to help children at school manage their reading, to provide teachers with the assessment of the reading ability of a class, and to encourage reading.”  Accelerated Reader can also help improve a student’s knowledge of many different varieties of books and also raise their vocabulary. It comes in two versions: a desktop version and a web-based version on the company’s online portal.

Other benefits of Accelerated reader software

Beyond just encouraging reading among students, AR also provides:

-An assessment of a student’s reading level through the STAR (Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading) test

-A system of using a reading formula which includes average sentence length, average word length, vocabulary grade level, and number of words in the book

-A computer-based quiz that assesses comprehension and tests general knowledge using a computer-based 3 to 20 question multiple-choice quiz

– A  range of reports for parents and teachers that detail ongoing student progress.

Thanks to our Hope In Action Fund, Mr. Carter was able to provide Ms. Erikson with funding to purchase the AR software, so children and teachers at Lake/Desert View Elementary School could benefit from computerized reading support and enrichment. 

Ms. Erikson and one of our sponsored children

Helping Carlotta buy a home  

After meeting with Ms. Erikson, Mr. Carter had the chance to meet with Carlotta, one of the mothers of children enrolled in our sponsorship program.

“Carlotta is a single mother of six who works hard to take care of her children and her home,” said Mr. Carter.

Carlotta lives in a small apartment that costs her over $700 a month in rent. Not long ago, she was presented with the opportunity to purchase a used trailer for $3500 and place it on the land she already owns. This would save her the $700 rent each month and give her and her children more room. At the time of Mr. Carter’s visit, Carlotta had about $500 saved up to purchase the trailer.

“Understanding that the purchase of a trailer would be life-changing for Carlotta and her kids, I agreed to provide the family with Hope In Action Funds for the remaining amount,” explained Mr. Carter

A few weeks later, our volunteer coordinator Elouise reported to Mr. Carter that the trailer had been purchased, and there were funds were left over to buy materials for some small repairs and buy a refurbished propane stove.

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HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD IN ARIZONA?

You can sponsor a child in Arizona in one of two ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members, or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Education, Stories of Hope, Arizona

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written by Shelley Callahan

Shelley is the Director of Development for Children Incorporated. She is also the lead social correspondent, regularly contributing insights through the Stories of Hope blog series. Sign up for Stories of Hope to receive weekly email updates about how your donations are changing the lives of children in need.

» more of Shelley's stories
Shelley Callahan |

We are pleased to share with you our 2020 Fall Newsletter! Thank you for support children in need around the world during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Amidst school closures across the U.S. this past spring due to COVID-19 lockdowns, our concern turned to how to best help children who are already living in vulnerable situations.

Fighting Against Hunger During the Pandemic 

Amidst school closures across the U.S. this past spring due to COVID-19 lockdowns, our concern turned to how to best help children who are already living in vulnerable situations. 

Many children in our program rely on school lunches and on our Backpack Feeding Program to ensure they are receiving adequate meals throughout the day and on the weekends. Without the support they receive at school, they risk facing hunger at home.

Children in Guatemala have been receiving food thanks to donations from our amazing donors.

Thankfully, because of our sponsors and donors, and the hard work of our volunteer coordinators in the U.S., students continued to receive food through the spring and into the summer and fall. 

Thank you for all that you do to help children in need! 

Our Response to COVID-19 in Guatemala 

We are grateful for the support that our sponsors and donors are providing to families in Guatemala — and all over the world — through donations to our COVID-19 Response Fund.

Thanks to you, our affiliated projects in Guatemala have been able to purchase food, hygiene items, and other necessities for children and their families during the pandemic. This help is crucial for Guatemalans at this time, as our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, explains: 

“Almost half of the population in Guatemala are low-income earners, and the percentage of people receiving aid is minimal. No one having an income above the minimum wage of about US $220 a month has received any government support.”

We are grateful for your vital support during the COVID-19 crisis — we couldn’t provide life-changing support to children in need without your help. 

Alleviated Suffering in Bolivia During a Difficult Time

We heard from our volunteer coordinator at our affiliated project, Cristo de Rey in Bolivia, about the support our donors are providing to children and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak:

Protective and hygiene items have been just some of the supplies children have received during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Good afternoon! I want to inform you that the Children Incorporated program is supporting children with the distribution of food and hygiene items. 

The situation of the pandemic in Bolivia is very complicated. Families suffer a lot because they are people with very low resources. They generally live on what they earned from what little they sell. Now it is forbidden to go out to sell and they have nothing to subsist on. As you can imagine, the families are very grateful for the help and support they received. Thank you for your help!”

Children Incorporated Happenings

*The Children Incorporated family mourns the loss of George Saunders, a long-time employee who passed away on June 6, 2020. Mr. Saunders served as our accountant and bookkeeper for a period of 27 years, prior to his retirement in 2009. He maintained close contact with Children Incorporated in the years that followed, often attending employee functions, as well as sponsoring children. He will be greatly missed.

*Our Board of Directors welcomed three new members in May. Mr. Wayne Huggins, Ms. Salley Mountcastle, and Dr. Theresa Steward will now work alongside our seven existing members in supporting the work of our organization as we strive to improve the lives of children and families, both in the U.S. and abroad. 

*Children Incorporated has once again been awarded 4 Out of 4 Stars by Charity Navigator. This is the fifth consecutive time that our organization has received this honor. 

Children Incorporated has once again been awarded 4 Out of 4 Stars by Charity Navigator. This is the fifth consecutive time that our organization has received this honor.

*We would like to send congratulations to our long-time sponsor, Rosanne Cash, who has been selected to receive the prestigious 61st Annual Edward McDowell Medal. The award, which has previously gone to such luminaries as Aaron Copeland, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Berstein, and Georgia O-Keefe, honors artists who have made outstanding contributions to American culture, as Rosanne surely has through her music and compositions. We thank Rosanne for sponsoring children and changing lives through her support of our organization, now for thirty years and counting.

*Children Incorporated continues to work towards expanding our sponsorship program to include projects in Puerto Rico, but due to the COVID-19 outbreak, plans have been postponed. We remain committed to getting the program off the ground as soon as possible and continuing our work on the island, which has been hard hit by natural disasters. If you would like to be added to our waiting list of those who wish to sponsor a Puerto Rican child, please contact us today. We will share further details about our work in Puerto Rico as it becomes available.

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

Education, Stories of Hope

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written by Shelley Callahan

Shelley is the Director of Development for Children Incorporated. She is also the lead social correspondent, regularly contributing insights through the Stories of Hope blog series. Sign up for Stories of Hope to receive weekly email updates about how your donations are changing the lives of children in need.

» more of Shelley's stories