Tag Archives: children in poverty

Shelley Callahan | March 18, 2025

In December 2024, Renée Kube and Kristen Walthall of our U.S. Programs Division and our Director of Development Shelley Callahan traveled to Louisiana to visit five affiliated schools in New Orleans, where our sponsors are helping children with their most basic needs to ensure they can attend school ready to learn.

“It was amazing to get a chance to meet all of our volunteer coordinators and some of our sponsored children during our visit,” said Callahan. “Our coordinators are immensely grateful for the support that we provide to children at their school, especially when it comes to helping them purchase school uniforms and hygiene items.”

“New Orleans is the only city in the United States with a city-wide charter school system, and all children must wear expensive uniforms. Sometimes, because of these extra costs for families, children only have one uniform for 165 school days in a calendar year,” explained Callahan.

“Thanks to our sponsors, students have multiple uniforms to wear. Additionally, sponsorship provides children warm clothes during the colder months, rain gear, and much-needed hygiene items that these students would otherwise go without. It was amazing to hear such inspiring stories about how our sponsorship program is making such a difference.”

“Thank you to all our incredible supporters who make our work in New Orleans possible! You are truly helping so many lives by sponsoring a child. We couldn’t do it without you,” said Callahan.

Want to learn more about our work in New Orleans? Subscribe to our blog series, Stories of Hope, today! https://childrenincorporated.org/stories-of-hope/

REMEMBERING OUR DEAR FRIEND, MAGDA KEGLEY

Magda Kegley, a longtime employee of Children Incorporated, passed away quite suddenly on Saturday, March 8th, 2025. During her tenure with Children Incorporated, Magda served in various capacities, including over two decades as Director of our International Division. Many of our coordinators and sponsors became quite familiar with Magda and grew to love her, just as our staff did. She was a ray of sunshine, always smiling and always caring about others. Magda’s kind words touched many hearts, and her laughter challenged us all to find joy in life. Our staff will certainly miss our dear friend. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her children, Lisa and Scott, her granddaughter, Brynn, and her sister, Nayda, and the entire family.

Keeping Kids Cozy in the Winter

We want to say a huge thank you to Salisbury Presbyterian Church Preschool in Midlothian, Virginia, for donating pajamas to Children Incorporated through our long-time partner, the Pajama Program!

Each pair of the 233 new children’s pajamas was distributed to children at local schools in the Richmond, Virginia, area, along with a storybook, which the Pajama Program will provide.

“This is such a fabulous program, and it was so thoughtful for Salisbury Presbyterian to think of students in our sponsorship program,” said U.S. Programs Director Renée Kube. “Knowing that these special children are going to go to bed warm and comfortable in brand new pajamas is very touching for the entire staff of Children Incorporated, our volunteer coordinators at the school, and the parents of these deserving kids. Thank you for your donations!”

Our CEO and President, Ron Carter, Visits Mexico

Visiting our four affiliated sites in Mexico was quite inspiring for me. Having previously not been to Mexico, I was impressed by the rich heritage of this beautiful and historic country, but more than anything else, I was moved by the commitment and dedication of the sisters who oversee our programs. These women obviously care deeply for the children they serve, and this was never more apparent than at Hogar Casa Julia in San Miguel de Allende.

At this site, girls who have been removed from their homes due to various forms of abuse are provided with a safe place to live, nice clothes, and nutritional food, and they receive excellent education and guidance as they heal from their dysfunctional pasts. Sister Isabel, who has been serving at this school for more than a quarter of a century, is a parent figure to these girls, making sure that their needs are met each and every day. She manages funds provided by Children Incorporated
sponsors with excellence and precision. She and all of the sisters with whom we work in Mexico are simply incredible, and I was thoroughly impressed with each of them.

– Ronald H. Carter

New Shoes for Children in Kentucky

Not long ago, we received a letter from Jackie, our volunteer coordinator at Breathitt Elementary School in Kentucky, thanking us and our amazing donors for allowing Hope In Action Funds to purchase shoes and socks for every child in our sponsorship program at her school!

“I am writing in appreciation of the support shown by your organization on behalf of sponsored children at my school. In a school of four hundred students between three and eight years old, fostering independence is vital.Thanks to Children Incorporated Hope In Action funds, each child in the sponsorship program received a pair of sturdy, name-brand Cros shoes.”

“These shoes do not require tying, are easy to clean with soap and water, and are resistant and, most importantly, comfortable to wear.”

“The kids were thrilled to receive the shoes and loved the attractive colors. They wear them daily. Thank you so much for your very valued support! It means so much to all of us that you care so much about these children and their well-being.”

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

Shelley Callahan | March 16, 2025

Our volunteer coordinator, Casey, at Huguenot High School in Virginia recently wrote to us to thank you, our amazing sponsors, for your dedication to helping children at her school find value in themselves and their education:

Casey’s Letter

“This is a huge thank you to all our donors and you all at Children Incorporated. Here at Huguenot High School, we have so many students in need. We have many students dealing with anxiety and social issues on a regular basis, and you have helped them so much.

We have also observed many individual students helped by the generous donations of Children Incorporated. Just as one example, we have a student who both works and goes to school and doesn’t have a lot of money to spend on herself. She has to help pay rent where she lives and often wore the same clothes over and over again. Due to your donations, I was able to get her necessary hair products, clothes, and even a few extra gifts for herself that she would never get if it weren’t for you all.

There is no way any of the students could help support themselves without the funds of Children Incorporated. Our children are able to feel special and loved by people they don’t even know or get to meet, and that is something amazing. You all help build self-confidence and self-worth, and help children see the world from a different perspective and create graduates where there may not have been one. Thank you and your donors for their continued support. You are changing the world one gift at a time!”

With gratitude and appreciation,

Casey

your impact through hope in action

Sponsorship is one of many ways you help impoverished children every month. Additionally, thanks to contributions to our Hope In Action Fund in the last month, we have been able to:

– Provide funds to purchase desks for students at the Bethel School in Guatemala
– Provide funds to purchase mattresses for children in our sponsorship program at the Recanto Esperanca Center in Brazil
– Provide funds to purchase bakery equipment for a skills training program at CARITAS-Novo Milenio Center in Brazil
– Provide funds to purchase water storage tanks for the Santa Rosa School in Bolivia so students have access to potable water
– Provide funds to purchase meals for 30 students for a month at Santa Isabel Seton in Guatemala
– Provide funding for ongoing Hurricane Helene emergency relief supplies for students and families at Mitchell High School in North Carolina
– Provide funds for an evening literacy program for students and their parents at Bevins Elementary School in Kentucky
– Provide funds to purchase educational tablets for students at Whitesburg Middle School in Kentucky
– Provide funds to purchase hygiene items for students at Phillis Wheatley Community School in New Orleans, Louisiana
– Provide funding to purchase meals for 100 children at the St. John’s Community Center in Kenya

…and so much more! Thank you to our supporters for all that you do! We couldn’t do our life-changing work without you.

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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 in that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | February 24, 2025En Español

Our volunteer coordinator, Tonia, at Sparta Elementary School in North Carolina, recently wrote to us to express how awesome she thinks you, our loyal sponsors and donors, are for the support you provide for children at her school.

Tonia’s Letter

“Because of the financial support our students have received from their sponsors, I have been able to purchase clothes, book bags, school supplies, and toiletries throughout the school year. It is so exciting and rewarding to see the Children Incorporated students’ smiling faces as they come to school with new outfits. The students make sure to come by and show us. It is also so important that I am able to buy the students much-needed soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste that they would otherwise not have.

Thanks to you, we have been able to provide funding for ongoing Hurricane Helene emergency relief supplies for students and families — and so much more!

We are so fortunate to have such loving and caring sponsors who correspond with our students and encourage them in a positive way. The sponsors write letters and send coloring sheets, stickers, and cards, which are such fun surprises for the kids! Some of our sponsors even send special gifts for holidays, and seeing the excitement from the children is so awesome. The kids get very excited when they receive mail from their sponsors and are always ready and willing to write their sponsors a nice thank you note.

Thanks to sponsors, students were also able to purchase books at the book fair and go on a field trip to the Outer Banks this past year! The look on their faces when they were told they didn’t have to pay the fee for the trip was priceless. We very much appreciate the Children Incorporated program!”

your impact through hope in action

Sponsorship is one of many ways you help impoverished children every month. Additionally, thanks to contributions to our Hope In Action Fund in the last month, we have been able to:

…and so much more! Thank you to our supporters for all that you do! We couldn’t do our life-changing work without you.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | February 10, 2025

Our first day visiting our affiliated sites in New Orleans was a huge success and so much fun, and I woke up on the second and final day of our trip excited for what the day had in store for us. Just as we had done the previous morning, Shayne picked up Renée, Kris, and me at our hotel, and we drove with her to our first school, the Phillis Wheatley Community School, where we met Maria out front before going in to meet with our coordinator.

According to Odina, a lot of the ways she is able to look out for the best interests of the students are largely thanks to Children Incorporated sponsors.

Getting to Know phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley Community School is located in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans and has around 750 children enrolled. As a charter school, like the other charter schools in the city, children can come from any area of New Orleans to attend Phillis Wheatley, and the city school buses will offer transportation to students no matter where they are located.

The school is named after Phillis Wheatley, who is considered the first African American author of a published book of poetry in America. Born in West Africa, she was sold into slavery at the age of eight and brought to Boston, where she learned to read and write and eventually became a poet.

After we checked in at the front office, we were greeted by Odina, our volunteer coordinator, who took us to her office to discuss our sponsorship program and hear more about the particular needs of the students at her school. Odina explained to us that even though New Orleans is in the South and bouts of cold weather are limited, the need for warm clothing is still her greatest need and the area in which our sponsors help children the most.

It’s not just that the children don’t have warm clothing, Odina explained, but it is that when the weather does turn cold, the children stay home from school because of the lack of warm coats, long pants, or proper shoes. This exacerbates a problem that is already present with her students, which is with attendance. Living in poverty, as Odina described to us, already creates a lot of obstacles for students attending school regularly, so being able to help children overcome the barrier of not having adequate clothing is such a blessing.

Even though New Orleans is in the South and bouts of cold weather are limited, the need for warm clothing is still her greatest need and the area in which our sponsors help children the most.

Helping Parents in Need

As we continued to talk with Odina, she mentioned that one of the other things she feels she could use help with is getting parents involved in their children’s education, especially for those guardians and caretakers who suddenly become parents in emergencies.

Renée mentioned that our Hope In Action grant program could help with parenting classes. She described a program in Kentucky that we support called “Grandparents As Parents,” which helps older adults cope with taking care of young children and helping them understand positive means of supporting them in school and at home.

After our meeting, Odina took us on a tour of the school, where we met with some of our sponsored children in the hallways between classes. The children were happy to take photos with Odina, and it was apparent they thought a lot of her as not only a staff member at the school but as someone who looked out for them and their best interests. And, according to Odina, a lot of the ways she is able to look out for the best interests of the students are largely thanks to Children Incorporated sponsors.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | January 29, 2025

Our volunteer coordinator, Heather, at Viper Elementary School in Kentucky, wrote to us to thank our sponsors, who were, and always are, especially a big help during the holiday season:

“Children Incorporated has been such a blessing for all sponsored students. Specifically, at Christmas, there was an abundance of students needing assistance this past year. I never have to worry about my Children Incorporated sponsored children getting help. I am blessed to have the funds to care for all of their desires and immediate needs. Parents know the funds are here when they need support, so they don’t hesitate to reach out if their child has outgrown a pair of shoes or if it is a change of season and the children need new clothes.”

“Not only me but the parents of these students will forever be grateful for the blessings Children Incorporated brings us.”

“One particular parent couldn’t thank me and Children Incorporated enough for not only the sponsor providing funding but for allowing her daughter to pick out her own clothes and what she liked and would actually wear. Another parent remarked on how her child’s day was made after receiving the new clothes and shoes she picked out and the positive impact this program had on the whole family. Not only me but the parents of these students will forever be grateful for the blessings Children Incorporated brings us.”

your impact through hope in action

Sponsorship is one of many ways you help impoverished children every month. Additionally, thanks to contributions to our Hope In Action Fund in the last month, we have been able to:

– Provide funds to replenish the food pantry for children and their families at Westover Hills Elementary School in Virginia
– Provide funds to purchase hygiene ties and household supplies for a family in an emergency at Foundation Preparatory Academy in Louisiana
– Provide funds to purchase nutritious meals for 30 students at the Dandora Center in Kenya for one month
– Provide funds to purchase daily meals for 100 students at the St. John’s Community Center in Kenya for one month
– Provide funds to purchase nutritious meals for 25 students at Kids’ Hope in Ethiopia for one month
– Provide funding to purchase nutritious meals for 25 students for one month at the Fortune Children’s Center in the Philippines
– Provide funds to replenish the food pantry at River City Middle School in Virginia
– Provide funds to purchase meals for 30 students at Santa Isabel Ana Seton in Guatemala for a month
– Provide funds to purchase a basic washer and dryer for a family in need with a student who attends May Valley Elementary School in Kentucky
– Provide funding to purchase bedding, bed frames, and mattresses for two students at Wrigley Elementary School in Kentucky

…and so much more! Thank you to our supporters for all that you do! We couldn’t do our life-changing work without you.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | January 13, 2025

Beyond sponsoring a child, several other ways to support our work exist. Two of the most important ways we need your support is by either becoming an ambassador for our organization or hosting a fundraising event. Both of these important volunteer opportunities offer you, as a supporter, a way to get involved in our work with no or limited financial commitment and greatly help children in need around the world.

Become an aMbassador

One way Children Incorporated has grown as an organization over the last 60 years is through our current sponsors and donors, who share information about our sponsorship programs with their families and friends as ambassadors of our work.

If you have any other questions about how you can get involved in our work, please contact us today!

We have an abundance of informational materials that we are happy to share with you as well if you are interested in becoming an ambassador for our organization. As an ambassador, we ask that you be engaged with our activities and campaigns and show a strong commitment to our cause and a willingness to advocate for our work with a broad and active social network.

Please contact us today to request an informational packet or visit our Accountability Page for more information about our organization that you can share with others.

Host a Fundraiser

Additionally, if you would like to host a fundraiser for our organization, that would be much appreciated. If you would like to host a fundraiser for Children Incorporated, please get in touch with us today for information and support. Here are a few fundraising event ideas that can either be in person or online:

Host an auction
Peer-to-peer fundraising through an online platform such as GiveButter
Ask a local restaurant to donate a portion of sales to Children Incorporated
Host a Trivia Night
Host a Golf Tournament
Host a 5K Run
Host a bike ride
Host a film screening
Host a concert
Host a bakesale- And so much more!

If you have any other questions about how you can get involved in our work, please contact us today! We would be happy to discuss the many ways in which you can support our work beyond sponsorship.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD