Tag Archives: help children

Liz Collins | December 12, 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, I am writing to you with a heart full of gratitude and a deep sense of commitment. Though I officially stepped into the role of CEO of Children Incorporated in August, I have already been profoundly moved and inspired by the unwavering dedication of our staff, the incredible work happening on the ground through our volunteer coordinators, and, most importantly, your extraordinary generosity.

A Year of Transformative Projects

Your contributions have powered life-changing projects in communities both here in the U.S. and overseas. Here are just a few ways you helped us all make a difference:

A New Home for Community in the Philippines: We successfully funded the building of the Visayans Community Center. This new center is now a bustling hub, providing over 250 children and their families a dedicated place to learn, share meals, hold community meetings, and connect with vital resources.
Creating Safe and Empowering Spaces:
- In New Orleans, we helped launch a vital leadership program for eighth-grade girls, helping them build confidence and skills for the future.
- In Kentucky, we funded the creation of a much-needed “calming space” in an elementary school, offering children a safe haven to process and work through trauma they have experienced.
Nourishing Minds and Bodies: Your support led to the distribution of new library books, essential recess equipment, and the creation of multiple community vegetable gardens in both the U.S. and abroad, promoting health and sustainable food access.
Opportunity Realized: We purchased team jerseys for a few of our Native American children, ensuring they could join their classmates and play for their school team and not miss out on the opportunity to participate.
Fundamental Necessities and Comprehensive Care in Lebanon: Through your generosity, our support extended to the most fundamental necessities: providing hearing aid batteries, food vouchers, educational books, critical psychological care, and reliable transportation for vital medical appointments.
Addressing Food Insecurity: Recognizing the critical need, your immediate response enabled us to send over $100,000 of additional assistance to address escalating food insecurity both here in the US and overseas.

The Impact of Sponsorship: Your Hand in Their Story

The cornerstone of our mission is sponsorship, and the ripple effects of these personal connections have been immense this year:

Basic Necessities and Rising Attendance: Your sponsorship dollars provided more than 10,000 children with access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, and education. School attendance is increasing as a direct result of this assistance.
Moments of Joy: We saw the profound excitement of children at the book fair, thrilled to pick out their very own books because their sponsor sent funds for this special opportunity.
Moments of Dignity: One of our volunteer coordinators was able to purchase waterless bath wipes for a sponsored child and her sister who do not have running water at home. This practical solution allows them to maintain their hygiene, health, and confidence on the days they cannot travel to a relative’s house to shower.
Removing Social Barriers: A near straight-A student was feeling self-conscious about the dirty, peeling tape on his insulin medical sensors. Sponsorship funds purchased specialized waterproof covers, removing a source of embarrassment so he can focus on his education, not his appearance.

Honoring the Past, Building the Future

On a personal note, I was deeply moved by the outpouring of support and congratulations from our sponsors and donors who honored our outgoing CEO, Ron Carter, with generous donations to our Hope In Action Fund. This gesture speaks volumes about the community we have built together.

As I step into this role, I pledge to continue the legacy of service and dedication that Ron established, while looking forward to expanding our reach and deepening our impact in the years to come.

This year has been one of significant milestones, growth, and, above all, impactful change in the lives of children around the world. Every single achievement is a direct result of your trust and support.

Thank you for making 2025 a year of true hope and action. Because of you, children are learning, thriving, and building better futures.

With profound appreciation,

Liz Collins

CEO: Children Incorporated

Considering End of Year Giving?

From our Hope In Action Fund to the Feeding Program to Clothing and Shoes, donations from you provide direct and tangible impact to children around the world. If you are considering giving to a worthy organization by the end of 2025, we hope you consider Children Incorporated. We look forward to seeing what we all can accomplish in the year ahead!

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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 a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Rachel Luginbuhl | November 12, 2025

Whether the children are in the United States or another country, they all deserve to be properly fed, clothed, and cared for, and with your help and through your kindness and generosity – Children Incorporated is steadily working to improve their lives. Whether during the busyness of the school year or the calm of summer days, all children deserve to receive a good education, live with a sense of hope, and pursue opportunities for their future.

The Book Fair has Arrived!

If you went to public school anytime after 1982 you may remember the scholastic book fair – a traveling company that allows students to purchase books, posters, journals, pens, and all things educational. When students are given the autonomy to make decisions in what they’re reading it feels less like an assignment or a chore and more like an opportunity. In fact, a 2013 study by the University of Rochester found that elementary-age students, given the choice of what they brought home to read over the break, had less of a summer learning slide than those who did not.

It’s a well loved time. Journals, books, and pens all provide needed outlets for students, and the feeling of inclusion does incredibly powerful things for a child’s mental health.

Update in the Philippines

Recently areas of the Philippines were hit by Typhoon Kalmaeg. The coordinator at the Visayans Center, one of our affiliates and location where possible damages was expected, had indicated that the new center building, provided last year with support from CI, was being used as a shelter for families in the area.
The building is a secure structure, and it was the first time experiencing an emergency! We are so grateful to be able to provide protection for people, all because of your giving.

Despite the difficult weather situations that have been occurring in the Philippines, our coordinators are always working hard to make sure students have what they need.

Giving Tuesday is coming up!

From our Hope In Action Fund to the Feeding Program to Clothing and Shoes, donations from you provide direct and tangible impact to children around the world. If you are considering giving on this upcoming Giving Tuesday, we hope you consider Children Incorporated. We look forward to seeing what we all can accomplish on December 2nd!

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Meet Maya*, a bright sixth grader from Bolivia who dreams of a peaceful world and hopes to become a military officer one day. She’s a good student who especially enjoys physical education and spending time with her friends. In her free time, she loves drawing, watching anime, and listening to movie soundtracks. At home, she helps her mother by keeping her room tidy in their small brick house. Sponsorship would mean the world to her, it would give her the support and encouragement she and her family need to build a brighter future.

*Name has been changed.

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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 a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | October 29, 2025

Hunger is defined by not having enough food to meet daily energy and nutritional needs. It is a problem that most often affects low-income families, because living in poverty means that people are often going without basic needs such as food, clothing, and adequate shelter.

In order for a child to have a chance at a bright future, they need to eat healthy meals every day. When they’re hungry, children are more likely to be hospitalized, and they face a higher risk of health conditions because they have weakened immune systems. A brain starved of vital nutrients is one that can’t concentrate, setting hungry kids up for failure in school.

Without enough food or proper nutrition, kids face a variety of setbacks that can derail their path out of poverty.

Even those who survive face lifelong consequences. Malnutrition can cause permanent damage to brain development and weaken the immune system, leaving children more vulnerable to disease. From developing countries to the United States, children and families don’t always have enough to eat.

Global hunger has declined significantly since the 1970s, when roughly one in four people experienced hunger. But the crisis is far from over.

How does poverty affect world hunger for kids?

Worldwide Child Hunger Facts

– Every year up to two million children die each year due to poor nutrition

– Today, one in 11 people in the world go hungry

– Approximately 28% of all children in developing countries are considered to be underweight, or have had their growth stunted as a result of malnutrition

– Worldwide, malnutrition causes nearly half of child deaths worldwide, yet most kids go untreated.

National child hunger facts

– In America, 1 in 8 households suffer from food insecurity, and don’t know where they will get their next meal from

– 85% of counties with the highest food insecurity are rural.

– Nearly 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are in the South, indicating regional disparities.

– For every 100 school lunch programs, there are only 87 breakfast sites, and just 36 summer food programs

What Children Incorporated does to alleviate hunger for children

Donations to our Feeding Program provide meals for children around the world.

Children Incorporated provides basic necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, and educational support to children living in poverty in the United States and abroad through our child sponsorship program. These essentials are vital to a child’s growth and success in school. We also assist feeding programs in the United States and internationally that ensure that children are receiving meals during the week, and that they are provided with food to take home on the weekends. Additionally, we make contributions toward school gardens so that children living in poverty have the opportunity to obtain fresh, nutritious food, which they would likely otherwise go without.

How you can help

You can help a child who faces hunger in a few different ways! The most long term way to help is by sponsoring a child with us. For $35 a month, you provide basic needs, including food, for a child in need, while also making an investment in their future.

Donating to our Feeding Program Fund is another immediate assistance to children around the world. In the US, donations support such endeavors such as our Backpack Feeding Program, which gives children in Eastern Kentucky food to take home on the weekends and in the summer when school is out. Internationally, our Feeding Program help feed enrolled children who would otherwise go hungry, so that they can be alert at school and ready to learn. These funds support programs in the Philippines, Kenya, and Ethiopia to buy grains, meats, vegetables, and cooking supplies to feed children.

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WANT TO BE PART OF the worldwide solution?

-Donate to our Feeding Program today

-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.

SPONSOR A CHILD

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References:

http://www.thp.org/knowledge-center/know-your-world-facts-about-hunger-poverty/

http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/child-hunger-facts.html

https://www.wfp.org/node/646670

http://www1.wfp.org/zero-hunger

https://www.nokidhungry.org/who-we-are/hunger-facts

https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-hunger-us

Rachel Luginbuhl | October 16, 2025

Artistic impression at Kids’ Hope Ethiopia

Originally designed to perpetuate the image of the local housing typical hut, these domes stand for educational purposes. They were made with a balloon cast, cover with concrete. Several have been demolished, but for the remaining Kids Hope was able to bring an artist who has a very good experience working with kids. The kids participated very well in that; for some of them, it was an opportunity to exercise their gift. Afterwords they had a color powder party to celebrate.

Your sponsorships and donations allow for integral moments like this, where children are able to enjoy experiences and express themselves without fear. Thank you!

Recent U.S Site visits

During recent visits at the start of the school year, our U.S Director Renee Kube traveled to several states for check-ins with our affiliated sites. During her trip she connected with our coordinators and brought back a wealth of stories!

Children Incorporated’s dedicated volunteer coordinators were busy confirming enrollments, shopping for school supplies, and welcoming new children into the Sponsorship Program. Thanks to generous sponsors and donors, the Hope In Action Program was able to provide extra assistance in several communities. At Crum PK-8, a little girl who was taken in by her sister received a bed, mattress, and dresser. In Martin County, coordinators proudly showcased outdoor classrooms made possible through Hope In Action funds. At Tohaali Community School in New Mexico, students received sports jerseys to represent their school with pride for years to come. At Dzilth Na O Dith Hle, new library books are enriching students’ learning, and at To’Hajiilee Community School, a recent grant is helping a grandmother care for her three granddaughters with much-needed bedding and groceries.

Be on the lookout for a complete trip report soon!

Breakfast time at Laboure school

Our Feeding Program is hard at work in El Salvador, where children are given breakfast every morning to ensure they are fed and focused for the day. These great photos are a reminder of the importance of donating, so-as to continue this important effort. The kids are definitely grateful!

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Unsponsored Child Spotlight

Marcus lives in Brazil. The oldest of three, he lives with his mother and grandparents in a clay walled home. Currently in the seventh grade, Marcus excels in mathematics and loves to play soccer. He dreams of a world that is empathetic and patient, and aspires to be a doctor when he grows up.

Marcus’s dreams are impossible without someone like you helping him succeed. Be the reason he hopes for a brighter future. Sponsor Today.

*Name has been changed.

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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 a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Rachel Luginbuhl | September 10, 2025

The 2025/26 school year has officially begun in the US!

We hope you have been enjoying our recent posts showing all our back to school photos. We are so excited to see the school year begin again! Thanks to your generosity, children around the world have the backpacks, school supplies, and clothes they need to begin the school year with confidence. Your support also helps provide nourishing snacks throughout the day, and often the weekends. We couldn’t do this important work without you. Your support ensures our children can return to school with the supplies they need to succeed. They can focus on their education, not on whether their shoes will last another week. Thank you!

Holiday Reminder

Although it may still be summer for most, holiday giving is fast approaching. To make your contribution for your child’s holiday gift head over to our website and log in to your account, or call us at 1-800-538-5381. The deadline is October 15th, don’t delay.

Dandora Update

A lot has been happening at the Dandora Community Centre, one of our affiliated sites in Kenya.

During the recent holiday break, they were hard at work making some improvements. This included cementing the floor of two dormitories that had broken/worn down, repainting the walls of the dormitories and putting ceramic tiles on the entryways. The long term goal is within the next two years, the flooring in the classrooms will be replaced as well.
Improvements like this are only possible because of the generosity of you, our sponsors and donors. You are ensuring the environment our students are learning and living in is safe and secure. As they begin their new school term we know they are grateful for each of you.

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Unsponsored Child Spotlight

Lillian* attends St. John’s Community Centre, where she is currently in the fourth grade. She has just entered our program and is looking for a sponsor to help her education succeed. Her and her four siblings are all being raised by their mother, who makes about $75/month. Lillian does not let that keep her from dreaming though, her favorite subject is math and she wants to become a teacher when she grows up. She works hard, helping her mother and family and would love for you to get to know her and help her goals become a reality.

Sponsor Lillian today!

*Name has been changed.

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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 a real person in our sponsorship department
email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org
go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Rachel Luginbuhl | August 12, 2025

recent International Visits

Our International team recently visited several locations, making sure each child in our program is given health and opportunities. On a recent visit to our affiliated sites in Kenya, they were able to witness the hard work of the coordinators working with the children everyday.

Unfortunately, the challenges faced by the families we support remain profoundly severe. Many children come from acutely under-served environments and dysfunctional family units, with minimal assistance from local government and community partners. The rising cost of living, compounded by extremely low household incomes, creates a dire situation for these families. Ethiopia presents a harsh economic landscape, characterized by a lower cost of living. Mid-level income families earn a meager $50 per month, with those at the lower end struggling with even less. Here, the impact of sponsorship is truly profound; it represents a substantial portion of a family’s monthly income and extends its benefits far beyond the individual child enrolled. It is, as described, “a God-blessing sent,” providing comprehensive relief and empowering entire households to meet basic needs and invest in their children’s future, and most important: their education!!

Sponsors serve as a vital lifeline for real people facing enormous challenges, and help to provide necessary resources to send children to school and ensure they receive nourishing meals – support that families would otherwise be unable to afford. This ongoing assistance offers a crucial layer of stability in an otherwise precarious existence.

U.S. SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM

Summer in the U.S means students are at home but that doesn’t mean we aren’t active! Our Feeding Program is hard at work making sure children have access to food despite not being inside the classroom. Many will be participating in back to school shopping soon, we can’t wait to support them as they anticipate returning to school.

Be sure to check out our recent Facebook post about a student who was gifted a professional haircut to be looking his best for the first day of school.

End of the School Year

Students at the Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf in Lebanon are currently enjoying their summer break, which will continue until October. They shared with us several photos of the students celebrating graduation, having meals together, and spending time encouraging each other before the break. Despite the enormous difficulties in Lebanon this year, our sponsored students remain optimistic, and are incredibly grateful to their sponsors for providing them stability and a chance at education.

Welcome Liz!

At the Children Incorporated headquarters we have been so excited to welcome our new CEO into the office as she begins the transition into the position.

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Unsponsored Child Spotlight

“Alima” is from a small town in Chile, attending the Handicapped Children’s Center. She is one of 6 children her mother is raising alone. On the meager salary of a tailor, Alima needs a sponsor to help her with the supplies for her to continue school. With just two more years to go, her dream of graduating and becoming a nurse to work to help others can not be possible without you.

*Name has been changed.

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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 sponsorship department; email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or go online to our sponsorship portal and search for a child in that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD