Tag Archives: help children in need

Shelley Callahan | April 1, 2025

As their trip comes to its conclusion, our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, and our International Programs Specialist, Yefiny Mena, visit our last affiliated site in Guatemala before traveling to El Salvador, where students enjoy a more structured environment than other schools in Guatemala offer. Today, we hear from Yefiny about the Bethel School and her impression of how it is helping our sponsored children and their families.

“According to our coordinator, it is certain that these children would not have the opportunity to attend a private school like Bethel without our sponsors’ contribution.”

Visiting the Bethel School

“This small private school is located in Quetzaltenango, about 140 miles from Guatemala City, but a good four hours driving due to road conditions and traffic. The Bethel School opened its doors to children in 1956, and fourteen years later, in 1960, Children Incorporated started sponsoring children at this affiliation. The school serves about 300 students, from kindergarten to 12^th grade, in two shifts during the day,” said Yefiny.

“Kindergarten comes in the morning, and the 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grades come in the afternoon. They provide high school classes and technical training in Computer Technology and Accounting. Children Incorporated support is offered to the children of low-income families and covers school fees, other school support, and sometimes clothes and food.”

“The school adheres to the national curriculum to teach the students and provide a good education for participating children. The buildings are in great need of improvements, and the recent pandemic has the school struggling to draw paid students to increase opportunities for children. Overall, the school is a better option than attending local public schools, which are greatly overcrowded and disorganized. The children here have great pride in attending a private school while not spending a great deal to pay for better education, which benefits our Children Incorporated participants,” explained Yefiny.

“Bethel School’s coordinator is Mrs. Maria Josefina Calderon de Singueza, who is the owner and director of the school. Mrs. Calderon has been our coordinator for 56 years. She is also assisted by Katy Singueza, her daughter, who helps her run the program,” she said.

“During our visit to the school, we met the children in their classrooms and interacted with them and their teachers. We also had the opportunity to talk with Mrs. Calderon about the program. Mrs. Calderon explained that most of the children in our program live in areas that were not very safe for us to visit, but we could meet them in the classrooms.”

“According to our coordinator, it is certain that these children would not have the opportunity to attend a private school like Bethel without our sponsors’ contribution. Our monthly subsidies help them pay, in some cases, 75% of the school fees, depending on the child’s school grade. The higher the child’s grade, the more expensive it becomes, but it is still an affordable fee for the children’s parents,” said Yefiny.

“Besides the monthly fee, some children might receive help with school supplies, shoes, or uniforms. This is occasionally done if, for example, one or both parents lose their jobs and face financial difficulties to provide for the child’s needs at school.”

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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 | March 31, 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.

“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.”

“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 provided.

“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.”

“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 Crocs shoes.”

“These shoes do not require tying, are easy to clean with soap and water, and, most importantly, are 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

Children Incorporated | March 23, 2025

As Luis Bourdet and Yefiny Mena continue their visits to our affiliated sites in Guatemala, Yefiny writes about the Casa Central School, where an inventive program offers students the chance to help others in their own communities.

“One of our greatest satisfactions is knowing that helping these children will positively change their lives by helping them go to school and achieve their goals.”

In the heart of Guatemala City

“Casa Central is located in Guatemala City. At the moment, we have 69 children at this affiliation site. Our coordinator is Sor Alicia G. Morataya, who is also assisted by Lisbet A. Martinez. Our children here attend different schools that go from primary to high school grade. Besides helping the children, they perform other tasks and social work like providing food for homeless people of the community once a week.”

“The Casa Central School is located in the heart of Guatemala City and serves children from low-income families on the periphery of the city, mostly without a stable housing environment, permanent income, and steady provision of educational, nutritional, and health services. The Children Incorporated monthly support helps in the provision of food, school supplies, shoes, and clothing to the participant children,” said Yefiny.

“This is with the purpose of getting them ready to attend local public schools, with very few attending low-cost private schools in the area. Participant children in the Children Incorporated program attend school education all the way from kindergarten to 12th grade, which may prepare them for skill training or for university. However, many are prepared here to initiate the arduous labor life, at least with a high school diploma, which was never available to their parents.”

“The center has some support from a local university by providing students to complete their required practicum, mainly in the Social Services area of their careers. The Center is run by the Congregation of Sisters of Mercy, a Catholic Order dedicated to education, health, and community service missions. The Sisters also run a soup kitchen for indigents here, as well as a home for the elderly,” explained Yefiny.

“The center is a well-care section of the compound, with a large enclosed area for meetings and food distribution and small offices to do social service support and follow-ups. They also have a large kitchen where they prepare food for the indigents. The home for the elderly is in a different location from the center. Children at Casa Central meet here once a month to receive subsidies for nutritious food, hygiene items, clothes, shoes, and at the beginning of each school year for school supplies.”

“According to the coordinator, the help provided to all these children has been tremendous since many of their parents’ economies have been affected after COVID-19, making them struggle to provide for their basic children’s needs. One of our greatest satisfactions is knowing that helping these children will positively change their lives by helping them go to school and achieve their goals, giving them the possibility of having a better future for themselves and their families,” said Yefiny.

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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 that is available for sponsorship.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | February 18, 2025En Español

After four wonderful visits to our affiliated sites in New Orleans, I couldn’t believe our trip was coming to an end as we arrived at our fifth and final school, Samuel J. Green Charter School. As we had done with all of our other visits, Maria met Shayne, Renée, Kristen, and me in front of Samuel Green before we entered.

As we made our way down the walkway, Renée noticed that the name Samuel J. Green Junior High School was carved into the building above the entrance, and commented to Shayne that it was so cool that the name of the original school was the same, even after the charter school system had been put in place so many years ago.

Our final school visit

Shayne agreed, telling us that it was unusual in New Orleans for schools to maintain their original names. It was also common for many charter schools to change their names multiple times, so this was indeed a special circumstance of Samuel Green remaining its namesake. Unlike some of the other schools we had visited as well, Samuel J. Green was not a newer school, and had some of the classic charm of an older, more established school building.

We all entered the school and checked in at the front desk, and then were greeted by our volunteer coordinator, Theressa, who escorted us to her office and resource center, where we chatted for a bit about the school and our sponsorship program.

Samuel Green is located in the Freret Corridor of New Orleans and serves students from all over the city from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. Theressa told us she loves the Children Incorporated program and the sponsors, and it is a delight to help the kids at her school. As with our other schools, she said that affording uniforms is the biggest issue for families with kids at Samuel Green. The uniforms cost roughly $60 each for pants or a skirt and a top, and some kids only have one uniform for all 180 school days in a calendar year. With sponsorship funds, Theressa is able to help ensure students have multiple uniforms, other clothing items such as jackets and long pants for colder months, and hygiene items and school supplies.

Theressa mentioned that the school also has a weekend feeding program for students so they don’t go hungry. Renée encouraged her to apply for our Hope In Action grant program to receive additional support for the feeding program or other needs that sponsored children might have, such as bedding or mattresses for their homes.

With sponsorship funds, Theressa is able to help ensure students have multiple uniforms, other clothing items such as jackets and long pants for colder months, and hygiene items and school supplies.

An edible garden to remember

Once we finished our meeting, Theressa brought in two of our sponsored children for us to meet, and then we took a tour of the school. We visited a few classrooms, the gym and cafeteria, and the cooking classroom where a group of students had just finished making guacamole with ingredients they had grown at the school.

Then Theressa led us outside, where I was stunned to see a vast garden filled with produce that the children helped maintain, and then used the vegetables and herbs to make food in their cooking class! This edible garden project, as Theressa described, was a huge success at the school, and something they were very proud to have as it not only taught children valuable skills like gardening and cooking, but allowed them to be outside and use their hands while learning, which can offer a good break from classroom learning.

As Theressa took us back to the front of the school, it was bittersweet to say goodbye to her and then to Shayne and Maria, who had been such wonderful hosts during our few days in New Orleans. Although our trip was coming to a conclusion, I couldn’t wait to get back to the Children Incorporated office to share stories, photos, and videos with our staff and our sponsors about all the fantastic work we are doing in the Big Easy, all thanks to the generosity of amazing donors.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | December 14, 2024

As our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, continues his visits to our affiliated sites in India, he travels to the state of Andhra Pradesh to meet with our volunteer coordinator and students at the Auxilium School. The Auxilium School recently absorbed another nearby school and continues to be known for its outstanding educational program, which many children benefit from solely thanks to our sponsors.

Arriving in Guntur

“Upon leaving Dornakal, it took us about 4-5 hours of driving to reach the city of Guntur. The large state of Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into two new states: Telangana State and Andhra Pradesh, and the largest city in the original state was Hyderabad. Traditionally, Andhra Pradesh area was more the coastal area, so the state of Andhra Pradesh was assigned to the area of the original state near the coast, and the central area, where Hyderabad, the original capital city, was located, stayed as the State of Telangana. This was a problem for everyone, as most private and public investments had been made for many years in Hyderabad,” said Luis.

“This school provides a very sound education to children from kindergarten to high school. The children receive core classes according to the state’s required curriculum, and the demands for a good education exist.”

“The state has only smaller cities with poor urban infrastructure in the coastal area. To satisfy these concerns, the Indian government worked to create a new capital city for the state of Andhra Pradesh. With the help of local municipal governments, new investments, and the World Bank, they secured a new area for the capital city.”

“Guntur was a small city with poor urban designs and a conglomeration of about 400,000 people in a small area. The new developments started in the city’s outskirts, and more and more companies came to build homes here, and housing construction in the thousands started. The town had a pause during the pandemic, but housing construction and some urban development have been reestablished,” explained Luis.

“The city of Guntur is now bursting with heavy traffic, an affluence of people from all over the state, and chaos. Here, the Catholic Diocese of Gunter and Children Incorporated supports some of the poorest of the poor children. They are children, mostly day workers who previously worked in the fields outside the city, are now absorbed by urban development, and mainly work in services without permanent jobs.”

Meeting with our coordinator

“The Gunter Diocese was supporting hostels in parishes outside the city limits, but one is now swallowed by the city expansion. The diocese sees the need to support the affluence of poor people coming into the city in search of jobs that are not usually available because this is a city in transition. There are no permanent jobs to be had,” said Luis.

“Children Incorporated was supporting two programs here, a private school run by the Catholic Church, the Auxilium School, and a hostel, Stambalagaruvu Hostel, also run by the Catholic Church and supporting children of some of those families that got re-located due to the new development of the city. During our visit, we had many questions about our program, I met with our volunteer coordinator, Mr. Fr. Y. Marreddy. Fr. Marreddy took me to his office and indicated that he oversees Social Programs within the Diocese, including children’s support programs.”

Two schools becoming one

“I learned that the Diocese relied on the local government’s support to upkeep the hostels and that support was suspended recently. For this reason, the priest in charge of the Stambalagaruvu Hostel could no longer sustain the facility. Fr. Marreddy decided to absorb the Stambalagaruvu children into the Auxilium School. Since most live near the facility (Stambalagaruvu hostel is next door to the Auxilium School), he asked the school administrators if they could accept the children and cover the school fees with the sponsorship support funding. The sisters in charge accepted, and since last year, we have had the boys from Stambalagaruvu hostel attend Auxilium School,” explained Luis.

“All parents of the children in our program are very proud of making any sacrifices to make sure their children, even coming from a very humble environment, can attend the school and be proud of the education they are receiving.”

“The Auxilium School is a private school run by the Salesian Sisters, now the Director of the Community, and in charge of the Children Incorporated program there is Sister Bridget Jacob; of course, this is in coordination with Fr. Marreddy. This school provides a very sound education to children from kindergarten to high school. The children receive core classes according to the state’s required curriculum, and the demands for a good education exist. The facilities are ample and in good shape. Professional capacity is provided to all personnel, and the school has an excellent reputation.”

“For this reason, all parents of the children in our program are very proud of making any sacrifices to make sure their children, even coming from a very humble environment, can attend the school and be proud of the education they are receiving,” said Luis.

“The Children Incorporated sponsorship funding is utilized entirely in education. This is for both groups, the original Auxilium School children and the Stambalagaruvu children. An effort to provide all educational materials at the beginning of the year, including backpacks and shoes, is also made. The children are doing great, and all have improved their education.”

“Before my visit ended, I met the children and asked questions about the changes and the school. They all seemed very happy about it, as they see it as an improvement,” said Luis.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | December 3, 2024

We believe in full transparency of our financial management, which protects the trust you place in us as stewards of your generosity. Please contact us if you have any questions about these documents or seek any additional information about our accountability or your contributions. Your generous donations to Children Incorporated are tax deductible and offer tax benefits. Below are some commonly asked questions about tax deductions for contributions made to our organization.

DOES MY contribution QUALIFY FOR A TAX DEDUCTION?

Children Incorporated has been a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization since 1964. Contributions, therefore, may be eligible for tax-deductibility status. We strongly recommend that you consult with your tax advisor when making such determinations.

Your generous donations to Children Incorporated are tax deductible and offer tax benefits. Below are some commonly asked questions about tax deductions for contributions made to our organization.

receiving an annual donation statement

At the end of every fiscal year, Children Incorporated issues annual donation statements through mail and e-mail to every donor who has contributed during the calendar year. You will receive your donation statement either in the mail or by email within the month of January of the preceding year in which you made a donation. Subsequently, you will also receive a donation statement each month of the year that you make a contribution to our organization. If you need a donation statement, please contact our office so we can assist you.

what documents are needed

You will receive a written acknowledgment of your annual donation with the following information.The annual donation document will be needed to claim your tax deduction.

name of our organization and contact information
amount of annual contributions
description/purpose of annual contribution/contributions

WHAT TYPE OF CONTRIBUTIONS are accepted?

We accept various different types of donations that all support children in need and/or help us operate our organization to its fullest capacity. Donations to one of our many special funds go to supporting community needs, covering operational expenses for Children Incorporated, and helping families in times of crisis. You can read more about these funds and how they are changing the lives of those in need by visiting our donation portal on our website.

When you make a contribution to your sponsored child, those funds are designated for the child specifically. Additionally, you can make a contribution to that child above the $35 a month for general needs, birthdays, and holidays. Children Incorporated welcomes your generous contributions for the benefit of your sponsored child/children, which will be disbursed with regular monthly subsidies to the child/children’s site. To enable our affiliated site volunteers to have even more purchasing power for the needs of the child, any contributions made in the amount of $5 or below will be accumulated over several months and forwarded twice a year.

Details on eligibility for tax deductions based on location

To find out information about eligibility for tax deductions within your state, please visit the link below:

TAX ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION BY STATE

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD