Tag Archives: sponsor a child

Renee Kube | September 30, 2024En Español

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

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

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

partnering to help children in need

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

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

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

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

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

A letter from Miranda

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

Dear Children Incorporated,

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

Best,
Miranda

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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

Children Incorporated | September 23, 2024

Our volunteer coordinator, Genevieve, at Sebastian Elementary School in Kentucky, writes to us to express how much of an impact our program has had on the children at her school and herself.

A Letter from Genevieve

As a Family Resource Youth Services Center Coordinator, I would like to shine a bright spotlight on Children Incorporated. There is no other program that helps children in our area like this one. It amazes me how quickly Children Incorporated responds to crises; I always call Children Incorporated “My First Responder.”

“I believe strongly in its mission and hope to build a brighter future and offer faith to little souls out there in the world.”

In times of flood, fire, or the death of a loved one, this program is the best. I have been at this educational facility for 19 years, and the children who walk through our doors always know where to turn for extra support from a caring pen pal in the form of a sponsor. With a third of our student population being raised by a relative, not the parent, Children Incorporated steps in with a much-needed resource.

When I retire in a few short years, my first plan is to become a sponsor for a child enrolled in the Children Incorporated program. This is the beginning of my bucket list, and I am deeply committed to this program. I believe strongly in its mission and hope to build a brighter future and offer faith to little souls out there in the world.

Being a volunteer coordinator has been an amazing blessing to me, and I want to pay it back. I never want to stop participating in this program, which I love.

Once again, thank you for letting me have a small part in helping in the lives of the children.

your impact through hope in action

Sponsorship is one of many ways you, our loyal supporters, help impoverished children every month. Additionally, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors who have made contributions to our Hope In Action Fund in the last month, we have been able to:

– Provide funding for the medical needs of the children at the Juan Apostol School in Guatemala
– Provide funds to purchase nutritious meals for students at Santa Isabel Ana Seton in Guatemala for one month
– Provide funds to purchase snacks for students at Alleghany High School in North Carolina
– Provide funds for the daily meals for 25 children for an entire month at Kids’ Hope Ethiopia
– Provide funds to offer nutritional meals to 40 children for an entire month at the Visayans Center in the Philippines
– Provide funding to purchase hygiene items for students at Rogers Elementary School in Kentucky
– Provide funds to purchase shelving supplies for the coordinator at Buckhorn Combined School in Kentucky for her resource center
– Provide funds to purchase a new refrigerator for a family of a sponsored child who attends Highland-Turner Elementary School in Kentucky

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 | September 15, 2024En Español

As our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, continues his visits to our affiliated sites in India, he discusses his time at the St. Mary’s Girls’ Hostel, where young women from rural areas are offered the chance for a well-rounded education while having a safe place to live.

“Our program support is crucial in providing food, covering home expenses, and funding educational activities for the children.”

A history of the home

“The St. Mary’s Home for Girls is located in a large city about one hour away from Dornakal. It was formerly a home for polio rehabilitation patients but has now been converted into a hostel for children who want an education but live in rural areas where schools may not be available,” said Luis.

During my visit, Ms. Esther Celina Moses, the Children Incorporated coordinator for the St. Mary’s Girls’ Hostel, shared some important updates. She mentioned that more children are seeking help from our sponsorship program, as the pandemic has severely affected the city’s employment opportunities. Our program support is crucial in providing food, covering home expenses, and funding educational activities for the children. This really showed me just how much of a vital role our organization plays in supporting the hostel and the children it serves.”

Needing Additional Support

“Despite the challenges, the children are resilient and are making the most of the opportunities provided at the home. I told the coordinator that the facilities need some improvement and let her know that she can ask for support from our organization for things such as improvements so the girls have an even better situation while living there. The children seem happy to be there and glad to have the opportunity to be educated. After meeting the girls and having a meeting with Ms. Moses, I left the facility for the day after a small cultural presentation from the children in the program,” said Luis.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | August 27, 2024

Our volunteer coordinator, Katarina, at Cardinal Elementary School in Virginia, wrote to us recently to thank our sponsors for their invaluable support.

Katarina’s Letter

“For the third consecutive year, I’ve had the privilege of working with the Children Incorporated program. The impact of this program on the lives of the 25 children we serve is truly remarkable. Each child received clothing for the winter and summer, ensuring they were appropriately dressed throughout the school year. However, a few instances truly underscored the importance and impact of the monthly contributions.”

“I will forever be in awe and sing the praises of this program made possible by our dedicated sponsors.”

“One in particular that stood out was when a 5^th-grade boy spent the first two weeks of school without clothing. I contacted their guardians and explained that the child did not have clothing to start attending school. He had gone through a growth spurt over the summer; whereas he was in boys’ sizes at the end of last school year, he was now wearing men’s clothing. I could purchase him clothes that fit well, and he began to attend school the day after they were delivered.”

“This is a testament to the consistent success of Children Incorporated, a success that would not be possible without the steadfast support of our sponsors. Their contributions, both financial and moral, are what make it possible for us to provide children with clean, well-fitting clothes. This restores their dignity and alleviates the fear of standing out or being bullied. It eliminates a barrier to their education, and relieving this burden from their young shoulders brings back the joy of childhood. I will forever be in awe and sing the praises of this program made possible by our dedicated sponsors.”

your impact through hope in action

– Provide nutritious meals for children at Sagrada Familia in Guatemala
– Provide funds to purchase school supplies for children at Phelps Elementary School in Kentucky who are yet to have sponsors
– Provide funds to purchase clothing and shoes for children to start the school year at Fallsburg Elementary School in Kentucky
– Provide funds for the daily meals for 25 children for an entire month at Kids’ Hope Ethiopia
– Provide funds to offer nutritional meals to 40 children for an entire month at the Visayans Center in the Philippines
– Provide classroom supplies for the new school year for students at Arile Boggs Elementary School in Kentucky
– Provide funds to purchase new backpacks for students at Hindman Elementary School in Kentucky
– Provide funds to purchase nutritious meals for 25 students at the Dandora Center in Kenya for one month

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

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Renee Kube | August 5, 2024

Stuart-Hobson Middle School is located in Ward 6. This ward is truly the heart of Washington, D.C.’s history. It is the only ward situated within the original city’s boundaries as outlined in the L’Enfant Plan. The southeastern tip of Ward 6 is also the confluence of the city’s two rivers, the Potomac and the Anacostia. The ward has an extensive collection of historic resources. Its communities range from industrial to military to residential houses – and houseboats. The ward also has public housing projects and a lot of struggling families.

Angeline emphasized that school is seen as a stable haven. The entire staff is supportive of the children.

The school is part of the Capitol Hill Cluster School, a unique D.C. public school spread across three Capitol Hill campuses spanning pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Stuart-Hobson Middle School serves sixth through eighth-grade students, combining the warmth of a neighborhood school with a full range of academics and extracurricular activities. The school is a Title I school with a student population of about 508 that is predominantly black.

The demographics are 80% black, 12% white, 5% Hispanic/Latino, and 3% other. 17% receive some kind of special education services, and 36% come from low-income families.

Stuart-Hobson offers Honors English and accelerated math classes and the chance to earn high school credits. All students create projects for History Day and the Science Fair. Wellness/fitness offerings include a variety of athletics, including baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, soccer, track, volleyball, and wrestling. Arts and cultural offerings include art, band (orchestral, funk, and jazz), chorus, and drama. There’s an after-school extended day program that provides tutoring as well as enrichment opportunities such as camera and cooking clubs.

Angeline is seen showing Renée supplies during her visit to Stuart-Hobson Middle School.

This is a uniform school. Students are required to wear red polo shirts with the school logo and khaki pants.

Our coordinator here is Angeline. She is new and full of energy and enthusiasm. Our visit started with a presentation by Angeline on Communities In Schools (our implementing partner in Washington, D.C.) and its proven model of providing a community of support for the children. We were joined by Assistant Principal Taylor. After the presentation, Angeline called several Children Incorporated-enrolled students to her office. While we waited for them, she showed us her stock of hygiene items, backpacks, and school supply kits. After we met with the students, it was time to take a tour of the school.

Dr. Taylor’s pride in his students was apparent as we walked and talked. He explained that while many of Stuart-Hobson’s students come from Ward 6, a significant percentage are from other wards. Parents may apply for their students to attend schools outside their neighborhood boundaries so long as there is room. Stuart-Hobson is seen as a “destination middle school.”

The school has been in existence since the 1920s, although, as Dr. Taylor mentioned to me, until 1954, it was for whites only. Students have helped with archiving old records and artifacts for posterity, and the faculty has been able to help the children appreciate their school’s history and the importance of Brown versus The Board of Education, which brought about school desegregation in the United States.

The school also has an excellent sports program and robust music and drama programs, where the students are involved in every aspect, from acting to stage management to lighting and sound. The school is also known for having better-than-average standardized test scores. Many of the students get into the more desirable high schools.

We are grateful to be able to support students at this middle school, thanks to our sponsors and donors.

Dr. Taylor told us that many of the children come from difficult backgrounds and have to cope with adult-level problems. They wake their younger siblings and get them ready for school, and they are coping with transportation issues, too. Many are often tardy and are regularly absent.

Angeline emphasized that school is seen as a stable haven. The entire staff is supportive of the children. There are a lot of offerings to keep them occupied during regular school hours as well as during the after-school program, such as with clubs include art, cooking and photography. Overall, this is a great affiliated site for Children Incorporated, and we are grateful to be able to support students at this middle school, thanks to our sponsors and donors.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | July 28, 2024En Español

Today, as a part of our July 2024 Impact Report, we share a letter from our volunteer coordinator Paula at Herald Whitaker Middle School in Kentucky, who expresses her gratitude for our sponsorship program.

Hearing from Paula

“Being a resource coordinator, we are supposed to do and incorporate many things into our job. I educate my students on hygiene, self-care, self-love, and understanding the impact and importance of these things.”

“Children Incorporated helps eliminate some of the challenges these students and their families face.”

“The Children Incorporated sponsorship program has a wonderful impact on my students. Children Incorporated helps me to make sure students’ needs are met every day they attend school. I love how the students receive gifts on their birthday, which makes the students feel special and not forgotten about. The anticipation and excitement on the students’ faces are very rewarding. Thanks to the sponsors for making this happen.”

“Building a relationship with these students is my top priority. I love being able to earn the students’ trust. I am able to pull them into my office and ask what their specific needs are. With the combination of my Family Resource Center and Children Incorporated, everything we do can be life-changing for these students.”

Thanks to their sponsors, children at the Tecpan School in Guatemala received school supplies and clothes to take home this month!

“I truly believe that if some of these students didn’t have sponsors, they wouldn’t be able to attend school. Children Incorporated helps eliminate some of the challenges these students and their families face. Thank you for everything.”

Sincerely,
Paula

your impact through hope in action

Sponsorship is not the only way you, our loyal supporters, help impoverished children every month. Additionally, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors who have made contributions to our Hope In Action Fund in the last month, we have been able to:

– Provide nutritious meals to 30 children for a month at Santa Isabel Ana Seton in Guatemala
– Provide funds to purchase nutritional meals for 25 children for an entire month at the Dandora Center in Kenya
– Provide funds to purchase 200 meals for children at the St. John’s Community Center in Kenya
– Provide funds for daily meals for 25 children for an entire month at Kids’ Hope Ethiopia
– Provide funds to offer nutritional meals to 40 children for an entire month at the Visayans Center in the Philippines
– Provide backpacks and school supplies for children at Fallsburg Elementary School in Kentucky

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

***

How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD