Tag Archives: sponsor

Shelley Callahan | January 12, 2021En 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 | January 11, 2021En Español

Our sponsors and donors are often the only reason children in our program receive holiday gifts and for that, we are incredibly grateful — especially after an exceptionally difficult year for kids around the world.

After receiving photos and stories from our volunteer coordinators about how much the Christmas gifts you provided meant to children living in poverty, we wanted to share with you some of their heartfelt thanks for the gratitude you show through your sponsorships.

After receiving photos and stories from our volunteer coordinators about how much the Christmas gifts you provided meant to children living in poverty, we wanted to share with you some of their heartfelt thanks for the gratitude you show through your sponsorships.

Thank you from New Mexico

“Even though shopping for the children in the Children Incorporated program became difficult due to the pandemic and lockdown on the Navajo Nation, we were able to have the kids order from our virtual book fair for the holidays. We also placed an order from Teach the Children Educational Supply Co. for educational board games for them to take home. We also ordered containers filled with school supplies they can use starting in January. Teach the Children is so awesome and helpful that they mark each container with the students’ names, and we don’t have to do much except distribute! The kids also received toys and a treat bag. All of these gifts will allow the children to spend safe quality time at home. We will also have our children on the program to shop at our small local Farmer’s Market for the holidays for food items.”

We are very grateful to our sponsors.

Phyllis and Karen
Dzilth Community School
New Mexico

Happy Holidays from Kentucky

Our sponsored children are so thankful to have received Christmas gifts in December.

“Thank you for all the support you give our children. You are our backbone. We couldn’t survive without Children Incorporated. Merry Christmas to all Children Incorporated staff and sponsors!”

Sandy
Beaver Creek Elementary School
Knott County, Kentucky

Wishing a Merry Christmas in Lebanon

“Dear Friends,

Greetings from Lebanon! We will never forget 2020, the year that has been and still is full of challenges in Lebanon and the world.

We are very thankful for all Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (FAID) friends and supporters who were so generous and did not hesitate to give FAID a helping hand in this difficult time. Through your generosity, FAID was able to support our students’ families with food parcels, hygiene items, voucher gifts to buy from the market and transportation allowance for the most-needy students. The most important support was the love and care towards FAID and its mission.

Despite the restrictions due to COVID-19, we have been able to offer a full timetable and lots of extracurricular activities, keeping our pupils learning, socializing and safe. We all had a chance to evaluate just what FAID means to each of us.

We are forever indebted to our wonderful staff that developed skills overnight to take on a high-quality home learning experience.”

Gladys
The Father Andweg Institute for the Deaf
Beirut, Lebanon

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How do I sponsor a child?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | December 27, 2020En 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 | December 20, 2020En 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 | December 10, 2020

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

Shelley Callahan | October 20, 2020

Just in this past month, your support of children in our program has:

– Provided funds to the Marillac School for the purchase of computers and kitchen equipment after recent flooding in El Salvador

– Provided funds for the completion of housing in Nicaragua for families in need

Families in Guatemala are receiving bags of food thanks to support from our sponsors and donors.

– Provided for the completion of an apartment for a family of children in our program in Colombia

– Provided for food for 25 children at Santa Isabel Ana Seton in Guatemala

– Offered funding to replace a damaged part of the primary school roof at the Dandora Community Center in Kenya

– Provided 1800 mosquito nets for all children enrolled in our program in Kenya

– Provided food for 25 underprivileged children in Ethiopia

– Provided extra hygiene items to kids in Kentucky due to COVID-19

– Provided warm clothing to children in Kentucky and North Carolina

… All in addition to the basic needs support of clothes, shoes, school supplies and hygiene items that you already provide through sponsorship to children in our program. Thank you for everything that you do for kids in need!

More about our work

In the United States, we work in nine states, both in inner cities and rural areas, including in the Navajo Nation. We also work in 20 countries in Central America, South America, Asia and Africa. Sponsoring a child provides basic necessities to him or her, such as food, clothing, healthcare, and an education. These essentials, so often taken for granted, are vital to a child’s growth — both as an individual and as a contributing member of their local community. Sponsorship provides an underprivileged child with basic and education-related necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, school supplies and tuition payments. This vital support allows vulnerable children to develop to their full potential — physically, emotionally and socially.

You can help a child living in poverty by donating to our Special Funds. Donations go towards providing support for our feeding programs, income-generating projects, skills training programs, as well as school expansions, medical clinic repairs and housing improvements.

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