Tag Archives: sponsors

Shelley Callahan | December 8, 2024

As he continues visiting our affiliated sites in India, Luis Bourdet, our Director of International Programs, meets with our volunteer coordinator at the J. Calvitt Clarke Home, who discusses how our sponsors are helping to keep young children from having to work instead of getting an education.

“The children come from rural communities around the area, but they may not have a school available near their villages. Therefore, they come to Dornakal for education.”

About the J. Calvitt Clarke Home

“The town of Dornakal, located about 100 miles east of Hyderabad in the southeastern Indian state of Telangana, is a region where poverty is extensive, especially in years when droughts destroy the rice harvest,” said Luis.

“Since so many families cannot adequately provide for their children’s education or basic needs, our affiliated site, J. Calvitt Clarke Home, serves as a beacon of hope. The home serves impoverished children in this region while also investing in their futures.”

“I visited the J. Calvitt Clarke Home this past summer, which is one of the oldest facilities in the Dornakal Diocese. I met with our new coordinator, Mr. Prabhakar, who told me about how the home provides boarding and school support to a little less than 40 children. The children come from rural communities around the area where they may not have a school available near their villages. Therefore, they come to Dornakal to board full-time during the school year and receive an education,” explained Luis.

How sponsors are making a difference

“The students at J. Calvitt have a busy schedule during the day, just as in the other homes I had visited during my time in India. The children are fed early in the morning and then sent to school. After school, they have a short time for recreation; then, it is time for homework. This hostel is for boys, and they are happy to be able to get an education, as most parents work in the fields, and the children would be there helping if not for being here and attending school.”

“All basic needs for the children are covered through the Children Incorporated program sponsor support. I did notice that the facilities need some improvement, as the dorm is large and could accommodate more children, but they would need more support to grow their attendance. The dorm was updated with the help of Children Incorporated some years ago, but without any maintenance, it needs upgrades, painting, and repairs in some areas. It has a large U-shaped main building, with a locker room and toilets at each end of the building and the dorm and homework room in the middle. The dining hall building is also used for homework,” said Luis.

“Regardless of the need for repairs, the boys are very happy in the home, and the support they receive from their sponsors is immense. I truly believe that our sponsors are the reason these deserving children are able to go to school and develop into educated young men.”

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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 | 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

Renee Kube | November 25, 2024En Español

Cowan Elementary School, located off State Highway 931 in the Dongola community, just south of Whitesburg, Kentucky, serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade. It’s worth noting that Dongola, the school’s physical address, lost its post office, so the school’s mailing address is now Whitesburg.

When visiting the school and meeting with Lynn, it was apparent that Lynn was very dedicated to the students in many ways.

With a growing student population of about 287, Cowan Elementary School is reaching a significant milestone. For many years, its Family Resource Youth Services Center has been combined with that of West Whitesburg Elementary School, another affiliate of Children Incorporated. However, the school’s growth now justifies the establishment of its own Family Resource Center, a testament to its progress.

Visiting with Lynn

For a long time now, Donna has been supporting the Children Incorporated sponsorship program at Cowan. Sadly, Donna was stricken with a severe illness. In August 2023, the Board of Education hired a substitute for Donna. The sub is Lynn, a retired former coordinator. Thus, Lynn started at Cowan with an excellent understanding of our organization with the help of Donna.

This is also a high-poverty community, with 77% of the children coming from low-income families. Lynn’s office is packed with items for the children, given as needed. She mentioned that our sponsorship program is a big help, as providing these growing children with basic needs is constant.

The halls of Cowan Elementary School are brightly decorated with students’ artwork.

When visiting the school and meeting with Lynn, it was apparent that Lynn was very dedicated to the students in many ways, one of which was through her weekend food program. The food bags are assembled and ready for Friday afternoon distribution, ensuring the children have enough to eat over the weekend. The clothes closet, a mix of new items and donations, further demonstrates the school’s commitment to providing for its students. Shoes are so expensive. During our meeting, Lynn said that when she sees a good sale, she tries to buy a few extra pairs. She keeps them on hand when children come to her when they’ve outgrown their current pair.

meeting some special students

After seeing the Resource Center and chatting with Lynn, I had a chance to meet some of our sponsored children during my visit. The first boy I met was Jack*, who was in fifth grade. He is outgoing and has a great sense of humor. Jack comes from a large household consisting of his parents, three sisters, and two brothers. The father is self-employed, working on cars, and the mother is a cashier at a convenience store. The family lives in a modest mobile home, and the parents need help with all household expenses. Jack was enrolled in our sponsorship program last December and is waiting for a sponsor.

Next, I enjoyed talking with Nicki*, who was also in the fifth grade. Nicki is an only child, and her grandparents are raising her. Nicki’s grandfather works as a pharmacy technician at a drugstore in Whitesburg, and her grandmother is a homemaker. The grandparents are caring and conscientious, but they are struggling financially. Nicki was also enrolled in our program in December, and at my visit, she had just been matched with a sponsor.

*Names changed to protect the children.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Children Incorporated | November 24, 2024

Child sponsorship involves pairing a supporting donor with a child in need. The donor (who we refer to as the sponsor) donates monthly to support their sponsored children with basic needs such as food, clothing, hygiene items, and educational assistance such as tuition or school supplies.

When a family doesn’t have to worry about a child’s basic needs being met, they can concentrate on working towards improving their situation, which is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty.

Child sponsorship is one of the most effective ways to help end child poverty. For $35 a month, you not only meet the child’s most immediate basic needs but also provide them with an education that will allow them to pursue higher education or obtain employment in the future.

The sponsorship relationship enables a sponsor to help support an impoverished child through monthly contributions and the exchange of correspondence with the sponsored child if the sponsor so desires. A sponsor’s friendship and encouragement are priceless to a child in such circumstances. Indeed, many children value the relationships they establish with their sponsors as much as they appreciate the financial support they receive from them. There is also an opportunity to build a profound relationship between a sponsor and a child.

How sponsorship directly benefits children, families and communities

Sponsorship provides a child with basic and education-related necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare, school supplies, and tuition payments. This vital support allows children living in poverty to develop to their full potential — physically, emotionally, and socially. Our policy is to consider each sponsored child’s needs individually. Our volunteer coordinators personally shop for the children enrolled in our program and choose items based on each child’s personal circumstances and needs.

Additionally, because the support for the child is financial, families greatly benefit from the sponsorship of one of their children or multiple children. When a family doesn’t have to worry about a child’s basic needs being met, they can concentrate on working towards improving their situation, which is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty. Furthermore, child sponsorship helps children to grow into responsible, educated adults who are able to contribute to their own communities. Many of our sponsored children who grew up in the Children Incorporated program have become social workers, principals, teachers, doctors, and other professionals.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | November 19, 2024En Español

After visiting the second of three of our affiliated sites in Mexico, it was time for Ron Carter, Yefiny Mena, and myself to travel from San Miguel de Allende to Guadalajara, where we would be meeting with our volunteer coordinator at the La Luz Home.

Remembering the visit before

When I was at La Luz two years ago with our Director of International Programs, Luis Bourdet, a few of the children at the home stood out to me — most specifically, a small boy named Christian. Christian was only 3 years old at the time, which was younger than the other children there, who usually were 4 to 14 years old. He was allowed to stay at the home at such a young age because his older brother was there as well, and La Luz works to keep siblings together as much as possible since these children already have had challenging lives, with one or both parents in jail or otherwise unable to take care of their kids.

In the morning, after we arrived in Guadalajara, we were scheduled to visit the home. Isabella, who works at La Luz, and Liz, our volunteer coordinator, picked us up at our hotel. Along with them in the La Luz van were a few children — including an older Christian! Just as I remembered him, Christian was smiling ear to ear and excitedly chatted with us as we made our way through the city.

Seeing La Luz Again

When we arrived at La Luz, the children filed out of the van and hurried inside, eager to show us around. We started our tour of the home by visiting the boys’ dorm. No longer a small boy with a limited vocabulary, Christian talked in detail about the boys’ lockers, the art supply closet, and how the kitchen was organized, including showing us where they kept their pet rabbit’s food.

We then left Christian and the other boys behind to play in the courtyard, and continued our visit of the home with Liz, who showed us the central kitchen, the laundry room, the girls’ dorm, the study rooms, and the events hall.

Getting to see a glimpse of Christian and the other children growing up in a healthy environment was the most wonderful end to such a special trip to Mexico.

Liz explained that 25 children currently lived at the home, along with five sisters who were full-time staff members. A social worker was also at the home during the week to support the children and conduct home visits as needed. As Liz explained, some of the children have caretakers to go home to on the weekends, and some live at the home all week long. All the children attend local public schools, which are only a few minutes away by van.

Why sponsors are so important

Liz told us that the home is funded by a local hospital located next door, and although this ensures they can maintain the building and feed the children, there aren’t a lot of funds left over for other basic needs. Because of this, our sponsors, according to Liz, are incredibly helpful in ensuring the children have school uniforms, school supplies, and hygiene items while living at home. From everything I could see, this group of children was incredibly happy to have such a wonderful place to live where they had a caring staff and were surrounded by their peers.

Before the day ended, the children performed songs and dances for us, and I couldn’t help but notice just how delighted Christian was to be showing us the routine that he had practiced with the other kids. Getting to see a glimpse of Christian and the other children growing up in a healthy environment was the perfect end to such a special trip to Mexico.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD

Shelley Callahan | November 11, 2024

After a wonderful visit to Casa Santa Ines in Mexico City, I couldn’t wait for our President and CEO, Ron Carter, to visit our next affiliated site, Santa Julia, which is a four-hour bus ride away in San Miguel de Allende.

Ron, our International Programs Specialist Yefiny, and I arrived in San Miguel in the late afternoon. We planned to meet with Lily, who works in the administrative offices of Santa Julia, the day after. We were able to get a good night’s rest, and the following morning, Lily picked us up at the hotel in a van used to transport the children who live at the home to and from school.

We made the short drive to Santa Julia, hidden in a small neighborhood not far from the center of San Miguel de Allende, tucked away safely behind a large security door and tall concrete walls surrounding the property.

Learning about the girls

As we drove, Lily explained to Luis and Yefiny that the government chooses which children live at Santa Julia, and at most, they can host up to 30 girls, who may stay for as little as two days or for as long as until they reach 18 years of age and can legally live on their own. These girls are coming from the most unfortunate circumstances, said Lily, as they are forcibly removed from their parents due to abuse, drug use, or other criminal activity. Many of them won’t ever see their parents again. At the time of our visit, there were only 14 girls at the home, ages 4 to 17 years old, and a few of them had already been there for many years.

After entering through the large gates of the property, we saw a few girls sitting on a bench in the courtyard. Lily explained that because today was the Inauguration Day of the new president in Mexico, the children were not in school and, therefore, were available to visit with us all day! We greeted them warmly and then began to tour the vast facility of Santa Julia.

A tour of Santa Julia

First, Lily took us to see the dorms, separated by age, on each of the three floors of the building. We also saw the kitchen, dining room, art room, library, classrooms, laundry room, and the administrative offices of the staff that work at Santa Julia. All the girls in attendance go to local public schools that are only 10 minutes away by car, and after school and on the weekends, they enjoy activities such as gardening, horticulture, tennis, and classes in baking and cosmetology.

Lily expressed that the staff at Santa Juila felt it was important that the girls find skills they can be excited about early in their development because many of them will be on their own when they reach legal adult age. If they find hobbies they enjoy while growing up at the home, they might be able to use those skills, like cooking and gardening, to find employment later, which is something that will help them immensely with being independent once they leave Santa Julia. Lily explained that she worries about the older girls who don’t have anywhere to go once they leave the home, and she wants them to be as prepared as possible for living on their own and taking care of themselves.

It was a lot to let sink in thinking about how these girls don’t have a family to return to — but, thanks to the care they receive at Santa Julia and the support from their Children Incorporated sponsors, they don’t have anything to worry about while they are growing up. Surrounded by a loving staff and other children who are like sisters to one another, each of these girls can concentrate on learning and just being kids in a loving environment.

After our tour ended, the girls gathered together to say goodbye with a song and then happily got back to playing, reading, or doing homework around the property. We said our goodbyes to Lily as well, who thanked us and our sponsors profusely for everything we were able to do to help these otherwise vulnerable children have a safe upbringing.

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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?

SPONSOR A CHILD