Share In Their Future

Typhoon Strikes the Philippines, Your Help is Needed!

   

The powerful typhoon Ketsana hit the Philippines this past weekend. Specifically, the devastation in the Manila metropolitan area is dramatic. Early estimates indicate that about 80,000 people have been affected, with more than 100 missing (some consider this a conservative figure.)

The two CI projects located within the Manila metropolitan area were affected--especially the Fortune Center in Marikina City.  As far as we have been able to discern, the children on our program are fine.  Our Fortune Center representatives are distributing food supplies and cooking soup for some of the families who now have no jobs and cannot purchase food.  They are helping as best they can. Below are excerpts from the project coordinator's e-mail filling us in on the situation:

"Marikina City was the hardest hit in this latest of the devastation in our country.  We saw pictures via the internet and it sent shivers down my spine as this is the most horrendous so far.  I have experienced many floods and storm and typhoons of all kinds but this last one is too terrible to even imagine! I was able to get in touch with my family only the following day as the phone lines were down, and no power and even cellsites were affected.  They had to go to outside areas in order to get in touch with them. My children started a soup kitchen, as soon as the floods cleared up a little bit.  They bought rice to give away and milk and sugar too.  Grace, our pastor and asssistant coordinator, and the other Fortune mothers did the cooking and distribution to our people in the Riverside area--many are our Children Inc. kids.  None of them were hurt but they were cold and wet and hungry.  Most of their homes lie very near the banks of the river and even if it is just monsoon rains they get flooded and have to move to higher grounds.  Our center is open for such a disaster like this though I have not yet heard from Grace, as communications are still down, but they know they are most welcome in our center and there is hot food available.  This is one great feeling I have, I am assured Grace is gung ho, always ready like a proverbial girl scout and ready to help out.  It is good that the foundation has also acquired a van for easy access and quick distribution. I will update you on the latest as soon as I hear more from Grace. I am glad to hear the concern in your letter, as I know you love our people like you do love your own.  For that I am most grateful!

-Polly, Project Coordinator at the Fortune Center

We are calling on all friends of Children, Inc. to please help us to raise funds to help with the feeding efforts for the families struggling in the wake of this disaster. Financial donations would go towards food, school supplies and clothing for our CI children and their families. This is a great example of how giving to the Annual Fund can really help those in need in the wake of a disaster. To give to the Annual Fund, please visit https://ssl.children-inc.org/UrgentNeeds.aspx and scroll down to the second paragraph "Seeds of Hope Annual Fund." If you have questions about helping this specific cause, please call us at 1-800-538-5381 or email us at lsweeney@children-inc.org. Please keep these people in your thoughts!

 

Spotlight on Latin America: Honduras

Below is a message we recieved recently from one of our projects in El Refugio, Honduras:

"Here in Honduras we are going through critical difficulties--economic and political crises that multiply each day. We have observed the preoccupation that exists among the families that we serve at the project. Everyone shares their fear of losing the valuable Children, Incorporated assistance. I tell them to have faith that this will not happen. I assure them that Children, Incorporated's financial and moral assistance is something we have always been able to count on. Other non profits come and go but Children, Incorporated is always there, steady as a rock. At this time, more than ever, the families need their sponsor's support. Families do not earn enough these days and the price of the basic foodstuffs has increased tremendously. You should see the boys' and girls' faces light up when they receive mail and gifts from their loving sponsors! They feel so important to be acknowledged by their sponsors. This is very important in building their self-esteem."

--Maria Esther Contreras, volunter project coordinator

A Wish Come True for Nora

As those of you who are sponsors know, giving to a child through sponsorship is so vital to their health and well-being. When you give to a child in the form of sponsorship, you give them a consistent source of aid for their most basic needs. You also give them someone to count on, to look to in their time of need. Unfortunately, although CI sponsors support countless children already, there are still over 2,000 children waiting for a sponsor's help. A lot of times, those children happen to be some of the older ones in the program. In perhaps one of the most crucial times of their lives--developmentally, emotionally and educationally, many of these kids just aren't getting all the help they need.

So it comes as a welcome light of hope when we hear stories about such children finally getting the help they need. Recently, an adolescent girl from one of our partner high schools in Kentucky named Nora got the support she desperately needed. Nora is living in a pop-up camper with her mother, sister and brother while they look for an apartment they can afford. Nora's father is desceased and her mother, unemployed. The day after we recieved Nora's enrollment information, the volunteer at her high school told Children, Incorporated that one of her students had asked to be removed from the program due to improved financial circumstances. Because of her great need, we chose Nora to take the place of the boy leaving our program. Today we got the email below from the high school's volunteer regarding the choice of Nora as the "substitute" sponsored child.

“God works in mysterious ways...in ways that sometimes we just can't explain.  Nora dropped by my office yesterday asking if I had heard anything about a sponsorship.  I thought to myself with all the students that are younger and enrolled already waiting for a new sponsor...that she would at best have a slim chance of being sponsored.   I should never underestimate the power from above.

She is very, very much in need and will be so excited when I tell her the great news.  Thank you...”

Back to School Shopping 2009 Video

Here's a wrap up of the very successful Back to School Shopping trips from this year. These trips benefit children from Richmond Public Schools in Virginia. Enjoy!

Video from Bambu, Costa Rica project

Below is a video that Isaac from Tropical Adventures shared with us recently. It's a great example of how your support amounts to BIG differences in the lives of those we serve through our programs. Isaac has been working with Kelsi on the Bambu, Costa Rica project. Enjoy!

Nussentials Continues to Give Back to Kids in the U.S.

 Marian Cummins, far left visiting two sponsors in Florida with Liz Sweeney, far right

Children, Inc. Director of Marketing and Donor Development Liz Sweeney and CEO Marian Cummins just returned from a very successful trip to Boca Raton, Florida where they were able to be a part of the Nussentials Corporation Annual Meeting. Nussentials contributed a total of $50,162 in sponsorships for U.S. children! Below is Liz S.'s report on the trip...

The trip was a BIG success!  We were able to have face-to-face visits with 6 donors in the area and meet with over 200 Nussentials reps.  Meeting with the individual donors was such a treat.  They were all so excited to meet someone from CI and couldn’t believe that we would take the time to visit with them.  All were so complimentary of the work that each of you does and the over-all dedication of the staff. 

 

Both Marian and I gave talks to the Nussentials folks on Saturday, at their annual meeting.  After our talk, they presented us with a check for $50,162!  Thanks to sponsor Bonnie Halperin, we also had a benefit reception at Saks Fifth Ave on Sunday afternoon.  Saks presented us with a check as well for our Haven Fund.

Nussentials also had a silent auction for us where they auctioned off soy candles that were absolutely beautiful!  The auction raised an additional $660.

 

One of the Nussentials teams in DC is also making it their goal to find sponsors for all of our new DC kids. As D.C. is a brand new program, grassroots support like this is outstanding! We look forward to many more years of collaboration with Nussentials. Their assistance has meant so much to the children on our program.  

 

-Liz S.

 

Sponsor thinks outside the box to help children in need

Gloria, a CI sponsor and volunteer, is pictured here with two children supported through CI's Appalachian Division

 

Our sponsors are finding creative ways to help children in need and spread the word about our mission.

 

Gloria, a sponsor from Wisconsin, recently wrapped up a clothing and supplies drive she initiated and coordinated all on her own. She gathered just under 1000 pieces of clothing and shoes, plus countless hygiene items to benefit children at Southside, East Ridge, and Beaver Creek Elementary schools, which are all part of our Appalachian Division.

 

The gathering of these materials was no easy feat for just one volunteer. Gloria did some grassroots fundraising, with help from her husband Dennis and one other volunteer. They set up a booth at a local fair. Within just one day, the small team was able to raise $400!!

 

Gloria diversified her fundraising efforts. Each year, Harley Davidson hosts a customer appreciation lunch where they allow a non-profit to be highlighted. This time around that non-profit was Children, Incorporated! Gloria brought information about CI, put a poster up and explained to the audience what their donations would go towards. The group was very generous--totaling $382 in donations!

 

This effort wasn't just about collecting money. Gloria also bagged and labeled all of the clothing and supplies herself. She was met with challenges--not only was there simply a great volume to deal with, but she also tried valiantly to organize the clothing by size and gender. No doubt this is a task usually handled by a much larger team of volunteers--so kudos to you, Gloria!

 

How can one sponsor accomplish as much as Gloria has? "This is endearing to my heart so it's not like work for me," Gloria said of the project. "...our efforts [have been] very gratifying."

 

Thank you, Gloria--on behalf of Children, Incorporated, for helping so many children by giving your time and energy to this important cause. No doubt the young ones are incredibly grateful for your hard work!

 

As Margaret Mead once said, "Never underestimate the power of a small group of dedicated people to change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

Back to School Shopping a Great Success!

                                                  

 We are halfway through our Back to School Shopping trips at Target. Thanks to your generous support through donations of both money and time, this initiative is going very well!

These trips are part of our Inner City Division. Thus far, Richmond children at Maymont, Westover Hills, and Blackwell Elementary schools have benefitted from a full set of new clothing, shoes and a backpack full of new school supplies. Though simple, these gifts help children to start off on the right foot in the new school year, proud of their new clothing and prepared for the classroom.

Still left to go are children at Oak Grove, Summer Hill and Swansboro Elementary schools. We look forward to sharing the success from these trips, as well! And thanks to all the volunteers thus far, including those from Cavalier, Banana Republic, Scott & Stringfellow, and Greater Richmond Convention Center for giving their time to this positive effort!

 

        

Project Update from Bambu, Costa Rica

Kelsi Ramdeo, our Director of Program Development, has just returned from a recent trip to Costa Rica.     

While there, Kelsi was able to check on the progress of the Farmer's Market (it's sign is pictured above.) She met with the community leadership who will be overseeing the market, and helped them to establish short and long term goals for the market's success and sustainability.

The Market will benefit from a great location--it is conveniently located next to a bus stop, and is by the main road in Bambu, as well as a thoroughfare connecting Bambu to another nearby community in Panama.

On the actual project site, 40 pecan and almond trees have been planted to protect the land against erosion since it is by a riverbed. (see picture below of the plot of land).

The progress of the site plans and its leadership are promising signs that this will be a very positive addition to the community. It is the hope of Children, Inc. as well as Tropical Adventures, that this market will provide Bambu with a rescource to improve their quality of life.

Congratulations to the The Shelby Valley High School band of Pikeville, Kentucky!

A Children, Incorporated high school senior from Shelby Valley High School participated in the state band competition and marched in a Disney World Parade!

The band consists of only nine marching instruments and nine percussion. Despite their size, the band managed to place third in the state! This small group of very talented Kentucky students was then invited to march in a Disney World Parade.

The young man on our program now has memories that will last a lifetime. Without the dedication of his parents and without the help of his sponsor for basic needs, he never would have been able to participate.